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I’m a member of Master Lock’s Live Secure Safety Squad and have been compensated for my time in writing this post.
Moving into a new home — especially if it’s your first house — is exciting… and a lot of work.
But before you get carried away decorating your new living room, you must take these 10 steps to ensure you, your family and your new home all stay safe.
- The number one most important thing you must do when you move into a new house is change the locks. Install a Master Lock Entry Door Lock with Deadbolt and give a copy of the key to a trusted family member or neighbour.
- Have a plumber check for any water leaks and ensure the water heater is in good condition.
- Ensure you know your way around your circuit breaker (add labels to the various fuses if not there already) and find out where your main water valve is located.
- When you move in your furniture, immediately secure dressers and bookshelves to the wall so that they cannot fall on children.
- Check or install smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers.
- Install motion-sensing floodlights in your yard or pathway.
- Trim any trees or shrubs that are near windows and doors. Not only do trees that are too close to your house increase the risk of pest control problems, they might provide hiding places for burglars or assist them in climbing to higher windows.
- If you have small children, install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs and baby proof as soon as you’ve moved in.
- Create an emergency escape plan and a family meeting place.
- Finally, get to know your new neighbors as quickly as possible. It’s much easier to introduce yourself when you’ve just moved in.
By following these simple steps when you move into a new house, you’ll help ensure your new home is a safe one!
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Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
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Great post, thank you so much for all the tips! I’m moving into my first home after college so you’re tips are a life saver to me! Thanks again!
This is some great advice for making your home a safe place! As you say, moving is so exciting, but you want to make sure that you’re taking the time to make sure things are done properly. One other thing I’d add is that long before you use any of these tips, you want to make sure that you’re moving in a good area. When looking at real estate, it’s important to get a feel for the neighborhood. That’s just as important as installing floodlights, in my opinion.