Living within walking distance of a sports arena is many people’s dream, but there are extra concerns that come with it, like needing additional home security. Read below for those and other things to consider before buying a home in a sports city

• Plan around games: Fans that live within walking distance don’t really have to worry about this. But if you aren’t attending the game, plan around game-time gridlock.

• Expect large crowds: Don’t expect it to be quiet or peaceful with droves of fans pouring into your area to cheer on their team.

• Enjoy more entertainment: Bars, restaurants and other attractions are plentiful near sporting venues, so take advantage of them when they aren’t crowded with visiting fans.

• Get more security: Larger crowds will mean more people, which in turn mean more potential intruders, whether they are over-celebratory fans or career criminals. Invest in a good home alarm system to help you concentrate on pulling for the team.

Enjoy your time out on the town and don’t compromise your personal and home security by being careless. Help ensure your fun and safety with these nightlife safety tips.

• Buddy up: Partner up with someone. Having another person with you will make you less susceptible to nightlife hazards.

• Tell someone else: Let someone else know where you’re going ahead of time in case an emergency happens.

• Be aware of surroundings: Know the address of the club you’re going to and the location of its emergency exits.

• Guard your drink: Never accept a drink that you didn’t see prepared. Also hold onto it to help prevent someone from slipping something malicious into it.

• Return home carefully: A home security system can help give you peace of mind, but also rely on your instincts. If a suspicious person follows you home, go to a well-lit, busy public place and call 911.

Moving into a new place can be exciting, but just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you should forget about home security precautions that homeowners typically follow.

• Points of entry: All windows and doors should lock properly. Alert your landlord if they are damaged or seem faulty.

• Deadbolt required: A deadbolt that opens with a key from the outside is a must for any home. One on your bedroom door can also slow down an intruder from getting to your valuables inside.

• Lock changes: Some landlords will re-key properties when renters change. If your landlord won’t re-key your lock, it’s worth paying the money yourself to keep a former tenant from burglarizing your home.

• Monitoring services: Some rentals come equipped with a home security system provided by the landlord. Make sure that you know how to use and activate the system.

As they say, it’s a buyer’s market right now. Up your curb appeal and follow these simple suggestions to help improve your quality of life until you bait those buyers and move out:

• Detail the exterior: Update the address numbers on your house and mailbox if they look even the least bit worn. Buyers may not notice these details, but it can impact their overall impressions.

• Make an entrance: Treat your front door and entryway with special care by painting it and creating a welcome space once buyers are in the house by strategically placing furniture and decorations immediately inside the doorway.

• Fix your fixtures: Make sure that fixtures throughout the house have been dusted, and look updated and modern.

• Organize your space: Use organizational tools in your closets and pantries so potential buyers will feel like they too, can be organized if they move into your home.

• Secure the perimeter: Prominently display your home alarm system yard and window signs so home security won’t appear to be a problem.

Help your parents age comfortably and safely whether they reside in their own home or an assisted living facility. Be sure to check these areas of the place they call home to ensure their well-being:

• Bathroom: Look through the medicine cabinet and see if the amount of medicine there is equal to what your parent is supposed to be taking. Also make sure that floors are slip-proof.

• Bedroom: Test that area rugs don’t slip around and clothing is in good quality and clean. If not, take your parent shopping or make sure that the washer and dryer are easily accessed.

• Kitchen: Check the expiration dates and nutrition of the food in the fridge to make sure that your loved ones are eating healthy foods.

• Home security: Install smoke detectors or make sure existing ones still work and have batteries. Show your parent how to operate the alarm system.

Moving to an area with exciting activities aimed at tourists can lead to a great deal of discovery. But there are some special considerations you must make while planning your move to a tourist town. Keep these things in mind to ensure that you’ll have as much fun in your new town as the tourists.

• Check out the neighborhoods: Chances are, there are a multitude of neighborhoods far from the tourism area and one will be perfect for you. Research nearby schools, crime rates and how tourists may affect your home security. Look into getting a home alarm system, especially if you’re not familiar with the area.

• Explore a little: Venture outside of the typical tourism area and find out what the residents love to do. Chances are there are great local haunts that are even better than all the tourist magnets.

• Avoid busy times: Know when and what parts of town are busiest with tourists, and figure out how to avoid them.

• Consider tourist prices: Remember that because you’re living in the midst of a tourist attraction that you’ll have to pay vacation prices for a lot of things like meals and entertainment.

Taking all the necessary precautions to deter burglars from breaking into your home – including investing in a home security system – is important. But don’t forget to protect your guest house and other places where you store expensive equipment like lawn care tools. Here are some tips to help you secure your home’s storage units and guest house.

• Display protection: Don’t just post yard signs and window decals for your home alarm system by your house. Make sure that at least one of these home security decals is on the outside of your storage shed or guest house. It can serve as a deterrent, just as it would on your house.

• Lock it up: Invest in a good lock to place on the door and make sure the windows are secure.

• Mark your property: Tag your expensive equipment and tools, so that it’s obvious they belong to you. This can include placing a nametag on tools or writing your name and address on them with a permanent marker.

Make sound decisions while dealing with door-to-door solicitors. Protect yourself from bad business practices and potential criminals acting like salesmen with these safety tips:

• Learn community restrictions: Many communities have legal restrictions on when and where door-to-door salesmen can work. Learn and apply them.

• Advertise home security: Display window decals and yard signs for your home alarm system as a deterrent for potential intruders that disguise themselves as door-to-door salesmen.

• Report problems: If a solicitor won’t leave when you ask them to, call the police.

• Watch them afterward: Look to see what the person does after they leave your door. If they check to see if doors are locked or do anything else suspicious, call the police immediately.

• No outside offers: If someone approaches you soliciting outside of your home, say “No thank you,” go inside and lock the door behind you.

Purchasing your first home is a big step, so make sure to help protect that investment by spending a little extra money on the services that can come in handy:

• Home security system: Give yourself peace of mind with a home alarm system from a leading provider like ADT, which comes equipped with window decals and yard signs that advertise your system.

• Insurance carriers: Explore and compare rates of home insurance carriers, and keep a record of your belongings. If  a disaster occurs, you’ll know what to replace.

• Repair contractors: Outsource your home repair to someone who knows what they’re doing so that future repairs will be less frequent and you can concentrate on enjoying your new home.

Little ones can get into anything, so it’s important to take simple precautions around the house to prevent compromising home safety. In addition to helping keep your entire family safe with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that often come with home alarm systems, invest in these simple child safety devices to help keep your kids safe:

• Latches and locks: Put these on cabinets and drawers with medicine, cleaning products, chemicals or any other things that could be harmful to your child.

• Gates: Look for gates that screw into doorways and railings instead of ones that rely on pressure. Place them at entrances to stairways to help prevent falls or rooms that have hazards in them.

• Outlet covers and plates: Cover outlets with these to help prevent electrocution and be sure to choose ones that are too large to swallow.

• Door knob covers and locks: Prevent access to hazardous rooms and areas like a garage or pool with these. But make sure they lock or secure easily after area access.

• Corner and edge bumpers: Soften sharp corners or edges with these to reduce the chance of injury when a child falls.