Home safety is more than locked doors and alarms

 

 

It is quite ironic that I am publishing this blog. While a friend of mine is extremely cautious and pretty well does everything suggested here, two weeks ago she mistakenly left her patio door unlocked and an intruder came into her home at 2:00a.m., (she was in bed but awake) and heard him. He calmly stole cash out of her wallet and her Iphone and Ipad off her desk, even taking the time to take the Ipad charger out of a power bar! It was a harrowing experience so she cautions you to ensure you do your due diligence to protect yourself. It could have been a lot worse.

When it comes to home security, most homeowners think about door locks and alarms. These are, of course, very important. However, there is also a lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in.

One important part of home security is outdoor lighting. Your home doesn't need to be lit up like a baseball diamond at night, but your exterior lighting should illuminate your yard enough to be a deterrent to burglars.

Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your home. Security experts suggest that you walk around your property and look for areas where someone could hide, such as behind tall shrubbery like a cedar hedge or behind a tool shed. Make sure these areas are well lit.

Pay particular attention to lighting around exterior doors, especially the back door. Home security experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed with a timed dimmer. The lights can then be set to cast a bright light in the early evening, and then a dimmer light throughout the rest of the night.

Lights installed with motion detectors can also be effective in certain areas. The sensors will cause the light to turn on or brighten when someone comes onto that part of your property. Generally, thieves will flee as soon as they see a light turn on.

Do you hide a spare key under the front door mat or in a flower pot? No matter how clever you think you are, experienced thieves know all the common hiding places. So, if you need to have a spare key available, put it in a small combination lock box and hide the box. That way, if a burglar finds the box, he still won't be able to open it and access the key

I will discuss many aspects of home improvements, buying, selling and moving in upcoming weeks but in the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at ckidd@trebnet.com or call 416-505-7513.

Doubling Your Storage Space (While Using the Same Space)

Finding storage space in the home is becoming increasingly challenging.  These days, we all just seem to have more stuff!  Fortunately, you don't necessarily need to rent a storage locker or add a new room to your home to fit everything.

There are many innovative ways to increase the capacity of the storage space you're already using. For example, there are storage bins you can buy that are designed to fit neatly under a bed. Some have wheels, making the bins easy to pull out and access.

You've probably seen closet organizers at your local home improvement centre. These can easily double the storage capacity of a closet, while making the space look neater and more organized.

Finally, there are storage units available that are camouflaged as something else, such as an ottoman.

Visit your local home improvement centre. There are many more innovative storage solutions available for your home.

I will discuss many aspects of home improvements, buying, selling and moving in upcoming weeks but in the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at ckidd@trebnet.com or call 416-505-7513.

Easy Ways to "Go Green"

These days, most people want to do their bit to help the environment.

Unfortunately, not everyone is willing, or able, to install solar panels on their

roof or implement an in-ground heat recovery system. Luckily, there are many smaller things you can do that can make a big difference. Here are some ideas that can help you "go green" easily and inexpensively.

Get a recycling bin and learn how to use it. Most jurisdictions have a recycling programme. Keep a list of items that can be recycled on your fridge door, so that everyone in the family can participate.

Get a kitchen compost bin.

Did you know that composting can reduce landfill waste by as much as 32%.

Use energy-saving light bulbs.

Low energy light bulbs have come a long way in recent years. Their consistent glow and brightness now rival their incandescent counterparts. By replacing regular 40-watt bulbs with energy-saving 8-watt bulbs, you could save nearly 50% of the electricity you used for lighting. Results may vary by brand.

Shop for local produce.

Many grocery stores and supermarkets offer produce – fruits, vegetables, – that are grown within a 100 mile radius. The short transportation distance, means significantly less fossil fuel is required to get the produce delivered to your local store. Keep in mind that some non-local produce, such as apples in the off- season, often need to be transported thousands of miles.

Let nature do the work.

As an alternative to air conditioning, open windows and block out the passive heat gain from the sun with curtains. Do the opposite in winter. Strategically using curtains and windows can lower your energy bill by as much as 20%.

As you can see, you don't have to do much to have a "greener" home. Just

a few little changes can make a big difference.

I will discuss many aspects of home improvements, buying, selling and moving in upcoming weeks but in the meantime, if you have any questions please email me at ckidd@trebnet.com or call 416-505-7513.