It’s always a little scary when you rent a home and move your family into a new neighborhood. You really don’t know much about the previous tenants and want to work hard to make the house feel like your home. While it’s fun to decorate and set up your place the way you want it to look, it’s important not to forget security measures to keep it safe for you and your family as well. Keeping that in mind, read on below for a few tips to help you secure your new rental home.
Secure Rental Insurance
While it may seem like a waste of money at the time, you won’t think so if your home gets broken into or fire should break out. Your landlord is only required by law to insure the property. He is not required to cover the contents of the home, so if something happens you’re out of luck. There is plenty of cheap renters insurance on the market today to protect your possessions.
Install a Home Security System
Many tenants feel that they shouldn’t install a home security system on a rental property. It’s important to note that intruders don’t stop to determine whether a home is a rental or owned by the residents inside. You’re just as at risk of being robbed as the person down the street who owns the home they live in. There are so many modern advances in home security today that it’s almost a crime not to protect your family with a system.
Lighten and Brighten the Landscape
There are many different reasons to add extra lighting to the yard of your home. From enjoying the outside when it gets dark on those warm summer nights to providing light for someone who is coming to your home. It’s also another way to provide security as well since intruders are less likely to break into a home that is well lit or has motion lights on the property.
Secure the Doors, Windows, and Garage
Making sure to secure points of ingress should be one of the first things on your list when you move into a home. It’s best to change the locks on the doors, including the garage door and then to check that all of the locks on the windows are in working order. If the locks don’t work, go ahead and replace them, so you don’t have to worry.
Lock Down the Wi-Fi Network
While you’re protecting the inside and outside of your new home, don’t forget to protect the cyber side as well. Unsecured Wi-Fi networks are the perfect way for hackers to get into your personal and financial information. Also, if your rental is equipped with home automation, it’s a way to increase the risk of a break in. So, don’t forget to lock down that Wi-Fi network as soon as possible, once the internet is on.
These are just a few tips for making sure that your family and belongings are secure when you move into a new rental home. It’s better to be safe than sorry no matter where you live.
