6 Tips to Keep Your Home Safe and Secure

How to Protect Your Home

When it comes to home maintenance, everyone thinks of weatherproofing, but does anyone think of thief proofing? Last year, there were 8,632,512 property crimes, costing an estimated $16.6 billion, which includes burglary.

Here are a few home security basics to help you protect your home.

Check Locks and Latches – Add checking locks and latches on windows and doors to your regular maintenance routine. All it takes for a thief to gain entry is a single broken latch.

Cut Back Trees and Hedges – Maintain sight lines to the street by removing trees and hedges that obscure key entry points into the house. The lack of a suitable place to hide is sometimes enough to deter would-be criminals.

Alarm System – Consider an adding alarm system. Modern systems offer features like remote access, security cameras and 24-hour monitoring. Here’s what you need to know before buying an alarm system.

Security Lights – Install security lights anywhere a potential thief might look to gain entry to your home, including back doors, attached or detached garages, covered porches and any other outbuildings.

Beware of Bragging – Avoid broadcasting big-ticket purchases via social media – this could be an invitation for trouble. It’s also a good idea to shred any receipts or credit card statements that may alert thieves to your recent purchase (this also helps prevent identity theft).

Keep Control of Keys – Get in the habit of gathering keys from contractors or household helpers after they are done. Be careful about using a smart key system that allows you to rekey locks yourself – some are easily picked.

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6 Things to Review Before Buying a Condo

Is condo life right for you?

Buying a condo instead of a single-family home offers first-time buyers, urban dwellers and empty nesters many advantages, including less maintenance, access to amenities, often a desirable location and, of course, a lower price tag.

Not all condo associations or boards are created equal, so you should definitely research the

Condo Inspection

Condo Inspection

property. Here are a few things you should consider when buying a condo or a town home.

Governance – Find out how the homeowners association (HOA) makes decisions about finances, use of common property and enforcement of bylaws. It’s also a good idea to learn what your voting rights would be as a property owner.

Property Management – Determine if the property is managed by the homeowners or by a third-party management company.

Bylaws – Determine if there are any rules and regulations that you may not be able to comply with. Common bylaws include pets, noise, parking, use of amenities, maximum occupants, age restrictions, unit rental and alteration of the unit space.

Finances – Review the financial statements and annual operating budget to determine if there are adequate reserve funds set aside for future repairs and building maintenance.

Building Condition – In addition to having the unit inspected, assess the overall building and common property. Often the property management company will be able to provide a technical audit that details current conditions and anticipated repairs.

HOA Fees – Review what is included in the HOA fees. Ask if there have been any special assessments, which could signal construction issues or poor financial management.

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