Safety Tips Home Buyers Should Heed

Make sure all doors to the outside of a home are metal or solid hardwood and have good, sturdy locks. 

• Sliding glass doors should be secured with commercially available bars or locks. 

• Make sure all windows — especially those at ground level — have good locks, and use them. 

• Lighting is important, so be sure all porches and other possible entrances are well illuminated. Motion-sensing lights are an especially good option for outdoor lights.

• Keep any bushes or trees that hide doors or windows trimmed.

• Keep a tight rein on trash. Those homeowners who recently bought big-ticket items, such as a new entertainment system, should not put the empty boxes out by the curb. It can attract the attention of would-be thieves. A better idea is to cut the boxes down and stuff them in trash bags.