Step 1: Secure

There are a number of things you should do first thing to make your new home as secure as possible.
 

• Make sure your insurance coverages and information are up to date. If you need new home, property or flood insurance, now’s the time to find out.
  
  
• Create a new, easily accessible emergency contact list, especially if you’ve moved some distance from your old home.
  
  
• Replace the batteries (if applicable) in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure all of these systems are in good working order.
  
  
• Replace fire extinguishers, making sure you have enough strategically placed so you can access them easily from all corners of the house.
  
  
• Activate the home security system if there is one installed or install a new one (a home without a security system is more than three times more likely to be broken into.)


• Change all the locks in your home, as there’s no telling how many sets of old keys are floating around out there. Options range from re-keying current locks to replacing your exterior locks with the latest keyless smart locks. Some of these can even be controlled from anywhere on your smartphone.

Step 2: Assess

Did everything arrive – and arrive intact? Is your new home clean and ready for you to move in? Is everything working as it should be?
 

• Check all appliances, boxes and furniture for moving damage and don’t hesitate to file a claim with your mover if anything is amiss.
  
  
• Clean before you unpack. This is the perfect time to deep clean, including getting vents and ductwork professionally cleaned.
  
  
• Plan where you want all your furnishings to go before you start moving things around.
  
  
• Organize drawers, closets and storage now, before you actually start packing them full.
  
  
• Check all home systems – from HVAC to electric service to utilities – to make sure everything has been hooked up, set up and is operating to your liking.

Step 3: Settle In

It’s time to unpack, unwind and start enjoying the fruits of your labor. The end is in sight. According to our friends at The Spruce, organization is the key.
 

• Determine your color scheme and decorating needs before you settle in and do as much of your painting and staining as possible before moving day.
  
  
• Develop a plan for unpacking and decide where you want things to go before you open that first box.
  
  
• Apply that same thinking to setting your furnishings, creating vignettes on your shelves and decorating.
  
  
• Unpack one room at a time, starting with the kitchen before moving on to bedrooms, bathrooms and larger, multi-use rooms (in that order).
  
  
• Make sure you’re getting your mail. This isn’t something you want to discover was overlooked a week into your new home.

Step 4: Connect

Do friends and family know where to find you (well, the ones you want to find you, anyway)? Do you know who to call should you need anything? Make a list!
 

• Don’t hesitate to ask your realtor for their list of contacts. He or she is a great resource for everything from plumbers and painters to local take-out.
  
  
• Update your own contact lists, from family and friends to those all-important emergency numbers to local services.
  
  
• Get the lay of the land. Where is the nearest good pizza? How about the nearest pharmacy? Your nearest Lowe’s or The Home Depot? Scope it out.
  
  
• Reach out to your immediate neighbors and introduce yourself if they haven’t already taken the initiative.
  

Step 5: Celebrate

It’s time to celebrate by giving yourself a well-deserved house warming party. Here’s how, from Better Homes and Gardens.

Welcome home

For people selling their home, very often the best investment is to just switch out their entryway door hardware incorporating convenience, security and curb appeal. For new home owners, however, an investment in all new door hardware, indoors and out, will continue to pay returns right up to and including when you’re in the market for your next new home.

From all of us at Schlage, congratulations. We’re here to help you make your new home as secure as can be with our innovative, high performance and stylish mechanical and electronic door hardware.

The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt, Schlage Connect™ Smart Deadbolt and Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt are perfect for home automation and making your home smarter. These are but a few of the products Schlage offers to open possibilities for you and your new home. Share with friends and family who are looking to make a move and help open possibilities for them, too.

Every dollar you invest in properly preparing and staging your home for sale adds about $2 to the selling price on average. There are a few simple and affordable DIY projects you can do to add even more value, giving you a better chance to get your asking price – or more. The best part? Most of these will cost you little more than some spare time.

With some prior planning and a little DIY know-how and ingenuity, your home sale can be a pleasant and rewarding experience.

Five steps to selling for more

Here are five simple rules when staging your home to sell. Other handy links throughout, like this one to Realtor Mag, will take you to even more in-depth explorations.

1. Depersonalize:

Potential buyers want to see themselves in your home. Removing photographs and other personal items that reflect specifically on you, your family and your interests allow for buyers to fill in the blanks with imaginings from their own lives. Removing such items, packing them up and investing in a small self-storage unit will pay huge dividends for a relatively small investment.

