How To Feel Secure In Your New Home

how to feel secure in your new home

Change of any kind can always come with a bit of hesitation. Whether you are moving to a new rental or buying a new home, it’s clear to see how this life transition can upset your feelings of security.

Getting used to new surroundings and understanding the area you now call home takes time and patience, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make yourself feel safe in the meantime. There’s a range of safety concerns you can control and precautions you can implement.

The sooner you are feeling confident and secure in your place, the sooner you can resume your life schedule and move on to the next exciting chapter in your life.

Here’s a guide to feeling stress-free and secure in your new home.

how to feel secure in new home

#1 – Change the locks 

When you buy a new home, you’re accepting the property as it is and begin to make it your own. One of the first things you should do is change the locks with a reputable locksmith such as this locksmith in Richmond.

Changing the locks doesn’t mean you are distrustful of your real estate agent or the previous owners, but it does mean that any person who may have a set of your keys will no longer have access to your home.

The truth is, you don’t know if the previous tenant was burgled before you moved in and they managed to steal some keys. It will also do so much for your peace of mind to know that your home has a fresh point of entry and exit, that only you have the keys to.

#2 – Install outdoor lighting

When you come home in the dark or head outside in the dark, it’s understandable to feel more alert and anxious. This feeling can increase exponentially if you’ve moved into a completely different home in a new location.

Installing outdoor lighting will make you feel more secure. Outdoor sensor lighting is better still, as it will pick up on human activity in your outdoor area.

Depending on the lighting solution and electrician you use, you can set the limit on how long the lights stay on and what kind of proximity triggers them to turn on. Outdoor security lighting is designed to be extremely bright, similar to a flood light.

#3 – Connect with the local community

Social media may have plenty of drawbacks, but it can also bring communities together. Most suburbs will have a private Facebook group so that residents can easily interact with each other.

These groups are very useful for commuting hyper-local news, like road closures, new restaurants opening, lost dogs and all the kinds of things that would be useful for fellow residents to know. 

You can really take your time and dive into these Facebook groups to get some background context on the community events and happenings in the area, and you may even be able to directly message like-minded group members.

Joining local groups will go a long way in making you feel connected to your local community, and you may even find out where the best places are to shop and how you can make friends in the area.

#4 – Transition slowly to the new home

Just because you have a new place to call home doesn’t mean you have to jump into the change with both feet. This is especially true if you’re moving to a distant location.

You may want to spend a few weekends at the new place before committing to full time. You may even ask a friend of family member to come and stay with you to make the transition more comfortable. You could also host a couple of dinners at your place for friends old and new to make your place feel like home. 

#5 – Research the area

Immersing yourself in Facebook communities is one thing, but you’ll get an even better idea of the area if you do some desktop research.

For example, understand things like, what percentage of residences are apartments in your new suburb? What is the crime rate, what is the demographic split and what is the political party that has been voted into the area?

These insights might seem irrelevant to your new home and how you feel about it, but they give context to your new surroundings and help you feel more connected in an analytical and practical way. 

Don’t let fear take the shine out of an exciting change in your life. Your new home is a chance to connect with a different area and grow as an individual. With some added security measures in place you’re in the perfect position to sink into the excitement.

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