What to Change by Moving to a New Place
When you move into a new property, you are probably just one of the many residents who have lived there over the years. This means that there are some safety (and hygiene) hazards that should be addressed as soon as you move to a new location.
The list starts with a basic security measure recommended by Redditor u / Lionel_Vs_The_World at r / LifeProTips, which might be the only thing standing between you and a home invasion :
The first thing you should do when moving to a new home is change locks. You never know who might have a house key.
Yes! Certainly! You have no idea how many people had the keys to your apartment. Former tenants could hand them out like candy. Maybe they threw key parties every weekend, or they just had a free open door policy when friends cycled to and from the apartment. If you are renting, do not change the key without consulting the landlord; some may refuse or agree if you offer them a copy of the key. The rules for changing the lock may also be covered in your lease and it is advisable to discuss them with the landlord prior to signing.
The replies to the Reddit post also include stories from several people who regretted not doing it, as well as recommendations for blocking the key code from u / Vaporware371 if you replace everything anyway:
I switched to combination locks. It was more expensive at first (locks + some extra holes in the door) but it was worth it. I can install a code for someone who is at home or working and then change it immediately for free. It’s also nice to walk or ride a bike as I don’t need keys.
Keep in mind, however, that the code is easy to share and there is debate over whether they are actually a safer option for home security (for example, at Lifehacker, we generally do not recommend smart locks ).
Some people have advised checking the hinges while you’re at it, like u / Jjayray , as builders tend to use the ones that come with the kit that are too short for real protection:
Also insert the longer screw in the door hinge.
(a metal thing attached to the frame that closes the door)
The screw that comes with the door handle is an inch long and only screwed into the door frame and cannot reach the stud in the wall.
Buying long screws and just replacing them with a drill is a pretty easy thing to do, and you can see a tutorial on how to put in new screws in stripped doorjambs this old house is created here .
There are also some other tips on what to change when moving to a new / old location. As u / newtekie1 writes, the garage appears to be very vulnerable:
The second thing you need to do is reset your garage door openers so that they forget all the old remotes. Anyone can have an old remote control in their garage. You can reprogram existing remotes, you don’t need to buy new ones.
If you want to do this, there are several different types of remote controls, and most of them have easy-to-find tutorials online. This is a basic catchphrase from Aaron, the garage door expert on YouTube:
Some posters have raised the ante on this topic, such as u / EyeGifUp , which argued that you should get completely new remotes:
So that’s the point. If they come out of the consoles, then the frequency is the same. If they have a machine that writes to the remote, rather than programming directly to the opener, that means that even if you reset it, the previous owner will still have access.
In general, I bought a new remote and reset all the other programmed ones. It is more expensive, but worth it.
U / Zesty_Pickles then gave some tips for new homeowners that were more about getting to know a new home and what works and what doesn’t:
It is also very important:
Check / buy REAL fire extinguishers. Make sure the one you have is rated for a real fire. You know, something that you really want to get your hands on when the shit starts. Make sure everyone in the house knows where they are and how to use them.
Figure out how to turn off the water and Make everyone in there learn to do this too. The difference between how you turn off the water when you drive home after calling and your child / spouse / whoever does it when they come home to find her instead of calling you first … easy can be tens of thousands of dollars.
Buy bathtubs and put them in all bathrooms. Yes, even a guest bathroom. Damn you all you bastards who don’t. Also notice the difference between the sink piston and the toilet piston. I guarantee that many of you are using the wrong one.
This last tip, courtesy of u / sonia72quebec , is more about hygiene than safety, but it makes sense:
Also changing the toilet seat.
In fact, you can’t argue with that.