The holidays bring joy and peace, but they can also bring package thieves, fire hazards, and the inevitable injury from trying to get the last decoration on top of the tree. From tried-and-true security methods to basic safety best practices, taking the appropriate precautionary measures will help keep your home and your loved ones safe this holiday season.

Home Security During the Holidays

Upgrade Your Locks

A poorly installed deadbolt can make it easy for an intruder to break in. Start by making sure that your door frames are in good condition and then look into getting a higher quality deadbolt. You’ll find everything from classic models with keys to digital options that require passcodes or a fingerprint.

It’s also a good idea to check all the locks on your windows. Older window locks can be easy to jimmy open with a little wiggling. For ground floor windows, you may want to consider installing double locks for added security.

Exterior and Interior Home Lighting

Having your exterior lights on timers or motion sensors is a good way to deter nighttime lurkers. Add sensor lights at your home’s key entry points including the front door, back door, and/or basement. If you have an unused side yard, consider lighting that area as well. Keeping your home well-lit makes unwanted visitors weary of being seen.

Traveling during the holidays is common. If you plan to be gone from your home for an extended period, consider using timed lighting options in your home to make it appear someone is around. You can select timers for bedrooms or living areas. Also, you can program a radio or smart home sound system to turn on and off.

Alarm Systems

You have many alarms to choose from, varying from motion detection kits you can install DIY to full-service home security systems.  If you choose to do-it-yourself, you’ll want to prioritize installing motion detectors on doors and windows—especially those that can be easily accessed on the ground floor. In most cases, these kits also offer a 24-hour call service for an extra fee.

Full-service security systems can include everything from an alarm system and panic buttons to an integration with your smoke detectors/fire prevention system. These services are expensive up front but usually have a reasonable monthly rate. And keep in mind: having a home security system installed can also reduce your insurance rates.

Security Cameras

Security cameras are widely available for home installation; install them in high-visibility areas to deter burglars. You can either install DIY or purchase a professional system, many of which come with support services. Nowadays, it’s common for these products to sync with your smartphone, making it easy to monitor your home while you’re away.

Build Your Community

Online community pages, Facebook groups, and programs like Neighborhood Watch can help you build close-knit relationships with your neighbors and help a community feel safe at home knowing its members are all looking out for each other.

Home Safety During the Holidays

Candle Safety Tips

Candles create the perfect ambience at home during the holidays but having more open flames in the house means you’ll want to take a few additional precautions. Test your smoke detectors and replace their batteries. Make sure you have a functioning fire extinguisher nearby, preferably in the living room or kitchen where you can access it at a moment’s notice. For more ways to prepare in case of a fire, read How to Prepare for a Fire at Home.

Lights Safety Best Practices

Before you string up your holiday lights, check all cords and outlets for signs of damage and make replacements as needed. Turn your lights off when leaving the house and before you go to bed—it’s safer and more energy efficient. You can either meter your light usage manually or with a smart home lighting device.

Safe Storage Tactics

It seems that a holiday season rarely passes without a decorating-related injury. Broken ornaments can be hazardous, especially if you have young children. Prevent accidents by securely storing your holiday decorations in easily accessible areas. Investing in high-quality containers will also extend the shelf-life of your décor.

Ladder Safety

Your holiday decorating will inevitably lead you to the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of your home, both indoors and outdoors. Ladder safety is paramount, especially if your local winters come with freezing temperatures and icy conditions. If that old rickety ladder in the garage is on its last leg, consider investing in a newer model. When decorating trim, ceilings, and the roof, it’s best to have another person stabilizing the ladder below you.

To learn more about home safety and security best practices, smart home technology, and more, read our Home Safety and Security blog post.

­­­­­­Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: AsiaVision

Cat owners are often faced with many considerations as they fill their homes with toys and cat trees to appease the kings and queens of the household. One such consideration is how to best use the space. Adding a catio to your home will help keep your cat entertained and safe and can be easily customized to fit the needs of any living space.

• Buying with Your Pets in Mind

The Benefits of Adding a Catio to Your Home

A catio can offer a wide range of benefits for you and your cat, including daily enrichment opportunities. Catios provide easy access to the outdoors where they can stimulate their senses. By providing this connection to the outside world, cats can independently spend their days as they please with a wide variety of options to choose from.

Catios also keep your feline friends safe from the dangers that lurk outside. While they’re able to enjoy the outdoors, the enclosed space keeps them nearby while keeping predators out. This prevents accidents with cars on a busy street and run-ins with potentially harmful animals found in residential areas such as raccoons, and in certain areas, coyotes. It also keeps out other cats, preventing exposure to diseases and accidental pregnancies.

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: ahloch

In addition to the benefits catios provide for your furry friend, you will also improve the livability of your home by reducing the damage to your furniture and rugs or carpet. When your cats can enjoy that space, they are less likely to exert their pent-up energy on your carpeted and upholstered pieces.

For those cats who act on their hunting instincts, a catio is also a great way to keep local wildlife out of your home. From their perch in their enclosure, they will get to smell and watch birds, mice, and rabbits, but they won’t have the opportunity to hunt them. Saving these lives helps your neighborhood’s ecosystem and saves you from having to clean up the mess afterwards.

Providing a litter box outside can also improve your indoor air quality by reducing smells, chemicals, and bacteria associated with cat litter. Of course, it’s not wise to replace an indoor litter box with an outdoor one, but by adding another one that’s nearby, your cat will use the indoor box less.

What Can You Do with a Catio?

The simple answer: anything you want. Catios are customizable for your space and your cat’s interests. Answering these two questions will help you start the process of designing or choosing a design to build.

1. How much space can you offer to the enclosure?
2. How will the cat(s) enter the enclosure from the house?

You may also want to consider what kind of exposure to the elements you’re comfortable with, whether it’s open air or if you need a little more protection from the elements with a solid exterior. While in some areas wire fencing might be all that’s needed, regions with harsher climates may require a more robust setup, such as insulated windows.

Catio Options

If you have a smaller space, you may consider a catio attached to a window, which won’t take up any additional square footage. Much like a garden box, you can attach a small shelf-like enclosure just outside your window and stretch it as far out as desired. The entry point can be the window, making it easy to open and close.

Image Source: Shutterstock – Image Credit: SvetMedvedeva

Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: ahloch

If you have a yard, you can give your cat a tunnel. A simple addition to the home, attach an elongated box that juts out into the yard for your cat to explore and get a 360-degree view of the elements. You can attach this to an existing cat door or add a cat door on an exterior wall.

For those with a larger space, or if you already have a patio set up, you can build out a catio like an extension on your home. Attach the large enclosure to the exterior and use either a window or cat door for entry. Use the structure to offer a multitude of options on the outermost walls, like shelves, ramps, and hammocks. Customize it with your cat’s favorite things, like scratching posts and pet-safe plants. You can even add a chair for yourself in there if you want!

For more ideas on caring for your pets, home maintenance, and more, visit the Living category of our blog:

Windermere Blog – Living 

Featured Image Source: Getty Images – Image Credit: Moyo Studio