When you move into a new home, you tend to be very excited, and all your attention is on making the place look your own with a new lick of paint or some pretty wallpaper perhaps. However, if you want to ensure that your family can settle in and feel safe and secure in your new home, you should focus on making the place as secure as possible.

If you have just moved into a new place, and want to ensure you can effectively make it safe, here are some of the best security measures to put in place:

Ensure the doors are secure

The easiest way for criminals to enter your home is through the you will, first of all, want to ensure that the doors are as secure as possible when you move into a new home.

There are many things you can do to this end, from ensuring your doors and frames are all in good cognition, to installing a deadbolt that will make it almost impossible for anyone who should not gain entry to do so.

You may also want to consider something like a Ring doorbell which will not only allow you to see who is at the door and speak to them remotely, but also record activity around your home so you can be alerted quickly to any potential security risks.

Secure your windows

The next best point of entry for any would-be thief are the windows. So, you will want to ensure your frames are solid and free from cracks, and that all window locks and handles are in full working order. If that is not the case, then calling a trusted home window replacement service to replace broken and unsafe windows should be high on your to-do list. In the meantime, you can use window alarms to alert you should anyone try to gain entry.

Install a security light

Criminals do not like to be visible, so one thing that can really deter them from making your home a target is installing exterior security lights, which will turn on when their motion detector is triggered and flood the area with light. This will also act as an early warning system for you that something is wrong, so you can act quickly to call the cops or do whatever else is necessary to ensure your home, and more importantly, your family, are kept safe.

Install a security system

Security lights are great, but having a fully working security system complete with CCTV cameras is even better. Not only will a security system alert you to any issues, but if you should be out or otherwise unable to intervene quickly, it will also catch criminals on camera so they can be more easily apprehended.

Of course, the sight of a security system outside a home is one of the biggest deterrents against residential crime.

Keep your garage door opener indoors

Your garage is often one of the biggest targets for thieves, because you tend to keep valuable items like cars, lawnmowers, and tools in there, and because it is not quite as connected to the rest of the home, it is often easy for thieves to slip in there without being noticed.

One thing you can do to make life a bit harder for would-be thieves is ensure your garage door is always locked, and your garage door opener is always kept inside the main house, where they will not get to it without triggering various other security measures you have in place.

Install a safe

If you have a lot of valuables that you plan to keep at home, then it is a good idea to install a safe on the property too. Hopefully, various other security measures we have talked about will keep thieves out, but should they gain entry, if you have a safe, they will not be able to make off with cash and other valuables like jewelry unless they happen to be a master safe-cracker, which is unlikely!

Change the locks

When buying a new home, it is always a good idea to change the locks when you move in. Most sellers will be honest people, but you never know if the person you are buying from is trustworthy or not. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry by changing the locks, so they, or anyone else they may have given a spare key, cannot get inside and compromise the safety of your family and your possessions.

Ensure you have working smoke alarms

Of course, not all threats to your family’s safety come from intruders. Things like fire and gas leaks can also render you unsafe in your own home. That is why, when you move in, you should check that you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in place. If you do not have any, install them, and if you do, you can usually press a button to test they are working. Non-working alarms usually need little more than a new set of batteries, but if you are in doubt, replace them with a new set.

Secure the Wi-Fi

When you set up your internet connection at your new home, be sure to turn on security and choose a password that is not easy for other people to work out. This will help prevent neighbors from stealing your Wi-Fi or your data or conducting illegal activities via your connection, so it is important.

If you do as many of these things as possible, you can enjoy your new home with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is as secure as possible.