Welcome a safer spring in New York City

NYC Spring Cleaning Checklist

Ways to welcome a safer spring into your New York City home

After a harsh winter, New York City is ready for a change of scenery. Milder temperatures call for a fresh home from the inside out. At Target Security, we have comprised a way to say goodbye to snow with a spring-cleaning checklist made with New York living in mind. According to the New York Times, the cost of a house with a yard in the metropolitan area of New York City is about 18 percent more than living in the city. Thus, New York City dwellers have different home safety precautions than the typical suburban homeowner. For example, it is important to pay close attention to windows near fire escapes as well as ladders in the backyard of a building that are convenient for upper-story entries. However, less yard means spending more time on securing and safely protecting your homes interior. Let’s take a look at ways to clean & safely protect your home in the city. Spring Forward to Safety in NYC Start with your front door. If you have a home alarm system, we recommend advertising this with a sticker or sign provided by your servicing company. Additionally, burglarproof your home through its appearance by keeping lights on a timer near visible windows, especially if living on the first floor. You may also want to add an access control system or an alarm system fully equipped with motion & window sensors tailored to your home’s needs.

Once you’ve observed your front door’s appearance, take a look around your home’s interior. Strategize the best way to clean and safety proof your home based on its current state. Then start with simple activities like cleaning and dusting- this protects against asthma, illness and other breathing problems.  If you are most likely living in a high-rise or multi-level unit, make sure you to observe your home’s air flow and circulation. Another important cleaning task (and possible spring break chore for kids) is to toss expired foods, medicine & even makeup from the cabinets and the fridge. More advanced safety measures include carefully fall-proofing your home to avoid injury. According to the Department of Health’s Home SAFE Home booklet, falls are by and far the top reason New Yorkers are hospitalized each year. Second to falls, fires rank in the top 10 of New York deaths. Therefore, electrical-proofing your home is a must. Do so, by looking for wires and chords that may be tangled, easily visible or chords underneath a rug. You love your New York City home as much as we enjoy helping you stay safe. This is why we’ve provided simple tips to DIY your way to squeaky-clean perfection and activate a safer home just in time for spring.

New York City Spring-Cleaning Checklist

  1. The spare key: Provide trustworthy family & neighbors with an extra key in case of emergency.
  2. The evacuation plan: In case of an emergency create an in-home escape route that the whole family will understand and agree upon. (Then practice together!)
  3. Create an emergency contact list: Compile the most important numbers that are visible and easily accessible for you and your family. Additionally, teach younger children the home address and how to dial 911.
  4. Keep house “alive” when away: Whether on vacation or out for an evening, using lighting can be an effective way to appear home when you’re not.
  5. Install deadbolts on exterior door(s): Regardless of your home security system, we strongly recommend securing your home to it’s fullest by adding stronger locks to the exterior doors of your home.
  6. Install window guards: Regardless of height, ensure windows open easily from the inside only and are safely protected to avoid falls and break-ins.
  7. Check expiration dates: From food to medicine, check expiration dates and toss old goods.
  8. Install or check alarm system on house: Whether already in place or being installed, it is important to check the alarm system yearly to make sure it is running properly.
  9. Check wiring & connections: Around home, observe lighting outside and wires and extensions chords inside checking for frayed or exposed chords.

Download your free Spring-Cleaning Checklist, here.

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