Finding Secure And Safe Apartment Living

Secure and safe apartment living is something that every tenant wants. There are specific things, before signing a lease, which you can look for while doing the walk-through for the apartment. These things can test for security and safety features before you are locked into a lease. Do not rely on past tenants or the property owner to tell you how well the apartment is secured, do the checks yourself.

Finding Secure Apartment LivingSecurity isn't just an alarm that chimes when a door or window opens; there are many other things that should be in your apartment security checklist.

• Make sure that the front door and the balcony door have good lock systems, preferably deadbolts. Many apartments have them on the front. Smart criminals always look for a balcony door as it is usually less secured.
• Check the windows to make sure they fully close and that their locks are in good condition. Windows are an easy target for criminal trespass.
• Have a peephole on your door. This simple item is almost always on the front door of an apartment, but should definitely be included on a security check.
• Make sure the building entry system is working and not lax in use. Having neighbors that will buzz others in without knowing if they are supposed to be there is not a secure environment.
• Make sure the parking garage is well-lit with several exit doors, and see if they have alarm stations and security cameras. These will make the parking garage a more secure location.
• Look for a neighborhood watch sign in the area. While these are only as good as the people that are part of them, they are still a nice safety feature to see in a neighborhood.

Finding Safe Apartment LivingThis simple checklist gives you the apartment safety features everyone should see when doing a walk-through a potential living space:

• Window safety devices such as those that keep the window from opening more than four inches are good for families that have small children.
• Another feature to watch for if you have small children is the inclusion of childproof locks on doors.
• Make sure there are no loose areas on the floors such as curling rugs, linoleum, or carpeting which can hang on your feet and provide a fall. Damaged areas should be pointed out and fixed prior to moving it.
• Check the bathroom for no-slip bottoms in the shower. Safety bars are an added plus in bathrooms.
• Look at entrances, stairways, and sidewalks. Are they clean and clear of debris, well-lit and in good condition?
• Make sure all heaters, fireplaces, and hot water tanks are well vented. Also check for carbon monoxide detectors in the rooms. This will help keep you safe from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Check the walls for smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. All places should have at least one of each to protect you.

Take these suggested apartment safety features with you as you accomplish your search. Finding a place where you feel safe may be the determining factor when you are making the final choice of where you are going to live.