Moving into new house - suggestions?

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stonecutter2

stonecutter2

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Hello, fellow high roaders! I'm closing on a house this week, and it will be the first house for my fiancee and I. I would like to hear any and all suggestions about what I should think about doing while getting settled in - as far as home defense and security.

My fiancee and I are changing the locks on closing day, and we've agreed that we'll need to buy a gun safe before we have children (we're getting married next June).

What are some things we should think about doing to make the home more secure?

What should we think about for gun safe placement?

I have 3 pistols, a revolver, and a Ruger 10/22.

Our basement is finished, with a large family room (home theater-type room), a carpeted room (office), and a somewhat large separate room that is unfinished, for the washer and dryer.

Thanks for any ideas you can provide!
 
First, I suggest getting a safe now, not just in the future because of children. My safes are mostly to keep my guns out of the hands of thieves. They are mid-level priced, not the most premium fire-resistence but very stout.

I have two safes, both in my basement. This way (1) they are out of sight of most visitors, since I don't like to advertise my firearms; (2) a thief would have an awful time getting a loaded safe up the stairs. There are a couple of pistols secured elsewhere in the house for just-in-case.

Good locks, motion-activated security lights outside.
 
Hmm. I'll pitch the safe idea to the fiancee then, and see what she thinks. Do you secure the safe in your basement? How hard is it to do that?

Motion activated security lights are a good idea, too. Especially for the backyard. We back up against grazing land for a farm, where someone could get into our backyard, and out of it, without being easily seen.
 
I live in a very safe neighborhood. Our house was broken into the first day in was unoccupied after we moved in. Be very aware of security issues in your first couple weeks of occupancy.

Good luck with the house. And the marriage too, of course.
 
I'm going to make a note to talk to my fiancee about being absolutely sure we lock things up, and keep an eye out for anything suspicious. In the end, we can only do so much, but it's worth discussing that we're basically flagging ourselves for anyone interested in breaking in to carry off nicely packed free stuff.
 
Mine are screwed to the back wall. The arrangement is not particularly secure, but each safe has enough stuff in it to get the weight up to several hundred pounds so a couple of guys are not going to carry them anywhere.

A side benefit is that when we go on a trip, some jewelry, good binoculars, any cash, whatever around the house that I'd hate to lose goes in the safe too. I keep a couple of good fly rods in there. Can't get a big TV in there, though.
 
Security

I'm closing on a house very soon as well. If at all possible, have your safe bolted to the floor, preferrably with bolts extending into a concrete floor. But any flooring to bolt into would be better than not doing so. Knowing the neighbors and finding some you trust will go a long way to enhancing security. You are undoubtedly aware of these kinds of common-sense recommendations. Good luck.
 
Get a dog - bigger is better, but a lap-yapper is great for alerting you. lights, alarms, GOOD locks, a safe - all good. Plant thorny bushes under every window with pea gravel - try walking on gravel without making noise and climbing through roses. make sure your fiancee knows how to shoot as well - there may come a time when you aren't home.

Good Luck
 
Ah. Pea gravel is a good idea. I've got some, I just have to move it. I don't recommend using it for a driveway, like the previous owner of our house did.:)

I like having dogs. I'm not too worried about NOT KNOWING if someone is coming into my house. And if they continue breaking and entering with all the barking, I have some idea of the threat level, too.
 
congrads....

what to do is anything to slow them down.....
double sided dead bolt locks on all [solid core] outside doors: one key opens all exterior door locks.
triple track storm windows.
drilled keyed locks and hinges on 1st floor windows

and add a hinge; this alows you to open the window a bit and moves out of the way for wide open.

creat a remote lights on/off from the MBR for select lights in the house. thus after you leave the MBR with your flash in one hand and gun in the other your SO can backlight the BG's. and do an all lights on at your command.

a dog or two is very useful and when you have children they clean up after them--double plus good.

outside auto lights if you are going to use them anyways [like for intertaining or the pool] are worthwhile.

consider training house clearing with e-muffs. i can hear a murmer from anyplace in the house with mine.
 
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I agree with the thorny bushes. If you can find them, plant Rosa Rugosa, or Japanese Roses. They're incredibly tenacious, thorny and hard to get rid of. It's essentially nature's own barbed wire, and it looks pretty too, I guess. You don't need to care for it at all.
 
big dog

akita, german shepherd, malinois or doberman bitch. treat it right and you'll never have a better friend. only downside is they die too young.
 
