Poor security measures in a potential new home may not sway
your purchasing decision, but at the very least, you should check what is
already in place and where the weak points are.
Then you will have an idea of what you would be in for cost-wise to make
your new home safe.
Here is a quick checklist from Trellidor:
• Is every door and window protected with barrier security?
• Check barriers for signs of wear and tear or weathering;
old-style burglar guards screwed into rotting wooden frames; rusting screws;
security gates that don’t slide easily; welded units that have loosened over
the years. These may need repairing or
replacing to secure the home properly.
• What make are the burglar guards and security gates? Estate agents may tell you that they are all
Trellidors, when in fact they are not.
This is important if you need repairs done, locks replaced or to
purchase extra security gate keys.
• Can the seller give you a full set of original keys? If you do not know who has access to the
home, door and security gate locks may have to be replaced.
• Ask to see how the alarm works and when the service
provider last checked it.
• Ask for contact details of the neighborhood watch group
to check on crime in the area.
• Check perimeter security, particularly hiding places for
car hijackers and weak points like broken walls or over hanging tree branches
that may have to be dealt with.