At the same time, set the dining room table as if you were expecting friends over for dinner, set up your front porch for entertaining and clean off the back patio or deck and stage it for a barbeque or garden party. You want your guests to see themselves living there. And loving it.

2. Maximize:

You’ll want to make your home feel as expansive and livable as possible. Start by decluttering – a self-storage unit can help with this, too. From cleaning out closets, cabinets and drawers (buyers will snoop), to removing throw rugs from your bathroom, living room and kitchen, there are lots of little things you can do to make your space seem larger than life.

Open up the curtains and let the sun shine in. Replace old, worn window treatments with inexpensive yet stylish new shades, curtains or shutters. Get things up and off the floor and out to storage. Remove excess furniture. Add mirrors for style and openness. Make every room big, bright, open and inviting.

3. Sanitize:

Your home can’t be clean enough. A spotlessly clean home tells a bigger story about just how much you cared for and maintained your home. Perception is reality. Scour the bathrooms and the kitchen, using water and bleach to remove mold and mildew. Really work to clean every nook and cranny. Scrub and polish floors, vacuum and shampoo carpets and any rugs you decide to leave about. Wash your windows. Clean and polish appliances (inside and out). Dust and wax furniture and bookcases. We’re talking a deep clean here.

You might consider a bonded and insured professional cleaning service that is experienced in cleaning for home sellers. This is where your realtor can come in, so don’t hesitate to use him or her as a resource for finding anything you might need. Here are some additional suggestions from Angie’s list.

4. Neutralize:

In the continuing effort to let the buyer envision themselves living in your home, think neutral when styling and staging. Repaint key rooms in neutral colors. Decorate with monochromatic hues (for instance, using fresh, white towels in the bathroom instead of bright colors and replacing window treatments with clean, white curtains and shades). Declutter bookcases and replace half of your books with strategically placed pieces of art, vases or other simple, unobtrusive touches. These all serve to invite potential buyers to imagine your home as theirs.

Keeping things simple and clean – and reducing clutter – are among the easiest and least expensive ways to prepare your home for sale.

5. Modernize:

Projects you invest in to modernize your home will more than pay for themselves when you sell it. Don’t be afraid to replace old kitchen appliances. Re-paint or stain old kitchen cabinets. Replace outdated cabinet hardware and plumbing fixtures. Replace that old vanity in the bathroom with a new pedestal sink. These kinds of simple upgrades – many of them weekend DIY projects or a short jaunt to Lowe’s away – will work wonders.

Another simple update that pays big dividends is replacing your old front door lock with a keyless electronic lock. Instead of having a realtor’s lockbox or spare housekeys floating around out there, you can program up to 30 individual security codes depending up on the lock type you select. Codes can be activated, de-activated and replaced as often as you see fit. And with some of today’s locks, you can program them from anywhere, using your smartphone.

A new lock with a stylish new handleset is the perfect finishing touch to that front-porch refurbishing project. It adds curb appeal, convenience and next-level security – and affordably. It also makes a great first impression when prospective buyers come calling.

Schlage electronic locks

Schlage offers a wide selection of keyless options from which to choose. The Schlage Connect™ Smart Deadbolt, Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt and Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt allow easier home access using your smartphone all while improving security. These are all reflective of a heritage of innovation and style that dates back to our company’s founding when Walter Schlage first patented a door lock that also turned on a home’s lights.

Schlage electronic locks are the ideal DIY project. They are easy to install, requiring only a screwdriver and a little free time. They’re available in a wide selection of styles and finishes. And they add peace of mind that’s very welcome among the stresses and anxiety that come with selling a home and planning a move.

Is your home ready to sell? Think depersonalize, maximize, sanitize, neutralize and modernize and you’ll be well on your way.

Like most things, the decision to hire a professional in lieu of employing a DIY solution has its trade-offs. But the decision to hire a professional locksmith can pay for itself in time, convenience and peace of mind when it comes to something as important as helping to secure your home.

Schlage has many products that are easy to install with nothing but a screwdriver and some handy know-how. But we’ll also be the first to recommend a licensed, registered locksmith if you’re looking to rekey your locks or undertaking a big task like replacing all the door hardware in your home. And if you’ve ever locked yourself out and locked your keys in, then you already know how valuable it is to have a relationship with a local locksmith or at least know where to find one. Allegion’s (maker of Schlage Locks) online locksmith locator tool gives you quick, easy access to a registered professional.

