The school holidays are coming to an end – how times flies! Soon the early mornings will be back, with bags packed and lunches made, the school run will be part of your daily routine again. But when your routine changes, your home security habits can change with it. After weeks of relaxed mornings, open doors to deal with the heat and people coming and going, now is a good time to take a fresh look at your home’s security before everyone gets back into the school routine.
Are You Leaving The House At Different Times?
During the holidays, it’s fairly common for someone to be at home for a lot of the day. One school starts though, normal routines are back and the house could be left empty for several hours at a time. Which means it’s worth checking that all of your doors and windows are properly secured before everyone heads out. This is even more important now, since the extreme heat has warped a fair few window and door frames!
We know this might sound obvious, but busy mornings can make it surprisingly easy to forget something. A window left open upstairs or a back door that hasn’t been locked properly can leave your home unnecessarily vulnerable.
Have Your Keys Changed Hands?
Children getting older means giving them more independence. And this term, they might have their own house key so they can let themselves in after school. It’s convenient, but it’s also worth thinking about who, and how many people have access to your keys. If you’ve handed out spare keys over the years to family members, neighbours, babysitters, do they still know where they are? Did you change the locks when you moved in, so previous owners didn’t have a copy? If you’re not sure who could potentially have a key to your home, then changing the locks can be a simple way to regain control and keep your home secure.
What About The School Run?
The school run can be hectic some mornings. Almost all mornings if you’re in our house! Trying to get everyone out of the house on time means that making the place secure as you fight to get out of the door isn’t at the front of your mind. So this year, try to make locking up the house is part of your routine. Check that doors are locked instead of just closed, and that any accessible windows are shut and locked before you go. If you regularly find yourself wondering whether your remembered to lock the door, then a smart lock or other suitable home security system could provide additional reassurance.
Is Your Front Door Lock Up To The Job?
Your front door is one of the most important points of security in your home. If your lock is old, damaged, or it’s starting to be hard to use, don’t ignore it. A lock that sticks or that you have to jiggle the key is trying to tell you that it needs attention. The start of a new school year is a good reminder to deal with those small problems before you have an emergency on your hands.
Don’t Forget The Back Door
It’s easy to focus on the front door and forget about the other entrances. Back doors, patio doors and side entrances can all provide potential access to your property, and are the most often left open. We’ve spoken to many a parent who’s done the school run and come home to an unlocked back door, simply because they glanced at it, saw it was closed and checked the box off in their brains. Take 5 minutes now to make sure that your other doors are secure, and that the locks and frames are in good condition. And if your children use a back or side entrance to get home from school, make sure everyone knows how to lock it properly once they’re inside.
Are Your Children Security-Aware?
As children become more independent, it’s worth giving them some simple security habits too. A few things to make sure they know include:
- Not to leave doors unlocked when they’re home alone.
- Not to give keys or access codes to friends.
- Not to tell people they’re home alone.
- What to do if they lose their key.
- How to check that doors and windows are secure.
These are simple things, but making them part of the routine can help protect the whole household.
So, are you ready for the new school year? A change in routine is always a good opportunity to review how you’re doing things now and see where you could improve them. It could be replacing that deadbolt that’s been rattling all summer, or fixing that window that keeps on jamming. Or it could be as simple as asking for a professional opinion on your security system. If you need some help, we’re always here to answer any questions and provide impartial advice. Just get in touch with our team today.