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When working as a home inspector and now watching home inspectors work while helping my real estate clients (hey, I don’t have to go into crawlspaces anymore!) there are low-hanging items that can be installed to increase the safety of the home and the people in it.
- Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Seems simple, but most homes don’t have enough detectors or don’t have them in the proper locations. Check out this site to see if you’re doing it right: First Alert
- GFCI and AFCI protection. These are specialized electrical outlets and breakers that monitor electrical current. In the case of a GFCI, the device will shut down a circuit quicker than it would take for errant electrical current to kill you. AFCIs work by monitoring electrical arcing that can lead to fires. Both devices are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.
- Water-leak Management. You can go large or go little with the level of water leak management; whole-house leak detection devices with automatic shut offs or battery operated alarms you can place near fixtures. Whichever you choose, I recommend some sort of detection device because water damage in your home is very expensive to remedy.
- Handrails and Lighting in Stairwells. According to the National Safety Council, falls attributed to the second leading cause of death in a home behind poisoning. So do what you can to prevent these accidents by installing handrails and good lighting at stairs inside and outside of your home.
