One Thing to secure your home, best of all, it’s FREE!
It’s bothersome that this even needs to be said. However, I am finding this one thing far too often.
When I approach someone’s home, I take a look around. It’s just a glance at first. Is anything out of the ordinary? Is something out of place? I try to establish an immediate baseline. Is the lawn mowed, the bushes trimmed? Does the property look clean and cared for? Basically, does it look like someone is actively living there?
Next, I move on to look at windows and doors. Are the windows low to the ground? One recent client who wanted a risk assessment completely threw me off my usual approach. This client did not have a storm door. Just the main entry door that opened outward…and it was not closed!
The homeowner admitted that they thought they had closed and locked the door. Clearly, that was not the case. The one thing you can do to enhance your safety today, for free, is to close your door!!!
Another thing I do with doors is knock on them. Not just a light tap either. I make a hard fist and pound on them. Firstly, I want to be heard. Secondly, is the door and frame in good repair? Does the door close tightly, or does it bang around when I knock? Can a tool be pushed between the door and the frame to pry it open? Six times out of a thousand doors, I have had doors come ajar. They opened by the force of a firm knock!
Once again, please close your entry doors. It’s free. It is the one thing you can do to increase home safety today!
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