New Neighborhood, New Safety.

Summer time is a great time to “unlock new doors” and move into a new home. For many of my buyers, the weather and the green grass make a new chapter appealing! Along with the big move, and all the unpacking, it’s super important to be safety-conscious. A new neighborhood is full of unknowns, and until you get to know all of your neighbors, buildings in the neighborhood, and even elements of your own home, you can be vulnerable to many dangers – fires and robberies are just some of these!

Now, I do not mean to scare you. Central Illinois is a wonderful place to live with many, many friendly people. But I always say it is better to be safe than sorry, and even in a friendly community, dangers can still occur. I decided to blog on some tips that you can practice to allow yourself a worry-free move.

1. Change the locks! It is always a good practice to update and change the front and back door locks in your home after moving in. Even if you know the previous owners personally. This provides complete privacy for you and your family.
2. Install fire extinguishers, check all of the smoke alarms in the home for battery charge, get your outlets tested, and regularly check your dryer vents and water heaters. Fires CAN occur, even when you are practicing good safety.
3. It’s good to take great care of your landscape, trim your bushes, and even install rocks or gravel under ground-level windows! This provides noise protection.
4. With technology these days, there are so many different home security systems to try – some are cheaper than others. You could install a doorbell camera, smart lock, or even a monitor that connects to your phone that notifies you if the camera detected activity around your door.
5. Even if you are not a safety-conscious person, getting to know your neighbors is always a great thing. Community is so important, especially in your own neighborhood! And when you decide to go take a vacation, letting your neighbor know allows them to keep an eye on your home while you are gone.

My prayer is for everyone to have a safe, memorable summer! Make sure to be outside and get some sun, go on vacations and have a blast, and with safety precautions set up at home, never spend time worrying.