Living In a busy apartment complex with a bunch of other people you don’t know may lead you to question your safety. This is totally understandable, considering the safety of you and your family is a big deal. Luckily, with a couple of easy tips and tricks of what to do and watch out for you will be on the road to a safe apartment before you know it.
First things first, you need to do your research! Have you figured what kind of neighborhood your apartment complex is in? Do you know anything about the managers of the complex? Doing your fair share of research can prevent a lot of problems. Don’t ever try to go in blind.
I know I’m not the only one that has had the thought of, “what if another apartment in my complex has a fire?” Making sure that you have a working smoke alarm with charged batteries can be an easy way to soothe this fear. Before moving in, make sure the smoke alarms are updated and don’t forget to change the batteries every 6 months.
Triple check that all the locks on all doors AND windows are operating correctly and that they cannot easily be unlocked with anything but the key.
Make sure there are surveillance cameras in all public areas including the parking structure and lot in case something happens and you need to see the footage.
A peephole in the door is never a bad idea so you always know who you are answering the door to.
Leave the lights on a set schedule so that when you go out of town you don’t run the risk of having your lights off for multiple days, which could lead people to believe your apartment is unoccupied.
Lock all doors and windows when you leave the apartment. Simple.
Get to know the employees that work in your building and don’t be afraid to speak up when you see someone unfamiliar seemingly working there. If someone you don’t recognize portrays themselves as a worker, don’t let them enter your apartment without proper proof.
If you have a balcony, don’t leave anything valuable out there without locking it up. It can be easier to get to a balcony than you may think.
Be smart. Be aware of your surroundings, use proper security and get to know your neighbors. You should feel happy, cozy and safe in your home!