This post was sponsored by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Home Is Where The Heart Is
As a mom, I am finding myself constantly worrying about the safety and well-being of my kiddos. When I first became a mom I thought my constant worry would disappear as Jude and Teagan grew older but in all honesty that worry seems to grow with each passing day. I believe this is because they are becoming more and more independent which is exactly what they are supposed to be doing as they grow but that means they need mom less and less (in theory).
Feeling more secure in our home is really important to me. That is why the security of our house is a priority for me. I know I am not alone in this feeling, as this is a concern for most homeowners and parents. Today I am sharing a few safety tips for feeling more secure in your home. I have implemented these steps and believe it has helped the whole family feel safer.
Feel More Secure In Your Home With These Safety Steps
While these tips are critical for many of us to feel safer and more secure they are also very simple so they can be implemented in no time.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
While we might not all be best friends with our neighbors is it really important to have a good relationship with them. Let’s be honest, those people living around you know your schedules, your habits, and your home almost as well as you do. So, use those extra eyes the best you can. Crime tends to be lower in communities with neighbors who have relationships because the neighbors are more likely to look out for one another and can spot a stranger easily. These extra eyes are helpful for when you are out of town but also on any normal Wednesday afternoon.
So as you think about your home security and safety think about your neighbors as well. Be aware of your neighborhood surroundings to help bring that feeling of safety to the whole block!
Buy The Right Locks
When you first walk into your new home the excitement might make you overlook the importance of what locks are on your doors. Time to set that excitement aside and begin to evaluate buying the proper locks for your home. There are so many options to choose from when buying and updating locks for your home. It is important to find locks that have a BHMA Certified® SecureHome™ label on them. When you find a product with that label it ensures that the lockset or deadbolt has been tested in the three most important areas.
Security, durability and finish are the three areas of testing. Security is how well a lock or deadbolt can withstand impact, this could be from a possible intruder or even from weather conditions. Durability means the how well a lock or deadbolt functions after it is repeated over a long term use. This area of testing also measures how well a lock or deadbolt operates with excessive weight on the door. Finish is tested on how it can waistband the elements. The finish testing measures how well the door hardware can endure under a wide variety of conditions over the span of the products life.
Each category of testing receives a rating of C (good), B (better) or A (best). So, when it comes to you and your family feeling safer and more secure, which rating are you buying? View the new label below. This label is made to make shopping for the proper locks easier for the consumer.
Think About Your Trash
Did you just buy a new computer or big screen TV? What did you do with the box it came in? For us our normal routine was to take the box and put it out by the trash. Little did I know that this was just a BIG advertisement for some random stranger to see what special new item of value is in our home. Seems crazy but think about it. Now that stranger knows you have some great item or items in your home just waiting for them, if they can get into your home.
Instead of taking the box out to the trash, break down the box and fit the box into your recycling bin or trash can and wait to do this until the day your trash/recycling is picked up. This gives less time for those pesky burglars to see your new purchases.
Find That Security Routine
I am sure we have all heard stories of the good old days of leaving your doors unlocked but honestly, those days are gone. The best way to have a feeling of being more secure and safe in your home is to lock up your home. Finding a good security routine is key in this safety step. Always closing your garage door, locking your doors and also keeping windows closed and locked is a great way to start this routine daily.
In addition to keeping your home locked you can add new monitoring items like cameras to help you feel connected to your home and family even when you are gone for the day. There are so many options that you can add to your house for this easy monitoring which again brings that sense of safety to your family and home.
Keep Those Valuables
In some cases, those “bad guys” find away into homes. To insure your family’s identity and important information is kept in the right hands it is important to gather all of your important valuables and documents that no one else should have access too. Some documents to consider placing in a security safe are; birth certificates, marriage certificates, social security cards, bank statements, passports, insurance documents and any other items you feel are valuable.
Anyone Home?
When you leave on vacation do you think people that drive by know you are gone? Think about how you leave your home looking when you walk out. Some simple steps to make sure your home looks occupied is by using light timers or even have your radio go off every day. This allows your home to sound and look occupied.
This is also where your lovely neighbors can help you. Ask them to pick up your mail or any packages that are on your doorstep. If you still get a newspaper have them pick that up as well, all of those items indicate that no one is home!
You can you find locks/deadbolts with the BHMA Certified® SecureHome™ label at any big box store or hardware store. You will find many options with this label.
What tips are you doing to make you feel safer and more secure in your home?
