New Homeowner Safety: The 10 Fundamentals
At Software and Process Design, we've discovered that most goals can be achieved by breaking them down into essential steps, roughly 10 fundamental principles. We call these principles the 10 Fundamentals.
You can think of these Fundamentals as a roadmap for success. If you’re aiming to achieve something, these Fundamentals are like simple rules to follow, breaking down goals into actionable steps.
What makes it even more exciting is that we're actively developing tools to simplify this journey further. As you read through this guide, see how these Fundamentals, when combined with our tools, become your companion for reaching your goals.
Buying a new home is tough. There are so many things to remember, especially when it comes to making your new home safe and secure.
You might be wondering, "What does every homeowner need to know when it comes to safety?" Well, you've come to the right place.
We’ve come up with a list of 10 key safety tips that every new homeowner should have. By the end of this article, you’ll be confident knowing you can safeguard your new home with ease. Let's dive in.
Key Takeaways -
Avoid giving potential intruders access to your home – keep personal information (like photos of your keys, vacation, or address) off social media and private to protect yourself
Never assume you’re the only one with access to your new home – change all the locks
Double-check all smart devices – change passwords, and update user profiles to avoid security compromise
Regularly test and maintain alarm systems
Ensure clear and unobstructed access to critical locations like the water, gas, and power shut-offs
Collect all warranty documentation for appliances in the home or check the manufacturer's website for extended warranty information
Verify your property lines to avoid accidental encroachments and conflicts with your neighbours and/or the city/township
Prioritize safety by researching and using locators to mark the locations of underground lines and cables before any excavation
1. Maintain privacy
It’s important to take privacy seriously in this day and age. One way to do this is by NOT posting photos of the keys to your new home. A photo of a key can be “read” or copied, which would give people access to your house.
Most photos these days are taken on smartphones, with very highly capable cameras that can pick up almost every notch on a key.
Once criminals have a photo of your key, there are several ways they can make a physical copy, including using a 3D printer or online services that only require the code located on the head of the key.
2. Change locks
There is no way to know who had keys provided to them by the previous owner, so it’s best to change all locks to ensure you are the only person with working keys.
Changing the locks and keys also includes doing so for garage doors, gates, sheds, and any other buildings located on the property you’ve purchased.
Getting fresh, new keys is a fun way to start your homeowner journey and reap some of the new homeowner benefits.
3. Reset smart home devices
Smart home devices are gaining popularity. If the previous homeowner left behind some smart-enabled devices like thermostats, security cameras, and locks, or garden irrigation systems – check that all devices have been factory reset.
Since most of these devices can be connected using a smartphone application, it’s best to check it yourself and ensure that previous residents no longer have access to the vital systems in your home.
Smart systems can include appliances, like TVs, Wi-Fi systems, garage door codes, etc. Log out of anything with a user profile and erase all data on the device.
You can do this using our upcoming tools by making a checklist of all the smart devices you own. Then, you could do a quick search outlining any devices you need to change the credentials on. Then you could keep track of the devices you’ve made changes to using our tools.
Let’s say you’re waiting on information from the previous owner (like a security key, for example) you could use our tools to set different statuses for each device that you’ve changed.
For example, you could set the ones you’ve changed as “complete” and the ones you’re waiting for information on as “pending.” Then, you could re-use the list in the future, like say if you sell the home and have to change over the smart device credentials again.
This way, you can ensure your new home is secure and your info is safe in the future.
4. Protect your identity
There’s likely nothing scarier than the thought of losing your keys, but it’s not as scary as the thought of your home potentially being broken into.
That’s why you should refrain from having a key chain that displays sensitive information. If it displays your address, for example, this will tell the finder of the key's important personal details about you.
5. Test alarm systems
The alarm system is important since it warns you about hazards, however, it can only warn you if it’s working. For the system to operate and communicate alarms properly, it needs to be tested and maintained regularly.
Check that all the smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are up-to-date and functioning properly in your new home. You don’t want to find out during an emergency that your fire extinguisher is expired.
You can do this using our upcoming tools by creating a list dedicated to the alarm systems in your home. You could use it to keep track of the ones you’ve tested and have yet to test using statuses and create a schedule for when they need to be re-checked in the future.
Then, you can keep reusing this list to ensure that your alarm systems are always working and up-to-date.
