Living in a big city comes with a lot of rewards, but there’s also some risk as well. Therefore, consider securing your new home by installing some security measures:
Things We Think Are Must-Have Security Measures (We really want you to do these, pretty please!)
- Rekey all of your door locks
You just never know who might still have a key to your new home. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so have a locksmith rekey the existing locks on all of your exterior doors. This is a must for all buyers. We recommend having at least one deadbolt on all exterior doors. We highly recommend having this done the day you move in or the day after for peace of mind. - Install an alarm system
We strongly recommend having a security system, especially if you’re buying a single-family house or a condo located below ground, on the first floor, or one with an exterior staircase that people could climb to access your unit. It can take a week or more to get an appointment, so we recommend calling now and setting up the installation for the day of or the day after closing. Remember, you’re most likely to get broken into during the first week you’re in a new home, as burglars often target homes with fewer security measures in place. - Install a peephole in your front door
If your door doesn’t already have one, this isn’t hard to do and can typically be installed by a handyman. It’s a great way to screen visitors safely. - Add security to sliding glass doors
If you have a sliding glass door, buy a thick wooden dowel and keep it in the door track on the floor when the door isn’t open. We also recommend adding a jimmy plate and an auxiliary lock to any patio doors for added protection.
Things We Strongly Recommend But Are At Your Discretion
- Install Door Devils on each of your exterior doors
These simple strike plates are highly effective at preventing your front door from being kicked in, even if you live in a condo building. If you’re buying a condo in a small building with a common entrance, ask the HOA if you can install a Door Devil on the building’s exterior doors and your own unit’s door. These devices are easy to install with a drill and are essential for single-family homeowners. - Install a metal wraparound knob reinforcer on all exterior doors
If you’re buying in a condo building that doesn’t have these, particularly on side or back doors, urge the HOA to install them. They’re inexpensive and highly effective at stopping break-ins. While we wouldn’t necessarily install them on the door to your unit in a condo, we recommend installing them on exterior condo doors and basement doors in single-family homes or areas that might be of interest to burglars. - Consider installing a Night Lock on back or side doors you don’t use daily
These locks are highly effective at preventing someone from breaking in and are especially useful for basement and back doors in single-family homes. - Install Shatter Safe on windows and doors with glass
If you have any glass in your front door or windows at or below ground level, we recommend installing Shatter Safe. It’s a clear plastic film applied to the inside of your windows, making it nearly impossible to break the glass and gain entry. - Add dusk-to-dawn lighting
If you’re buying a single-family home, consider adding dusk-to-dawn lighting over all exterior doors, and a motion detector in the gangway or garage area. Search for dusk-to-dawn lights at Home Depot. If you’re buying in a condo, ask the HOA to add these features if they’re not already in place in the building. - Protect garage windows
If your single-family home has a garage with a window, consider adding a curtain, or change the window to frosted or glass block to prevent potential burglars from seeing inside. Definitely add Shatter Safe to any garage windows, as they are prime spots for break-ins.
We strongly urge you to consider implementing the above security measures as soon as you move in. Criminals are known to observe new people moving in and note what valuables you bring into the home, such as TVs, computers, and electronics. They often strike shortly after the move-in when safety features may not yet be in place. We recently had a couple who bought a ground-floor unit in a small building and were broken into during their first week. After installing the recommended security measures, they’ve had no issues since. Better to be safe than sorry!