Buyer’s Guide: Securing Your New Home

So you’ve broken through in the Windsor real estate market and after searching through numerous Windsor homes and houses for sale in Windsor, Ontario, your Windsor REALTOR® relays the news, your offer was accepted and you have purchased a house. In the coming days and months you straighten out all the financials and final details. Finally the deal closes, and the keys are yours as is the home. Congratulations on your new home!

In all the excitement there are a few things you shouldn’t forget to do as soon as possible after taking possession of the home in order to protect it. Unless your home is a new build with no previous owners, you should change the locks. You do not know who was given keys to the house in the past and may still have them. Change the locks as soon as you can in order to ensure that the only people with keys are you and the people you want to have them. If your home is equipped with newer keypad locks and/or garage door openers, don’t forget to reset these codes to ensure no one can gain access to the home using them.

Now that only you have access to exterior entrances to home, you can think about adding enhanced security measures to your home. The home may already have a traditional security system which is a nice plus, don't forget to reset that code though! If it doesn’t or is older you can consider upgrading to new options. You can call in traditional security companies like ADT to professionally install and monitor your home. Another option is to utilize new smart home security systems that can even be self-installed. Kits allow you to install exterior and interior cameras, tie in smoke and CO detectors, and can be controlled remotely from a smartphone allowing you to monitor or make changes while away from the home. Some of these systems include the option for monitoring from companies for additional security and peace of mind.

When you purchase a home you want to make sure that home is safe and secure for you and your family. At minimum we suggest following the first advice and even if you choose not to monitor, installing a DIY security system adds an additional layer of protection.

Here at Jump Realty our agents will give you honest advice on what course of action is best for you in their professional opinion and will always put taking care of your best interests first! With offices in Windsor, Tecumseh, Kingsville, and Chatham, no matter where you are, a Jump agent is ready to help. Please contact us for any housing needs and let us give you a better real estate experience!