Here are the 5 top reasons to think about letting a locksmith do it:

1. Convenience

A licensed, registered locksmith will have the tools and the expertise to handle most any challenge. And that’s 24/7, 365 days a year. You’ll save time, get professional service on your own schedule (even in an emergency), and help is rarely more than a click or phone call away.

2. Knowledge and Experience

Did you just move into a new home and are looking to rekey your exterior doors, providing single key convenience for all your locks? This is just one example of service requiring a level of expertise even the most intrepid DIY enthusiast probably doesn’t possess. No worries when you leave it to a qualified ALOA (Associated Lock Smiths of America) professional and to locks you can trust.

According to Jared Gehle, Schlage Channel Sales Manager: “You should look to a locksmith anytime you’re not sure what you need or have any doubts about how to upgrade or install or upgrade your door hardware.”

3. Quality you can trust

Schlage doesn’t make locks that are easy to rekey since they generally don’t meet our strength and integrity standards. We recommend the job be left to professionals and to the guarantee of quality service they’ll provide.

Says Gehle: “Fitting new hardware to existing door openings or undertaking something potentially complicated like rekeying or replacing a number of locks throughout your home can be a lot of work. A locksmith allows you to prepare for any eventuality, saving you time, money and aggravation.”

4. Peace of mind

In more than a third of the two-million-plus burglaries that occur each year, the perpetrators come in through the front door. Don’t trust your home security to just anyone. Or any old lock. The Schlage brand is trusted by professionals and home owners alike with a heritage built on nearly 100 years of innovation, strength, quality and style.

5. Value

You get what you pay for. Getting the job done right, right from the start, will pay for itself many times over. If you have a non-standard door, if you’re replacing locks and the door measurements don’t conform to Schlage specifications (if you’re replacing a mortise lock, for instance), these kinds of adjustments are many times beyond the skill level – and patience – of a DIY project.

Gehle concludes: “Even if you think you know what you’re doing, don’t hesitate to contact a locksmith for advice, a specific product recommendation or for helpful tips. There’s no substitute for expertise and experience. They’ve got all the right tools. And a locksmith will be there for you at every turn.”

Considering hiring a locksmith to rekey your locks or install new ones? Define what is important to you, choose a licensed lock professional you trust and visit Schlage.com for more information and a wide range of innovative, stylish, top-grade door hardware possibilities.

Selecting outdoor décor is fun because it’s so easy to switch things up season to season without spending a fortune. You’ve already seen a few of our easy DIY tips for increasing your home’s curb appeal this summer. Here are a few more great ideas to steal: the top outdoor trends of 2018 courtesy of Style and Design Chief Ted Roberts.

Q&A with Ted Roberts

Q. What are some of the top outdoor trends you’re seeing pop up this year?

A. We have been seeing a closer association between the outdoors and indoors, both this year and in 2017. This is reflected not only in the popularity of natural materials, textures and floral-inspired motifs throughout the home, but also in the items we see adorning porches, patios, decks, and yards. Products for exterior cooking, entertainment, decorative fireplaces, porch ceiling fans, and comfortable outside furniture all enable the extension of the living space to the outdoors. As the backyard becomes more of a destination, the door between the inside and outside commands new importance. Many of the technological features of the front door are now equally important to back and side doors.

Q. What are the trending styles, colors and types of door hardware for exterior doors?

A. Exterior doors are getting larger and making more use of windows. On the front door, it’s common to see one large window, either frosted or textured, to allow light in without offering those outside a clear view into the home. The back door may have a clear window to further blend interior space with the exterior porch, patio, or deck. We’ve even seen windows covering almost the entire door, further supporting the idea of bringing the outdoors inside. We are also seeing a trend towards rich, saturated color used selectively throughout the home as a statement and combined with muted warm tones. This is especially true on front doors where yellow, purple, red, emerald green, cobalt blue all can be used to make a statement. Stained wood doors also remain popular, with stains trending darker and richer. For hardware, matte black stands out as the perfect color to coordinate with every choice of door color. We are even seeing door frames in black.

Q. What sort of technology trends are you seeing in the outdoor space?

A. Smart locks continue to gain popularity because they can add so much convenience to daily life. The idea of being able to secure the house, yet securely allow access to the homeowner without a key is appealing regardless of the door used. Keeping track of the kids as they come and go, and having control over the door lock from wherever you are can offer major peace of mind. As these features become standard at the front door, the expectation for other doors to adopt the technology increases. These locks strive to enhance and simplify life through technology. As always, it’s best to look for a reputable company (like Schlage) that understands door hardware and home security just as well as they understand smart technology.