Dog...Check
Safe...Check
Gun...Check
Hardened doors...Check
Double locked windows....working on it.

walking around the neighborhood mumbling to myself how "I can't wait to try out my new chainsaw" while giggling hysterically...check
 
Be sure all outside doors are substantial and get non bumpable high security locks, (door knob and dead bolt) all keyed the same. You can't buy these at home depot and the keys can't be copied there either. Use security strikes with 3 inch screws. Use the brass door sleeves where the locks go.

Consider getting a monitored alarm and wire all doors and windows. Good for fire protection too. And don't forget to use the stickers the alarm company gives you.

Since you have a basement I would consider building a rebar reinforced cement room and install a quality safe door. If it were large enough it could double as a safe room (with the correct door) If this were out of the question buy the biggest best RSC (gun safe) you can afford and bolt to the floor and back wall. It's also best placed in a corner.

Security lighting is always a good idea as are large, obedient, intimidating dogs. The idea about thorny plants in front of windows is also good.

Plenty more good ideas out there, just surf the net for Home Security.

Good Luck
Dallas Jack
 
Since moving seems to draw a lot of attention think about moving in in the middle of the night or early morning hours.


Last time I moved I swear people would come to a dead stop while driving by and stare directly at you.

"Golly gee it looks like they are unloadin some boxes."

Freaking amazing isn't it?
 
triple track storm windows.
drilled keyed locks and hinges on 1st floor windows
Click to expand...

Sorry but that's a fire hazard. A few years ago a whole family perished when they couldn't get out of a window due to a keyed window lock. It's still a good idea to drill for a lock, but use an eyebolt instead. That way ANYONE can just yank the bolt and open the window from the inside. Just don't actually screw it into the frame, drill a hole slightly larger than the bolt and simply insert it. I'm a window cleaner by profession and see some really scary setups.

I also use braces on all the doors. It'll at least slow down someone trying to bust in at 3am...or 3pm for that matter. They'll make a big racket in the process, I even tried it on mine!
 
...with home invasions increasing almost everywhere...I'd recommend adding a deadbolt at about knee level with a knob not a key on the inside...the usual is to rush the door...one kick destroys most doorframes, and the second deadbolt will buy you enough time to reach your firearm...which should be on your person or within reach...sorry, but that's the times we live in...I have them in every room of the house...and my wife, who hates guns, doesn't know the location of any of them...you can hide them well and still have instant access....light is your best friend at night..take a bright flashlight with you everytime youi come and go...Home Depot and Lowes have several in the 3 to 4 watt range that are LED and blind well...
...don't ever think "Not our neighborhood"...I live in a small town...quiet and tame...three times in the last year, couples were home invaded in daylight and beaten/robbed...one man died of his injuries...one was an ex-neighbor...one was someone who'd worked for them once...taken in one where the perp rolled in under a half-opened garage door and beat both man and woman senseless with a pipe........took all the guns as part of his loot...they weren't ready.....
 
Keep your safe or safes in a room to small to swing heavy tools and use much leverage.
Build the room with expanded metal over the studs and under any finished covering (sheetrock or paneling) good strong door with deadbolts on both sides.
If you live in a wet climate think twice about the basement until you get a little history with the place.
 
Consider Larson Secure Elegance stormdoors on all exterior doors. These have a triple locking mechanism and shatter resistant security glass. You can get them at Lowes and probably some other Larson dealers. You even qualify for a energy saving tax credit on them.
 
I have barberry bushes ( red berries and BIG thorns) under most but not all windows. I should get more this fall. The house is from 1824 so it has a large cellar door that is not that secure and OLD double pane windows. I have a wireless alarm system hooked up to ADT on all doors and windows. There are also motion detectors in the basement and entry ways. I also have smoke dectectors hooked into the system.

I also have drilled the wooden window frames and inserted an eight penny nail through both windows. That will prevent anybody from lifting the window. If they break the glass somebody should hear it.

I also have a very wide driveway. I have invited the cops (both staties and local guys) to hang out there and catch speeders. They sit there all day :)
One motorcycle guy told me he caught 26 speeders in a couple hours!

No deterrent like a black and white in the driveway ;)
 
Thank you all so much. Some great advice here, and great links. I'm going to start making a list, and discuss with my fiancee. We can do several things outlined here to increase our security quite a bit. She has two cats, but we're thinking of getting a puppy (a bigger dog might freak out the cats, and/or harm them). At least with the puppy we'll have ourselves a built-in security system in enough time!
 
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