6. Be prepared for emergencies
An important aspect of being prepared for emergencies is having an exit plan. This could include outlining a safe place to gather in the event of a house fire and determining emergency exits in the home.
The government of Canada suggests planning “a main exit route and an alternate exit route from each room.”
Unexpected situations and circumstances result in accidents. That’s why you need to be prepared for emergency situations BEFORE they occur in your home.
Another way you can be prepared for emergencies is by locating the water, power, and gas shut-off in your home. They also need to be visible and easily accessible - there should be nothing blocking the route.
The last thing you want to worry about during a fire or plumbing emergency is how you’re going to access these vital locations to prevent further damage.
You could make your exit plan using the tools we’re building, Then, you could include important information, assign responsibilities to your family members, or set the status of items to ensure your peace of mind knowing the vital information has been read by your loved ones.
7. Verify warranty information
Broken appliances are a hassle. That’s why you should verify that the warranty information has been provided or transferred for appliances in your new home.
This includes warranty documentation, receipts, and anything else that indicates important product information. It’s better to have it if it's ever needed than to have to rely on contacting the previous owner in the future.
If you can't find the paperwork for your appliance, you can usually find extended warranty information on the manufacturer’s website.
You can make a detailed list of your new home’s warranty information with the tools we’re building. Create a list detailing all the warrant information you need to keep track of/find.
Then, you could use statuses to separate the ones you’ve found or received from the previous owner from the warranty info you still need to find. You can also create a schedule for their expiry dates, so you ensure that you get any parts or items fixed/replaced before your warranty runs out.
This will save you time and money in the future since warranties often cover high-value items with expensive parts to replace.
8. Determine property limits
Did you know? In the city of Guelph, Ontario, if a tree sits on the boundary of land between the city and private property, it is considered a shared tree. This means that legally, there is shared ownership and responsibility.
This is common in many cities and townships, so it’s best not to touch anything that is shared without consulting the co-owner.
That’s why it’s important to verify which parts of the property belong to you and which belong to neighbors; which belong to the city/township, and which are shared.
It can prevent potential disputes with your neighbors in many scenarios— like when you’re planning to build something on your property.
You could manage this using our tools soon. Create a workspace dedicated to your property line management add a task called “shared trees, etc.”
Then, you can assign your neighbour to the task, find/book a local tree removal service, and manage the costs between you and your neighbour .
Both of you can monitor, approve/disapprove of any decisions you make in the workspace, plus see the progress of the task in real-time. This will prevent disagreements or miscommunication, which could lead to lawsuits and hassles you don’t want to deal with.
9. Take precautions on social media
Do not post photos or indicate when you’re away from your home for a long period of time. Posting vacation photos or telling social media that you’re away at work, for example, can tell thieves that your house is vacant.
Another terrifying thought is that the thief could be waiting for you when you arrive on vacation or at your workplace.
Only tell your closest friends and family about your travel plans. You have no idea who’s lurking on the internet, so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
You can detail your travel plans using our upcoming tools by creating a private workspace. Then, you could share the workspace with a trusted friend or family member so they can conveniently find your travel details if needed, yet the info is still kept safe from prying eyes.
10. Call before you dig
Whether you plan to dig on private or public property, you should always call before you dig. There could be gas and electrical lines, sewer piping, or telecommunication lines buried beneath where you plan to dig.
This could result in serious injury or damage, as well as major fines. Before digging, locators are often required to come out to mark the location of buried underground lines and cables, so that you can dig safely.
Make sure that you do the proper research the ensure the proper procedures are taken before digging.
You can complete this task conveniently using our tools. For example, you could create a workspace for your digging tasks, find and connect with locators and digging services in your community, plus track your progress all in one place.
Now you know how to keep your new home safe with confidence and ease!
You’re aware of what not to share online. You’re equipped with what you need to do to ensure the locks, devices, alarms, and appliances in your home are safe and functioning.
You’re learning about your property but more importantly, you’re ready for emergencies. As you embark on your homeowner journey, it's crucial to keep these safety tips in mind to ensure a secure and worry-free living experience.
But with these 10 steps clearly defined for you, you’re ready to take action in safeguarding your new home.
Stay tuned for more guides on how to achieve your goals using our solutions and keep in mind that soon, groundbreaking tools will turn these principles into actionable steps.
Software and Process Design - a group of expert problem-solvers crafting software solutions that redefine. Learn more about the work we’re doing at softwareandprocessdesign.com