Q. Which of these trends do you see living long enough to lead us into 2019?

A. The merging of the indoor and outdoor space is a trend that is here to stay. We see growing interest in simplifying and calming, and this is evident in the natural materials and organic style that continues to grow in popularity. Technology is also shifting towards simpler, more intuitive solutions. Going forward technology will continue to expand into appliances of all types with a growing focus on refining and humanizing the experience.

1. Get cooking

Why just grill when you can grill in style? And we don’t mean breaking the bank by creating the ultimate backyard oasis – there are lots of simple ways to make your grilling area stand out. Add some sparkle with decorative LED lights; hang them on a trellis above the grill so they do double-duty as task lighting. Just make sure they’re hung high enough to avoid excessive heat exposure!

Even if you like to keep the formal eating area separate, make sure you have some kind of seating near the grill – especially during parties. Similar to having a breakfast bar in the kitchen spread with snacks, this lets you keep chatting with your guests and being the life of the party while you’re preparing them an epic meal. And snacks. Always have snacks.

You can also pick a theme like nautical or surf style to give your outdoor grilling area a memorable personality. You don’t need to buy expensive outdoor furniture – a few small but well-placed decorative touches can be enough to make a statement.
 

2. Make the cut

Never underestimate the power of landscaping. A well-groomed yard is non-negotiable when it comes to upping your curb appeal. There’s no need to become a master grower and design intricate gardens. Make an impact with just a few solid standbys: regularly trim the grass and bushes, and make merciless war on weeds. Your neighbors will thank you for it!
 

3. Touch it up

It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do. You can go the whole nine yards and choose a fresh new palette, or simply refresh what you already have to add polish. Easy DIY painting projects that can freshen up your exterior include shutters, trim, doors, and porch enclosures. Annual touch ups are also a great way to prevent damage that can happen when paint is allowed to weather and flake off. Check out this article from Houzz to learn the right way to do outdoor paint touch ups.
 

4. Beautify

Thanks to the latest innovations in paint, even the saddest and sorriest looking outdoor furniture can be revived. Make sure the furniture is still structurally sound. If it isn’t and it’s plastic or metal, it may be time to go shopping for something new. If it’s wood and can be repaired, you can easily brighten up the look of it. The latest spray paints can adhere to just about any surface, and weather the elements like a champ for a long-lasting finish. This is an easy outdoor project than can be completed in the space of a weekend to add a bright, summery touch to your outdoor space.
 

5. Modernize

Every parent knows that summertime is the time when the kids run rampant! Keep better track of their comings and goings – and add a little flash to your front door – with a smart lock. This is an easy 10-minute update, and you can pair it with an elegant handleset grip in the perfect finish to add curb appeal – our adjustable throughbolt helps ensure you won’t have trouble fitting your new Schlage handleset grip onto your door. But your favorite thing about a connected lock is bound to be the convenience.

With a Z-Wave enabled lock like the Schlage Connect™ Smart Deadbolt, you can connect it to your existing smart home or alarm system so it works with your other smart devices and allows you to check in remotely and make sure the door is locked, or unlock it for a guest when you’re running late. Set up a smart home automation scene so your entry hall lights come on as soon you unlock the door at night. There are many possibilities, and exact features offered vary depending on the smart home system. Most will let you use your lock with Amazon Alexa voice control services, so the next time you need to lock the door behind you but your hands are full, you can easily do it just by asking Alexa.

A Bluetooth enabled smart lock, like the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt, doesn’t require an existing smart home system – you can use it with your smartphone right out of the box. Add a Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter so you can pair the lock with your home WiFi network and lock/unlock remotely, as well as customize notifications so you always know when the kids get home. The Schlage Sense lock also offers voice control integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant.
 

DIY Summer

Follow along with us on Facebook for more tips to make the most of your summer!

Today is the birthday of an absolutely iconic American architect: Frank Lloyd Wright. Born on June 8, 1867, Wright was more than just an architect – he also dabbled in interior design, writing, and teaching, and you can easily see his influence still alive today in some of the most well-known design trends.

We sat down with Ted Roberts, our Style and Design Chief, to tell us a little more about Wright and how he has influenced home and interior design today.

