A New Homeowner’s Guide to Home Security

Buying a home of your own is a goal many people have. To finally achieve that goal is an exciting time. However, reaching that milestone is only the beginning of this new path. There are many important decisions that come with owning a home of your own. One of these is how to best provide protection for your home and family. Of course, the most obvious is a home security system. But even so, sorting through the many security companies and the options they offer becomes overwhelming. Here are a few of the main items you should look for when outfitting your new home with security. There are two types of new homes to speak of, a newly built home and an older existing home that you purchase to move into. We will consider both situations.

Setting Up the New Home With Home Security

Whether you are moving into a newly built or older existing home, the first order of business is to change the outer door locks. Even in a new home? Yes, even new homes. The reason for this is that many people have accessed these homes before your purchase. Previous owners of existing homes may have passed out keys to neighbors, friends, the babysitter, etc. In the case of a newly built home, there are also many contractors, salespeople, and other workers constantly accessing the house. A good option for new locks is smart locks that work with your home security and other smart devices. These smart locks allow you to assign a personal PIN to each user. By doing this you know who is coming in and out of the house at all times on our app. Plus, never worry about lost keys again!

In addition to new locks on your doors, a basic home security system usually consists of window and door sensors, a motion detector, a video doorbell, and cameras. Of course, the more devices you have, the stronger the layer of protection that there will be. Also, you will want to back all this up with 24/7 monitoring. If you built a new home, then it is becoming standard to put smart home technology already built-in. That makes it easy to integrate your home security in there too. However, if you are moving into an older home with a pre-existing security system, it will need to be checked out by a professional. A security technician examines what is in place and usually can activate it with minor upgrades if needed. 

Beyond the Basics

So, once you establish a basic home security system, what else is there for you to do? Thankfully, whether you have a new build or existing house move-in, your home security system is equipped to add on as many security or smart home devices as you would like. As your budget or needs change, feel free to add on more cameras to eliminate all blind spots on your property, inside and out. Smart home controls let you remotely manage your security and other connected devices from anywhere you may be. 

Before an intruder gets close to your house, you can put tactics in place to discourage them from even approaching. As you personalize your new home and get out in the yard, look things over closely and be sure that there are no large bushes or other areas that someone could hide behind. Place outdoor lighting, motion-activated are the best, to light up areas near your entry points, such as windows and doors. This is also where a video doorbell and other outdoor cameras come in handy. Just seeing these simple items make many potential intruders move on. In addition, it is a good idea to meet the neighbors and team up to watch over the neighborhood.

 

Settling Into the New Home

So, just to summarize the suggestions today for your new home: 

• Change outer door locks
• Set up your customized home security system
• Choose your smart home devices to integrate with security
• Keep your yard free from hiding places close to windows and doors
• Set up security deterrents, such as cameras and lights outside
• Get to know your neighbors

At Allied Home Security, we are here to assist you in settling into that new home. We can walk through with you and evaluate your home. Our suggestions, along with your budget and concerns, create a perfect plan to keep the family and property safe. Our equipment and plans cover everything from basic packages to the complete smart home. Call us today and see what we can do for you. Welcome to the neighborhood!