Five Ways to Make Your Home Safer and Add Resale Value

Written by Posted On Sunday, 16 September 2018 22:44

Above anything else on their checklist, including school district and location, homeowners want a home that is safe, first and foremost. As a seller, knowing how to make your home stand out above the rest is critical to getting the kinds of bids you want. That said, there are myriad ways you can improve the safety factor of your home today, instantly boosting its resale value and credibility.

 

The good news? Most of these updates include little alteration to your current setup. Rather, they are inexpensive yet essential transformations that can help you stand out, get noticed, and earn a reputation as being a diligent and concerned homeowner yourself. Let’s take a look at five ways to make your home safer.

 

1. Update your alarm system.

This is the first step on our list because it is the most important and the most comprehensive. Do you currently have a safety alarm installed at your home? If so, do you activate it when you leave the house? What about every time you go to sleep at night? If not, you’re not making full use of its functions and you could be putting your family and belongings at risk.

 

Most homeowners who choose to forego an alarm system either do so because they assume their area is safe, or they are equipped with an ill-working and outdated system that appears to be more trouble than it’s worth. If you fall into the later category, it’s time to make an upgrade. Research options that feature the technology and tools you want and dedicate yourself to making the investment. Research reveals that 90% of would-be burglars are deterred by the presence of an alarm system. Once you buy the alarm, complete the process and make sure it’s registered with your city. This is an important step that many homeowners miss, but that could save you a significant amount in hefty fees should the police respond to your unregistered alarm in the future.

 

2. Add sensors to your doors and windows.

Along the same lines as installing an alarm, it is also important to install motion sensors around areas of key activity. The most common areas homeowners choose to install these systems are around doors and windows. A window sensor will sound an alert when a window is hinged open or shut. You can also install a door sensor to work in much the same way, chiming when you open it or close it.

 

Do you open and close your interior or exterior doors and windows frequently? If so, many modern alarm systems allow you to customize your sensor settings. For instance, you may want to have your front door sensor alert you to motion after 10:00 p.m., after everyone in the family is typically in bed. Or, you may want to receive a text if your windows open any time you are away from home. The built-in flexibility that these settings afford means that you can directly control when and how you receive updates and notifications on your home’s security.

 

3. Analyze your stairs.

A two-story home can be a great selling point, but the reality is that although they are convenient, staircases can also be a major trip or fall hazard. While Points 1 and 2 dealt primarily with home security, this step is designed to help you make the interior of your home as welcoming, comfortable and safe for those guests or family members you do want to enter.

 

If you have young children or are marketing your home as family-friendly, it can be helpful to install stair gates at the top of the landing, bottom of the stairs or both. These can help prevent children from falling down the steps if they’re playing at the top of them or from crawling up them unsupervised down below. The best way to make your stairs accessible and safe for an older generation is to analyze them for any trip hazards. Pull loose carpet tighter, trim any loose threads, make sure the lighting is bright and adequate, and remove any toys or other objects that may be obstructing the path.

 

4. Anchor heavy furniture.

You may have seen reports on television of furniture falling onto small children as they reach up to grab an open door. While these incidents occur most commonly in poorly-built furniture that is top-heavy and comprised of inexpensive materials, if given enough force, any heavy piece could tip over unannounced. That’s where furniture anchors come in. In short, these tools usually include hooks that usually screw into the drywall behind the piece, along with a short wire or chain that is attached to the piece itself. When tugged on, the wire loses slack but remains intact.

 

Especially if you plan to leave much of your furniture to the new homeowners, it’s a good practice to go ahead and anchor your heaviest furniture to reveal your dedication to keeping your family safe and to give them an idea of how they could anchor their own furniture once they’re in the space. This is also a great way to help homeowners understand the concept of social host liability. In other words, even if they don’t have children, they may anticipate having children over at some point and if something were to happen, depending on the circumstance, they could be held liable for any injuries incurred. Adding furniture anchors is a quick step that can make a big difference down the line.

 

5. Fence in your pool.

Another great addition to a home that most sellers look for and appreciate is a swimming pool. While these can be great gathering points and are ideal for entertaining, they can also be incredibly dangerous when they aren’t prepared and handled correctly.

 

Before you have even one guest over for a pool party, enclose yours with a four-sided fence. It should be four feet high at the very minimum. This is to make sure that no one can enter from the outside, nor can a small child wander from another part of the property into the pool without adult supervision. Remember however, that children are not the only population prone to drowning. It is a real concern for all of your guests and as such, mitigating that risk should be a top priority.

 

Keeping Your Home Safe and Sellable

Though this list is far from comprehensive, these are five simple ways you can quickly and cost-consciously add real value and safety to your home. As you move further along the selling process, consider if there are any other elements you can further safeguard.

 

From your sidewalks and landscaping to your roof and fireplace, chances are you’ll find plenty of areas that could use a little TLC to get them up to speed. Where it’s viable, go ahead and make the investment to improve these spaces. You’ll be glad you did, and your buyers will be as well.

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