Renting a new apartment is fun and exciting, and has a lot of benefits. You won’t have to pay any property taxes or won’t have to worry about outdoor maintenance. Also, you will have the luxury of packing up and moving into a new apartment once your lease is expired.
However, from a security standpoint, renting always has some downsides. Apartment dwellers are much more likely to be burglarized than homeowners. Certainly, no one wants to face such an unpleasant occurrence.
Luckily, there are certain steps you can take both prior to signing your lease and after moving into your new apartment, to increase safety, and to deter the thieves.
Today, we will be covering 10 security tips that you can follow before and after you move into your new apartment. So, let’s dive in!
1. Research The Neighborhood And The Local Crime
Renting an apartment is similar to buying a new home. Therefore, before moving in, you should start by researching the area and the neighborhood thoroughly.
Visit your chosen area at different times of the day, particularly at night. Also, visit several days of the week. Check out what kind of businesses, shops, and restaurants are near the house, and visit some of them.
While walking around, don’t forget to take note of the type of street the house is situated in. Is it in a busy city street with lots of traffic and noise, or in a quiet residential street? Busy areas are mostly safe, but it is good to be aware.
Check out online sites like SpotCrime to find out the crime statistics of the area. You can also talk with some of your future neighbors, or the local police and business owners to get more knowledge about the area as a whole.
If theft and robbery cases are high, or you feel uncomfortable in any aspect, you should reconsider taking an apartment in the area.
2. Check Out The Exterior Lights
Offenders usually sneak around in dark and poorly-lit places. Therefore, it is important to have lights in areas like-
- Hallways
- Stairwells
- Parking lots
- Laundry rooms
- Storage rooms
- Waste management areas
If you don’t think there is enough light, ask the landlord to add more. You also can invest in motion sensor lights near your apartment doors.
3. Secure The Entrances
To ensure your security, both your apartment entrance and the building entrance should be protected. All the entrances should have secure locks, chain locks, key locks, and peepholes.
Remote unlocking provides extra security against intruders entering your apartment. Ask the landlord or management, how often they change the locks. You don’t want to take the risk of a past renter entering the apartment.
4. Secure The Windows
Securing the windows is as important as securing the entrances or doors, particularly if you are on the ground floor.
Make sure there are window locks and they can’t be opened from the outside. Also, always keep an eye on the window close to a door lock as windows can be broken easily to reach in and unlock the door.
5. Check The Emergency Exit
As much as it is important to secure the doors and windows, it is also important to make sure they are easily accessible and opened in any emergency situation, for example, a fire or catastrophe.
Ask the management to move any furniture or debris that can block your way out. Ensure the fire escape ladders are kept properly so that the intruders can’t reach them from the ground.
6. Install A Security System
If the apartment does not have an up to date home security system, you should install one. The modern security systems are more rental friendly than ever. Many big companies offer wireless security systems, so it won’t require drilling into the wall and won’t bother the landlord. Moreover, they are transportable which enables you to take them with you when you leave.
Electricians in Minneapolis can help design a full-service security system to keep your home protected. The security services include fire alarm, gas leak detector, child protection system, burglar alarms, and so on.
7. Consider A Security Camera
A security camera is a great option to make your protection stronger. Modern security cameras are wifi enabled and can be easily controlled via smartphones.
The main place to install a security camera is at the main entrance. You can consider installing one in the balcony or window if you are on the ground floor.
8. Invest In A Safe
To secure your most important stuff, like money, jewelry, firearms, and important documents, you can think about investing in a safe. For maximum security, take the permission of your landlord for bolting it to a wall or floor.
A safe will protect your precious items not only from burglars, but also from snooping roommates, or untrustworthy guests.
9. Build A Good Relationship With Your Neighbors
Building good relationships with the neighboring renters is beneficial in many ways. It is like having intelligent security cameras around your apartment.
The neighbors can watch over your apartment or things when you are away and can warn you of any unusual activity. You will also be able to do the same for them.
10. Get Renter’s Insurance
Despite all the security measures, unfortunate occurrences still happen. Moreover, to protect your belongings, it is necessary to get renter’s insurance, particularly if you live in an area where crimes or disasters occur more often.
Renter’s insurance covers personal belongings, like furniture, clothing, electronics, etc that can be lost in a home burglary or damaged in a catastrophe like fire damage or water damage. Some of them also cover any burglary that occurs in your car, when it’s parked in the rental property.
Living in a secured home is always a sweet experience. Therefore, for truly making your apartment a comfortable home, your safety should be your first priority.
