Guide to securing your new home

Moving to a new house is one of those exciting life moments. But as a new homeowner, it’s important to take the time to protect your new home and living environment to protect it and keep it safe.  

As your checklist is probably filled with packing boxes, paperwork and choosing new furniture, it’s easy to forget about a home security, and the simple things that can be done before, during and after the move. Here we’ve compiled a quick guide on the best practices to make your house move as smooth and safe as possible. 

 

Check the crime statistics in the area

If you’re moving to a new neighbourhood, it’s worth researching the area. There are a number of resources you can use, such as official police website which can provide you with crime statistics. This will help you establish a general picture of the area and compare to other neighbourhoods.  

It is also worth visiting the area a few times at different times of the day. This will help you to get a feel for the area, see how busy the neighbourhoods are, how they are maintained and so on. If possible, try to speak to people living in the neighbourhood for a first-hand view on the neighbourhood also. You can also check to see if the area is a part of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. 

Change the locks

As soon as possible after getting your keys and taking ownership of the house, preferably on the day you move in, arrange for all the entry locks to be changed. As the new occupants, this is simply a wise move to protect your new house, and will give you the confidence that you are the only one with the correct keys to gain access.  You may invest in the multi-point lock for an extra protection. 

Remember to check the windows as well. If there are any jams or faults, arrange for that to be fixed or replaced. 

Hide the fact that you just moved in

Often moving house can take up to a few days. Try not to be too obvious about the fact that the property is half-empty and you’re just moving in. Hang curtains and blinds in the windows so potential burglars can’t see any valuable belongings inside.  New houses often signal newly-purchased items too, so do what you can to be subtle about this. Avoid putting lots of empty cardboard boxes from new TVs etc out by the bin.  

Get to know your neighbours

Introduce yourself to your neighbours as soon as you can. Become the part of the local community and find trusted neighbours that can help you settle in. 

Invest in the alarm system

If your new home already has a security system, make sure that you have the code and any user manuals to make sure you can operate it.  Once you move in, remember to change the PIN, so it’s unique and no one else knows it. 

If there is no intruder alarm in the property or the existing system is old and unreliable, invest in the new one as soon as possible to protect your home. According to research, 63% of burglaries happen in homes without a basic security system. You can choose a simple DIY system and install it yourself very quickly.  

In case of ERA Protect, all of our alarm systems are easy to use and install within minutes. Thanks to smooth DIY set up, kits are fully portable and can be moved from property to property. So if you already own one of our systems, simply pack up all of the components and reinstall them in your new house. If you're moving to a bigger property, you can easily expand the kit by adding as many extra accessories as needed. The ERA Protect system is compatible with up to 96 components meaning you can adapt the kit and customise to what you need for your new property.  

Depending on how many entry points there are and how many windows, invest in the multiple PIR motion sensors and the Door and Window Sensors.  If your new property has outdoor spaces such as a garden, driveway or shed, you might want to consider investing in outdoor cameras to ensure you can keep an eye on those spaces no matter where you are in the world, at any time.  And if you will be spending a set amount of time away from your home, for holiday or work, you can upgrade to ERA’s professional monitoring service to protect your house when you can’t be there.  

Maintain good habits

New house, new habits? Once settled in, try to develop and maintain a routine that keeps your property safe. Always keep the doors and windows closed and locked, try to make your house look occupied - even when it’s not - and remember to arm your alarm when you’re leaving the property. 

You can take a look at our ready-to-go kits here or you can create a bespoke system based on the needs of you and those who live in the home.