A Moving House checklist for your home security arrangements
Moving house is commonly cited as one of the most stressful things you can do. A checklist can help to stop the overwhelming number of tasks spiralling out of control. Lots of people don’t think about how they will secure their new home until after they have moved. When you have no security in place you can feel vulnerable, particularly in a new neighbourhood. We’ve put together a handy moving house checklist for your new home security arrangements. Our aim is to provide peace of mind through excellent security systems and information.
New Home Security
You may take the security in your old home for granted, whether it’s a secure garden, a monitored intruder alarm or being a part of the local neighbourhood Facebook group. Think about what you have in place now that makes you feel safe and secure, and think about how you can replicate or improve on these in your new house.
Research your new area
It’s worth researching your new neighbourhood. Location, location, location is perhaps over quoted, but you will want to know as much about your new location as possible. According to research, 40% of first time buyers and 35% of other buyers rated a secure environment as being the most important feature of a new home. This makes sense, after all, you wouldn’t want to feel vulnerable in your own home.
There are a few things you can do whilst house hunting. Try researching online. The police website police.co.uk has details about crime rates which can be searched by area. The neighbourhood watch website also has a useful crime mapping tool. Some people find speaking to the neighbours and visit the area at different times of day can give you more clues about an area. It can also be useful to ask the vendors about their existing security arrangements. This gives you a starting point. Moving to an area with higher burglary rates can really affect your car insurance and home insurance premiums. Although having a burglar alarm installed and maintained by an NSI Gold approved security company can go some way to lower your home insurance premiums.
Moving House Security Checklist:
1. Inform your existing suppliers
The first port of call is to contact your existing security company on your old house to let them know you’re moving. They may need confirmation in writing. Here at Keybury, we try to make the transition from your old house to your new one as smooth as possible.
2. Locks
Check the locks on your new property are up to standard. West Yorkshire Police advise that all recommended euro profile locks should be TS007 3 star sold secure diamond standard SS312 accreditation, snap safe or snap resistant. If the locks in your new home aren’t up to standard, it’s a good idea to upgrade them.
3. Neighbours
Find and join your local neighbourhood watch scheme. You can do this here. You might also look for a local Facebook group to join. Introduce yourself to your new neighbours, they can be great allies against criminals.
4. Cameras
Does your new property already has CCTV cameras installed? If so, contact a reputable company to have them serviced and set up with remote viewing on your phone or iPad. Knowing you can look in on your new home whilst you’re away is incredibly reassuring. If there are no cameras in place, get a quote to have CCTV installed. Read more about our home CCTV systems here. Doorbell cameras are also a popular choice. Check whether your vendors will be leaving their doorbell camera, and whether it was professionally installed to avoid the safety issues reported with self installed doorbell cameras.
5. Outside
Look at the perimeter of the property: is it secure? Do shrubs and trees provide cover for criminals? Does the fencing or gateway need repairing or replacing? Are you happy with the current access arrangements, or will you look to replace the gateway? We install intercom systems for several homes with electric gateway systems.
6. Burglar Alarms
Burglars usually take a minute to look at the burglar alarm, and you should too. If the property has no alarm, or an ancient looking outside bell box, you’ll want to address this as a matter of urgency. There are a few questions you can ask the vendors as well. Is the alarm maintained? An alarm which hasn’t been checked in a long time is liable to false activations, and this isn’t a way to endear yourself with the new neighbours. You can easily avoid this by enlisting a reputable local company, such as Keybury, to carry out a service of the system. Check with the vendor as to whether there is any monitoring on the alarm, and if so what type?
If the alarm is maintained, is it monitored? There are a few types of monitoring available including app controlled, keyholder or police monitored. Police monitoring can only be provided by approved companies, such as Keybury. You can increase the level of security by adding monitoring to an existing alarm once you move in.
Discuss your options with a professional
People who are moving house often have lots of questions about security systems for their new home, which is where our free survey visit comes in. Ask questions, tell us what you’re looking for and reap the benefit of our surveyor’s experience. We offer free in person survey visits and Whatsapp surveys for anyone currently isolating. Our surveyors can also provide a quotation from plans if required. People often find this useful when they are moving into a house. Contact us for more information or to book. Call 01535 661197