When you take possession of a rental property, you’ll want to make it your home. However, the rental property still belongs to someone else, and you could inadvertently damage it. Not only that, you could also face damage threats from a variety of other hazards.
Do everything you can to reduce these damage risks and protect the property and your belongings. Though you have renters insurance to help out, it is better to prevent losses at all costs.
Here are just a few of the critical safety and security items you should add to the home.
Items To Place In The Home
When moving into a rental home, include the following safety items on your packing lists. If necessary, call your landlord to make any needed updates to the home.
- Fire Extinguisher
You want to prevent a fire from breaking out. If you have a fire extinguisher in the home, you can immediately grab it to try to get a blaze under control.
Don’t forget to test your smoke alarm batteries when you move in. It is a good idea to replace these batteries in the first few days at home. For added help, consider purchasing a grease screen for cooking, or a fireplace screen, if you have a fireplace.
- New Door & Window Locks
Your landlord should change your locks before you move into the house, and provide you with new keys. Check with them to ensure they do so. Also ask if they can place new locks on windows, cellar doors and other entryways besides main doorways.
- Streaming Camera and Smart Security Features
Today’s smart-home industry allows homeowners to easily connect security cameras, locks, doorbell cameras, lights and other items to their smartphones. For an affordable price, you can find a variety of items that you can easily assemble and install. Therefore, you’ll be able to keep an eye on the home right from your phone screen, even when you are not there.
- Strong-Arm Lock Box
Even with the strongest locks and security systems in place, someone could still get into your home. Put your most-valuable items — such as passports, credit cards, birth certificates and social security numbers — in a strong-arm lock box or a safe. Place the master key in a safe place, and only tell the most-trustworthy parties where you store the boxes.
- Outdoor Lights
If your landlord allows, ask them if you can install a few new outdoor lights around the home. For example, you might be able to add motion-detection lights near the driveway that will come on automatically when you come home. This can also let you know if anyone walks onto the property after dark.