A Little Fall in the Air — and a Good Time for a Security Reset

Well, it finally felt a little different outside this morning.

After the stretch of heat we’ve had around Memphis, I’m probably not the only one who stepped outside and thought, maybe fall really is coming. Of course, those of us who have lived here long enough know Shelby County weather can change its mind pretty quickly, so I’m not putting the shorts completely away just yet.

Still, this time of year usually means we start changing a few things around the house. Bathing suits and pool stuff get put away. Jackets come back out. Garages and storage rooms get rearranged. Patio furniture, lawn equipment and other summer gear start moving around.

It’s actually a pretty good time to do a quick security check while you’re at it.

Check the doors you used all summer

If you’re moving things around the garage, make sure the door from the garage into the house still locks properly and isn’t being left unlocked out of habit. Take a look at side gates and backyard doors that may have gotten a lot more use during the summer.

Look at the camera view, not just the camera

If you have cameras, pull them up on your phone one evening and actually look at what you can see. Trees grow, shrubs fill in and things get moved around. A camera that had a great view in March may be staring into a crepe myrtle by September.

Shorter days, working lights

The days are getting shorter, too. Check the lights around the driveway, front porch, back door and sides of the house. A burned-out bulb is about the cheapest security problem you’ll ever fix. Quality camera images and optimized lighting go hand in hand.

Don’t leave valuables in view

And while you’re digging out coats and fall clothes, it isn’t a bad idea to look through the garage, shed or storage area and make sure tools, bikes and other valuable items aren’t sitting where they’re easy to see or grab.

Fall is a perfectly good excuse to walk around the house or office at closing time and look at it with fresh eyes — doors, lighting, cameras, locks and who still has access. Give me a call, email, or text if you'd like help or want to address anything.

Hopefully this cooler air sticks around for a while. Either way, enjoy it while we’ve got it.