Security Features That Add Value to Your Toronto Home

Realtor Donna Bulika shares some tips to help you keep your Toronto property secure — while adding to its value when it’s time to sell.

Smart Tech Features

According to PC Mag, there are a number of different apps that allow you to not only secure your home with smart security technology but to monitor activity in and around your home, even when you’re far away. Systems can also be programmed to connect immediately to local authorities, which can help ensure that if there’s an emergency, you’ll have help on the way in short order. Smart tech should be integrated along with some basic analog security measures including deadbolts, locking windows, and safety features like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors.

Internal Security Measures

From doorbell cams and smart locks to full-home security systems, there are many ways to give you peace of mind around your family’s safety and well-being. Depending on the type of security system you have in place, you may have voice- or sound-activated features. For example, some security systems can register the sound of glass breaking, or detect other unusually high or loud noises that could indicate a fall, a struggle, or an accident in the home. This can be especially helpful for older adults who live alone at home and may be concerned about personal safety issues.

You can learn more about the latest devices and how to troubleshoot them by going online and reading up on expert reviews and recommendations from experts in the industry.

Outside Security Measures

In addition to technology-based security, there are also provisions you can take outside your home to ensure it’s as safe and secure as possible. For example, avoid planting obscuring plants and trees next to windows and doorways where somebody could potentially hide.

CNET also recommends using motion-sensing lights outside, as well as making sure your home is generally well lit, both in the front and in the back. Installing security cameras can also help deter any bad actors, as can displaying a sign in your yard or on your windows that indicates the premises are being monitored and recorded.

Neighborhood Security Features

Many subdivisions have neighborhood watches where neighbors essentially keep an eye on one another’s properties. If you’re in a gated community or have a guard gate with a security code access feature, you add an extra layer of security that can be viewed as an upgraded feature that can bring you a significantly higher price tag for your home when you list it for sale. Properties that have security guards nearby or bike or car patrols can also add a sense of security and make a home more desirable.

Assessing Your Home’s Value

If you want an idea of how your home may do on the market, conduct an online search and compare similar properties in your neighborhood to get a feel for approximate property values. Online listings will also detail all of the various amenities different houses have, which can give you a better sense of what your competition looks like. A knowledgeable real estate pro like Realtor Donna Bulika can also offer advice about the most sought-after features homebuyers are looking for.

Home safety is one of the most important elements that prospective homebuyers look for when scouting out different properties in Toronto. In addition to ensuring your home is safe, secure, and comfortable, the addition of security features can also help lower home insurance rates and ultimately add value to your home.