Homeowner safety tips to help prevent crime
Owning a new home is an exciting time for a family. While it is easy to get caught up in choosing paint colors and unpacking boxes, home security is an equally important issue for new homeowners.
Even when home safety is a top priority, new homeowners often focus on the more obvious needs, such as smoke detectors and working locks. The less obvious aspects, while just as critical, often go undone.
About three out of every four burglaries occur at a residential property, according to the FBI (Crime in the U.S., 2013). Since the beginning of the year, more than 1,700 buyers have purchased homes in Williamson County, providing plenty of new opportunities for criminals.
Williamson County continues to have a relatively low crime rate even though the county population has grown tremendously in the past few years. However, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) urges residents to always be alert to their surroundings and report anything suspicious or unusual in their neighborhoods.
Sheriff Jeff Long has said many times that citizens should never be complacent, but always take precautions to be safe and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.
On the heels of National Safety Month, WCAR and the WCSO have compiled the following list of home security tips for new homeowners:
•Maintain your yard. Well-groomed landscaping is common throughout Williamson County, and many communities include homeowner’s associations that provide guidance in this area. By keeping your shrubbery trimmed, criminals are unable to hide behind them.
•Install outdoor lighting. Reducing shadows and dark corners makes a home less approachable for criminals. Lights can even add to the ambiance and curb appeal of your home. From a practical standpoint, lights are great for making trips out to the car during the night. They can illuminate a toy your child left on the walkway or the rake you forgot to put away after performing the first tip in this list.
•Update door and lock hardware. Many new home buyers look for deadbolt locks when they are purchasing a home, but often times they forget to change the locks. How many keys did the previous owner distribute to neighbors, babysitters, grandparents or dog-walkers? It’s a good idea to replace your locks and make sure all easily accessible entry points are secure when you move into a new home.
•Meet your neighbors. The more friendly eyes watching out for your property the better. Bake some cookies and introduce yourself to the neighbors on either side and across the street. Make sure they have your contact information so they can alert you to any abnormal activity, especially while you are out of town.
•Consider an alarm system. Security systems are a major deterrent for criminals, but they don’t need to be expensive to be effective. Many alarm companies offer specials for first-time and new homeowners that can decrease the initial installation costs substantially. Some new systems even offer mobile access, cameras, and alerts to allow for monitoring at home or away from the house.
New homeowners have many priorities, but taking the time to implement all or a few of these tips can decrease the likelihood of burglary at a new residence. You’ve made a huge investment in purchasing a house; make sure you protect that investment and the people that make your house a “home.”
Chip Kerr is 2015 Williamson County Association of Realtors President. With nearly 2,000 members, the WCAR provides support and services for area real estate professionals and is the leading voice in the community for its members, as well as residential and commercial property owners. Williamson County home buyers can visit wcartn.org/directory to search for area Realtors.