Homeowners, both new and old, need to keep one common thing in mind when doing any sort of remodeling job: Safety. Safety within the home is not only necessary for the safety of the homeowners, but for the negating of recurrent problems within the home. Most accidents and injuries occur within the home. There are so many miniscule elements that we fail to consider in our everyday lives as a safety threat. A home safety evaluation, also known as a home safety audit, ensures that your home is safe when any negative situation arises.
The first step of this process is to compartmentalize the safety evaluations that you have to conduct. If you were to, for example, inspect the whole home at once, the evaluation would become overwhelming, and likely less accurate. During an inspection, you can choose your focus based upon two sets of criteria. The first criteria is topic. Examples include fire safety, home security, pests/ insects, mold, radon, smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, lead paint, and other miscellaneous inspections, such as asbestos and general toxic materials. The second criteria that can narrow your inspection is room/ special request. Special requests can be anything from a newborn entering the home in the near future, to the arrival of an elederly relative who is planning on living with you.
In terms of inspecting by room, there are different procedures to consider for each space. For example, when completing a bathroom safety evaluation, you must make sure all pipes are free of rust, corrosion, and signs of leakage. In the hallways, you must make sure that there is a carbon monoxide and smoke detector on every floor. In your basement, you must make sure that the home has a solid foundation. In terms of the outside of the house, you must research security and alarm systems to ensure the safety of you and your family. All of these small procedures are monumental in keeping your home safe, and there are many more to consider.
Among all the different types of inspection, and all the different rooms and spaces to evaluate, there is one common thing that all homeowners must have in place: A safety plan. According to FEMA, nearly 60% of Americans do not practice what to do in a disaster and only 39% have an emergency plan. The first step is to consider your family needs. You may need to make specific accommodations for certain family members, from infants to senior citizens. You must next make a disaster supply kit, that can allow you and your family to live for 72 hours through the use of the items within the backpack. Next, you must make sure that you have a proposed route to a destination where you can stay if you are unable to go home. Next, stay connected. Figure out a plan that connects all family members through radio, text, or other methods of communication. Finally, document your plan. Make sure that your family has its plan written down, and practiced.
At Detoma Construction, safety is our number one priority. We are looking to expand into the home safety evaluation sector, and are looking forward to assisting in not only helping build your home, but making sure that all living in it are safe.