Because moving is typically considered one of the most stressful things we do in life, it’s no wonder that errors are made and security isn’t always as tight as it might be.

There are a number of mistakes that can be made before, during, and after your move that can compromise your home’s security, whether it’s leaving the front door open while moving belongings from the van to your new home; not having a sufficient alarm system for the property; or failing to properly scout out the area that you’re moving to.

So, what should you be wary of? How can you make your move from one house to the next as secure as possible? Here are a few pointers to help you get started:

Before You Make a Move

According to research, just around a third of homebuyers, especially first-time buyers, consider a neighborhood’s general safety to be the most significant element to consider when relocating there. However, according to the British Crime Survey, those who have lived in a home for less than a year are nearly twice as likely to experience a break-in as those who have lived there for longer, implying that more effort should be made to learn about the nature of the surrounding area before deciding to move there.

With this in mind, researching the neighbourhood should be a significant part of the house-hunting process, and there are websites dedicated to police and crime data that provide information on burglary rates and other relevant concerns in any specific postcode.

Organizing your own visit to the neighbourhood – particularly after dark – should give you a sense of how safe it is, with indicators such as how well-kept the area is, street light coverage, obvious anti-social behavior, and how well served by public transportation all contributing to a larger picture.If feasible, chat with any local people you come across to gain their take on the area’s general crime rate.

After you’ve decided on a house to purchase, there are still things you can do to make sure it’s safe before you move in. Start by replacing the locks; if you didn’t know the prior owner, you may be in danger of their returning uninvited. Similarly, present locks may be inadequate to resist a break-in danger, so replacing them will be quite beneficial.

If the property already has a security alarm, make sure you know the arming and disabling codes and have access to the operating handbook.

During the transfer

An opportunistic thief sees removal vans as a red flag to a bull, since it suggests a home relocation is in process. To dissuade them, make sure your front door is locked whenever furniture or other valuables are moved inside, and have someone monitor the moving vehicles the whole time to avoid any fast grabs from here. When unloading, resist the urge to leave things on the front lawn or on the porch.

Making your house seem occupied as soon as possible is also vital for deterring robbers. Use drapes or blinds to conceal your rooms from the outside, and don’t leave moving boxes laying about. Make sure any “for sale” signs are removed, and attempt to get to know your neighbours as soon as possible.

While it’s crucial to open windows to air out a home that hasn’t been inhabited in a while, it’s also critical to shut those that are readily accessible while you’re in another area.

Following the Relocation

After you’ve moved in and had a few days to think about it, it’s time to think about the basic procedures you may take to defend your property. These are often extremely basic steps aimed at preventing opportunistic robbers.

First and foremost, use some common sense. Keeping up the illusion that your house is inhabited can put off most criminals, so an investment in timer switches on lighting may make a world of difference. Leaving a radio on will have a similar impact if possible, and there are now items that resemble a TV in use without requiring you to leave your set on all day.

It may seem self-evident, but make sure you get a security alarm installed if you don’t already have one. There are a lot of high-quality security businesses that can customise a system to meet your requirements.

Finally, inspect your doors, windows, and other possible entry points. If they are not adequately secure against the threat of force, they should be changed, with those approved by the most recent security standard (PAS 24:2012) providing both safety and energy insulation.

Following these easy guidelines can help you keep your home secure during the moving process, and any trustworthy security systems provider will be able to offer you advice and support if needed.

Consider a new alarm

If you’ve moved into your new home and find either no or an outdated alarm, you should consider fitting a new monitored alarm to properly protect your house and family members.

A monitored alarm means that you need never have to worry about always being able to check your security system personally. You can relax in the knowledge that trained operatives at a state-of-the-art Alarm Receiving Centre oversee and respond appropriately to any alarm activations. Optional personal panic alarms and medical alert fobs mean that not just your property is protected but also your family members. Let Ultimate Alarms install a monitored security system for you to deliver professional levels of protection in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire & Dunbartonshire.