Q&A with Ted Roberts

Q. What kind of designs was Frank Lloyd Wright known for?

A. “What’s interesting about Frank’s work is that it spans a pretty long period of time, so he worked in several different styles. The style of his early work is Prairie, where the colors and materials are somewhat similar to Arts & Crafts, but more focused on the social aspect of the space. There was a lot of focus on combining the interior and exterior of the home – bringing outside materials inside and blending the two. These styles tend to be lower to the ground, with a lot of horizontal lines and built-in oak woodwork, stone, with colors of ocher, brown and green. One of his strategies for merging the interior and exterior of the home was to create ‘walls of windows’ – large stretches of glass that opened the home up to the outside environment.

Q. What was Wright’s overall philosophy toward architecture?

A. “Over his entire lifespan, you can see that his work evolved so as not to become outdated, but his primary philosophy always stayed the same – it was only the strategies he used to carry out that philosophy that changed. Wright always believed that architecture was at its best when it was honest to its environment, incorporating local materials and a design that is harmonious with its natural surroundings. Falling Water is the perfect example of this philosophy – it’s a beautiful home built with local materials from the ground up that melds with its surroundings in a way that feels totally natural.

Q. What is Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy today? Where do you see his influence?

A. “Wright’s philosophy of personal independence and blending into nature can still be seen in both architecture and interior design today. But his most important contribution has been the emphasis on open spaces. The Edwardian and Victorian architecture that was popular during his early days featured a lot of very closed off, formalized spaces. Wright opted for an open floor plan that is very popular today because it allows families to interact even when they are in different sections of the house. No one is siloed – there are the standard private areas, bedroom and bathroom, but there is also more opportunity for connection and socializing in an open floor plan.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Wright though is simply his notoriety. I think most people, at least in America, would name him as the one architect they’re aware of – even though there are so many others with comparable talent. His impact and recognition level is very impressive and just go to show how iconic his designs could be – especially when you think about how many of his designs have become museums.”

Door hardware grades

The first step to finding the most secure exterior door hardware for your home is to look for hardware that has been tested against the highest industry standards, like the BHMA residential grading system. BHMA is a group of industry experts who grade residential door hardware performance in the categories of Security, Durability and Finish. A grade of ‘C’ is good, ‘B’ is better, and ‘A’ is best. A grade of AAA is the best grade possible in all three categories.

Anti-pick shield

Many Schlage locks come with an integrated anti-pick shield to provide added security. The shield doesn’t impact the look of the lock, but it does strengthen it against lock pick attacks.

1-inch bolt with spinning pin

Schlage locks come with a solid zinc 1-inch bolt for added kick-in resistance. This is larger than many bolts on the market, and it does make a difference in security. Because of this larger, sturdier bolt, Schlage locks require a larger bore hole than those required by competitors. Widening the bore hole may take an extra few minutes if you’re switching from another brand to Schlage, but the added security is well worth it.

Schlage bolts also include a hardened steel pin inside that spins in response to sawing attacks, so it can’t be cut through. Plus, a half inch of the bolt remains in the housing when locked for even more kick-in resistance.

Longer screws

Schlage offers a strike reinforcement plate with 3-inch screws that also add more kick-in resistance. Be advised though, if you have a sidelight (a window that runs parallel to your door on the side that latches), the 3-inch screws may be too long to use. This is one of many reasons that sidelights should be avoided as they are a security liability.

Sleek profile

A low profile face on a deadbolt makes it just about impossible to grab with a wrench or pull off.

Completely keyless

Some locks, like the Schlage Touch™ Keyless Touchscreen Lock, don’t come with a key cylinder. Many homeowners feel comfortable having a backup key option, but the truth is that once you adopt an electronic lock, it is highly unlikely you’ll ever need a key again. Most electronic lock users stop using keys completely, given how easy it is to share access electronically or with an access code. With a low battery indicator and up to 1-year battery life standard across our electronic locks, you don’t have to worry about getting locked out and needing that key (just don’t ignore the indicator!)

But it’s not just easy – it’s more secure. With no cylinder on the lock, there’s no opportunity to pick the lock or create a fake ‘bump’ key to bypass it.

Even if you don’t go completely keyless, electronic locks make it possible to completely eliminate the need for spare keys that can easily fall into the wrong hands. Just use access codes that can be easily created and deleted as needed. Plus, with no spare keys floating around, there’s no need to ever rekey the lock.

Encryption

All Schlage electronic locks come with encryption for a secure connection. Schlage is committed to offering electronic options that add convenience without sacrificing security, and that’s why we always design our products with data privacy and encryption needs top of mind.

When choosing products that are meant to protect our homes and families, it’s important to look for the best. Keep an eye out for these features next time you’re shopping around – or save some time and just grab a Schlage lock, where all of these features and more come standard.