Regardless if you’re moving into a new apartment or not, it’s always important to feel safe and secure within your home or when you’re away from your home. Everyone wants their personal property is safe and secure when they walk out the door in the morning.
While we all wish we could have professional monitoring, that’s not always easy to come by. This begs the question then — how can you ensure better apartment security? Worry not! We have you covered there with these apartment security tips.
Feel safe within your apartment complex
Before you invest in any security devices, you should check out your new apartment complex first to see what it’s already equipped with. Ask the landlords what type of security the apartments come with. Also, ask if there’s pro monitoring of the parking and gates if they have them. Once you’ve done this, then you can start to invest in your own security system.
There are so many different ways to secure your apartment that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Here are a few options that will up your apartment security game.
1. Check your windows
If you live in a tall apartment complex, then you might be wondering why you need to check your windows. While it’s less likely someone would break in through the windows, it’s still better safe than sorry.
Check your windows to ensure they have sturdy, yet easy-to-use locks that you can’t open from the outside. You can also consider window sensors that detect any tampering with your window.
2. Cover your windows
Along the same lines for apartment security tips, after you’ve checked that the windows are secure or even installed window sensors, it’s time for curtains. Many renters often forget to hang curtains when they move into new apartments. However, they’re very helpful when it comes to your apartment security.
Without curtains, people can see directly into your apartment, especially if you live on the ground floor, along with everything in it. By covering your windows, you eliminate this and, in turn, make your home less appealing to break into.
3. Add more lighting
Everything feels less scary in the light. That’s why good lighting is a great way to secure your apartment, as well as make you feel safer. Look at your apartment’s common areas, such as hallways and parking areas, to see if they are well-lit areas. If possible, try to park where it’s the brightest. When you leave your apartment, consider leaving a lamp on to deter people from entering your home.
If you feel as though areas within your apartment building don’t have enough lighting, like big areas, such as the parking lots, and it makes you feel unsafe, then you should ask your landlord to add more.
4. Install door security systems
Chances are, if you live in an apartment, you only have a front door and maybe a sliding door. And just like your windows, you should make sure that all your doors are secure and locked. While they may have locks on them, there are ways to add some extra, easy security measures.
For your sliding doors and front door, you can add a security stick that prevents the door from being opened, even if it’s unlocked. Just like a window, if you live on the bottom level and have a sliding door, this could be extremely beneficial to the safety of your home. You simply put it under the apartment door knob or behind the sliding door and now you have some extra home security. These are a great, apartment-friendly way to make you feel more secure in your home.
Another option, if your apartment permits, is to add door and window sensors to your house. Similar to window sensors, door sensors detect movement around your doors. If someone opens the door or window, you’ll be notified immediately.
5. Consider a safe
A great apartment security tip is to have an apartment safe to add an extra layer of safety. Even if someone does get into your home or you have a snoopy roommate, that doesn’t mean you can’t have another line of defense in a safe. Safes are a great option for storing your most important belongings, such as jewelry, valuable paperwork and money. You could even get a fireproof safe to ensure everything is safe in the case of an emergency.
6. Get creative with hiding spaces
If you don’t want to invest in a safe just yet, no worries! There are other ways to keep your belongings safe in your apartment. If your apartment has storage rooms, utilize them to keep the big items that you don’t want in your apartment.
Instead of throwing out empty everyday items, such as cereal boxes or shampoo bottles, clean them and reuse them as hiding places for valuables. If you have a lot of books you can make one of them useful by cutting out the middle and using it as a hiding place to store cash, paperwork and other items of value. This way, if anything did happen, you hopefully won’t end up with any lost items.
7. Create the illusion you’re home
If you’re away a lot and worry about your apartment staying secure, then create the illusion you’re home. Leave a couple of lights on, or the TV on to make people believe that you’re currently home and deter potential burglars. This is easy to do now with things like home automation and smart home products that you can control from your phone.
8. Add locks
All apartments come with locks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add more locks yourself. There are a few options that you could go with when it comes to adding additional locks. You could add chain locks, or another deadbolt to your door to make your apartment that much safer.
If your landlord permits it, you could even switch out your traditional locks for locks that require key codes. This way, you wouldn’t have to ever worry about someone picking your locks. Just make sure that these changes won’t interfere with your ability to get your security deposit back.
9. Get to know your neighbors
Getting to know your neighbors is a challenge and a bit scary if you have social anxiety. However, becoming friends with your neighbors is beneficial in the long run and a great apartment security tip. Not only do you gain a new friend, but you gain an ally inside your apartment complex. When you know other tenants, you can rely on them to help watch over your apartment, too, or to have someone to go to if you feel unsafe in your unit. Before moving in, you could even talk to a past tenant and see what they thought of the building security measures to get a feel before moving in.
10. Have your keys at the ready
It’s important for all apartment dwellers to practice safety at all times. One safety practice is to always have your keys ready to go. Grab your apartment keys before you leave your car or in the elevator so that when you get to your door, they’re ready to go and you can easily get inside.
11. Create an exit plan
A key part of apartment safety is to know your emergency exits. All complexes have an emergency exit whether it be a fire escape or stairs leading to the ground level. Get really familiar with them on the off chance there is an emergency.
12. Consider getting a dog
Whether you live alone or not, it’s never a bad idea to consider adding a furry friend. Dogs are not only great companions but they’re great make-shift security systems and motion detectors. People are also often scared of dogs, making them a great deterrent for burglars. Best of all, they’re a great home security system but also your best friend. Talk about some serious pro monitoring!
13. Have a renters insurance policy
When you move into your apartment you should really consider investing in renters insurance. Renters insurance protects you and your belongings whilst you live in your apartment. Having renters insurance as a backup can give you a great sense of peace of mind.
14. Get a security system and security cameras
One of the classic apartment security tips for apartment renters is to install a security system or security cameras in your apartment. Before you install any type of home security system, you should talk with your property manager first to make sure you’re allowed to do so. By checking, you can ensure that you’ll be able to get your security deposit back when you move out.
One option is to install a security camera in or on the outside of your apartment. Security cameras are a good option if you’d like to monitor what’s happening at your apartment while you’re away. They also record a lot of the time, so if any suspicious activity were to happen, you would have it on tape.
Another security option you could go with is installing an apartment alarm system. Like a security camera, there are so many wireless alarm systems these days to pick from. You can get ones that have professional monitoring or ones with elite motion sensors alone. There are even security systems that don’t require any heavy-duty or additional equipment and don’t involve drilling into your walls or peeling paint.
Take your time to research the best security systems before buying one. It’s always a good idea to ask for help if you don’t know how to install a security system yourself. As long as you don’t forget your key codes, you’re good to go!
15. Check your smoke and gas sensors
Most complexes come with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors installed, but it’s always smart to double-check that they’re working properly. Not only will these make your apartment safer, but they could also save your life.
Talk with your property manager about having one installed for you before you move in and if for some reason they won’t, then you can always easily install one yourself.
If you do live in a tall building, you might consider getting a fire escape ladder to ensure your security in case of a fire.
Safety first
It doesn’t matter where you live — whether it’s a single-family home or your own apartment —security is incredibly important for everyone. If you follow some of these apartment security tips, you’ll make your apartments safer for everyone.
Source: apartmentguide.com