Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors- The start of daylight savings time is a great reminder to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test the alarms to make sure they're working or install a fresh battery. If the smoke detector is older than 10 years, it should be replaced. Each floor of the house should have a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide detectors often have an expiration date as well, so check to make sure your alarms haven’t expired. If they have expired, replace them immediately.
Don’t forget to lock doors and windows - When the temps rise, it's tempting to leave doors and windows open to let the fresh air in after a long winter. Just be sure to lock storm doors and close everything when you’re away, or at night.
Maintain a well-lit property- A dark, unlit home is a welcome invitation for burglars. By the nature of a burglary, light is counterintuitive. Burglars do not work in well-lit areas because of the chance of getting caught is much higher. Making sure that your outdoor lighting is always functioning well is a key aspect of maintaining a safe property.
Make house numbers visible- In an emergency, responders will need to find your house easily. If they can't see the numbers on your house, it will delay their response time when every second counts. Make sure the numbers on your home are clearly visible from the street.
Plan carefully before vacation- Going away for Spring break or other holidays? Keep an extra car parked prominently in the driveway (or ask a neighbor to park their car there) to create the appearance that you're home. Use lighting timers to schedule your lights to go on each night while you're away.
