Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

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Every time a new season rolls around, many people assess their home safety measures. It’s important to think about safety when it comes to the place where you spend a lot of your waking or sleeping hours. For everyone, this means preventing easy access to your home, while for others, this could mean adding babyproofing measures or installing safety features to avoid senior accidents.

It’s important to have a safety checklist to make your home secure. Many people want to make their homes safer but don’t know where to start. From basic security measures such as door locks to different alarm systems, burglar proofing and fire prevention, there are several simple steps you can take to avoid accidents and make your home a more secure and safe place to live.

Consider adding these 8 important safety measures to your checklist to help make your home a safer place.

1.     Inspect Your Locks

The doors are the first place that intruders are going to hit, so that’s the first thing that you want to secure. Check all the locks in your apartment or house. Not every lock is created equal, so it’s a good idea to make sure that each door has a proper deadbolt and that your doors are thick enough and fit well in the frame.

If you notice any issues with your door locks, contact a locksmith to get them replaced or add secondary locks for extra security.

2.     Check Your Windows

Windows are the next things to tick off on your safety checklist. First, go around the house and make sure that they’re all locked and in working order. This applies to both ground-floor and second-floor windows, which aren’t immune to trespassers. Replace any broken latches. Consider adding secondary bolts for windows that have security issues. These are typically the kind of things that you can install yourself.

3.     Assess Your Visibility

You never want to be in a position where you can’t see who is at your front door. If you can’t see who is standing there or verify their identity, this is a way that an intruder could gain access to your home.

If your home is designed in such a way that makes it difficult to see outside, install a peephole for proper security. If you need to, trim trees and bushes away from doors and windows to increase visibility.

If you want a higher-tech solution for this problem, think about getting a security device like a doorbell camera that has real-time video and two-way audio so you can see and communicate without opening the door.

4.     Burglarproof Your Home

Deter criminals by placing a strong and durable deadbolt lock on each door that opens to the outside. Don’t forget to secure the door that leads in from the garage.

If you live in an area that makes window bars advisable, ensure that at least one window in each room is equipped with a mechanism for quick release and escape. It’s important to push a metal bar or wooden dowel rod to block the track from opening if you have sliding glass doors.

Scare away intruders by installing floodlights that flick on with the slightest movement in your yard. Make sure you display security company signs whether you’ve shelled out money for a home security system or not. Cut back any trees or shrubs close to doors or windows. You don’t want to leave any easy hiding spots or tree limb ladders for burglars.

5.     Manage Your Spare Keys

It makes sense to have a spare key handy since you don’t want to get locked out of your house. At the same time, you don’t want to make it easy for criminals to break into your house. No matter how cleverly you think you’ve hidden your spare key, seasoned burglars are experts at finding stashed keys.

Instead of hiding a key outside your home, leave a spare key with a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor. Keep track of who has a key to your home and only give it to someone you trust completely. Consider doing keyless entry with a smart lock that you can control with your smartphone.

6.     Install or Upgrade Your Security System

One of the best ways to make your home safer is to install or upgrade a home security system. If you already have a system, run some tests to make sure that cameras are working and aimed where you want them to look.

For an existing home security system, consider what upgrades you might like to add. For example, you might need a motion detector in your yard or a specific room. Improve home alarm grids, replace older cameras, or get smart locks and smart lights, protective devices, and image sensors.

7.    Babyproof or Elder-Proof Your Home

If you have mobile babies or toddlers, you’ll need to install latches on toilets and cabinets. Secure areas with toxic cleaning products or other dangerous substances. Lock up any firearms in the home and store guns separately from ammunition.

Make sure that you install child safety gates at the top and bottom of upstairs and basement stairs to prevent deadly accidents. Use window guards to keep children from falling out of windows. If you have a pool, install a gate and a pool alarm. Ensure that carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are installed and working.

If you have a child who can open a door and escape outside, consider installing an electronic lock.

One of the best ways to protect your aging loved ones is to ensure that everything they need is on one level. This can help prevent falls. You can also install ramps for wheelchair assistance, bathtub rails, a bed alert, or provide a panic alarm.

8.    Fire Prevention

Protect your property and your life by taking steps to avoid fires. Always tightly seal and store flammable liquids outside the home and away from any source of flame. Keep objects like curtains, paper, oil, or other flammable things far away from the stove.

The idea is to prevent avoidable accidents. Don’t leave candles burning unattended, near curtains, open windows, or other objects. Make sure the batteries are changed in your smoke detectors.

Final Thoughts

Taking the time to add safety features and do regular home maintenance can help prevent accidents or burglaries from happening.

Consider installing a home security system that has an alarm grid for a safer home that gives you better peace of mind.