Things That Keep You Up at Night

You’re lying in bed trying to fall asleep, but your eyes are wide open, and your heart is racing because all you can think about is, did I lock the back door? Is the baby breathing? What was that noise?  With all the things there is to be worried about when owning a home, every season feels like spooky season. We at OHi want to help you relieve those worries by ghost-busting five of the most common homeowner scares.

Who's Watching Me? (Home Security) 

Do you constantly look behind the shower curtain before using the bathroom or think you hear someone when you’re home alone? It can be hard to sleep when you always feel like someone is watching you. It may be time to update your home security. A few easy-to-use security systems we recommend are the Ring doorbell or Ring Alarm Pro and the Google Nest. These are both easy to install and allow you to check your cameras from your phone so you can always see who is around your house. Another safety feature we recommend is window entry detectors that will alarm you if your window is opened or the glass breaks. Double-checking your locks is a great way to reassure yourself that you are safe, but most locks, even deadbolts, can be easily picked, which is why we recommend installing a deadbolt protector to stop the lock from being turned from the inside. The last thing to stop you from being up all night is putting a piece of plywood in your sliding glass doors to block someone from entering your home if they break the lock.

The Witch Doctor (Senior Safety)

There’s nothing scarier than someone you love getting hurt with no one there to help them. If you have a senior citizen in your life who needs an added level of protection in their home, our advice for you is, “Ooh ee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang.” Just kidding, we wish it were as easy as that, but the primary way to allow your loved one peace of mind in their home is installing grab bars in the bathroom. These bars will enable them to quickly get in and out of the bathtub and on and off the toilet without falling.  Other excellent preventives are non-slip bathtubs and flooring, auto shut-off appliances in the kitchen, working fire alarms, emergency buttons on a necklace or bracelet, tapped-down area rugs, flattened thresholds, entrance ramps, and stair lift chairs. Alexa and Google Home are great features to introduce your elderly parents to technology as it allows them to set timers for food and alarms to take their medication.

There Will Be No Blood (Baby Proofing)

Having a baby opens a new level of fear; not only do you have to raise them, but it’s now your responsibility to keep this tiny human alive, and that’s when you realize what a death trap your home can be. To ensure the only thing keeping you from sleeping is when your baby wakes up for a feeding, add tractable gates by the stairs or doorways to keep them from getting away. You can add locks to your cabinets and toilet, put outlet covers in all of your outlets, and cornet blockers on sharp-edged furniture. Lastly, the Owlet Dream Sock connects an app on your phone and monitors your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels to reassure you they are healthy and alert you when something is wrong.  

I Put A Spell on You (Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors) 

Keeping your home spell-proof is vital to a good night's sleep. The best way to do this is to install smoke alarms on every level of your home, on the ceiling, or on top of the walls inside and outside of sleeping areas. You want to test your smoke alarms monthly, and be sure to replace the batteries annually. To keep your home from being the target of the Sanderson sister’s next spell, keep your smoke alarms away from the kitchen at least 10 feet from the stove. If you are a deep sleeper or hard of hearing, you can use a particular alarm with strobe lights. Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, so having a working carbon monoxide detector is crucial. You also want to test it monthly and replace batteries annually. You’ll want to put these above gas-burning appliances on every level of your home.

It's a Graveyard Smash (Egress Windows)

If you are working in the basement lab light at night, you’ll want to make sure there is an egress window installed for a quick getaway when your eyes behold an eerie sight (i.e., a fire or burglar). In most areas, building codes require egress windows in your home as they provide an emergency exit. In basements, egress windows must be at least 36 inches in width and height and have a fully functioning opening. They also must include a window well that has enough space for you to climb out. You can install a plastic cover to keep people and animals from climbing into your window wells. You may want to check that your windows meet the requirements and replace a few if they don't, as some older homes may not have egress windows in bedrooms or basements.

Keeping your home safe and your sleep peaceful is important to us, especially if you’ve recently remodeled. For more home safety tips, check out our blogs or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.