Security Tips for New Home
Home security endeavors should start before one moves in to a new apartment
Just like the good old saying goes, "Prevention is better than a cure", your home security endeavors should start before you move in to your new apartment. Or better even before you sign the lease!
While we always get carried away with the number of bedrooms, amenities, views and other great things about a new apartment, it is always pragmatic to pay a little bit more attention on security features of the apartment. In case, you find such to be little bit overwhelming, here is quick checklist:
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Safe neighborhoods increase home security
- First and foremost, is the new apartment located in a safe neighborhood? Check with the rental agent about the current crime statistics. Nothing could be more important than this when it comes to security!
Strong doors and windows are important too for home security
- How good and strong is the external door? If the new apartment building has a common entrance, are there double doors? Is the dead bolt strong? How secure is your apartment's own door? Does it have a dead bolt with at least a 1" throw?
- Is there a video security system or only an audio one? Check if the apartment door has a peephole or not.
- What about the laundry and other common facilities? Do look safeand secure? Are they kept locked? Check these doors as above, especially if they open to the outside.
- Check the windows, especially the ones on the lower floors. They should be strong and should have locks. This is crucial for security.
Common home security devices should not be ignored
- Does the new apartment have enough smoke detectors? At minimum, there should be detectors outside the kitchen, in stairways, outside all bedrooms, and in the living room. Preferably, there should also be detectors in the building's hallways and in common areas. Does the building have carbon monoxide and gas detectors, as well?
- Are there enough fire extinguishers in the hallways and in the common areas of the new apartment building? Don't forget to check the tags to find out if they are properly maintained or not. Does the building have a fire alarm system that alerts the local fire department? Ask the agent, specifically about this one. Your new apartment building should a good fire security system.
A few more important things
- Is the area around the new apartment building well-lit? It would be a folly to feel safe just because it seems well-lit when you're there in the afternoon; return to the area at night and check out the lighting situation under real conditions. Also, do not forget to check out if the all the entrances leading to the building are well-lit or not.
- Check out the emergency evacuation plan of the building. Are there enough exit doors? Can windows be used as fire escape routes?
- If the new apartment has a balcony or deck on an upper floor, there should be a solid wall or a railing to prevent children and pets from falling off. Take note if the balcony or the deck adjoins other apartments from which a burglar can enter your apartment. This is very important for security.
- And finally, what about the phone lines? Do they enter the building at ground level? Or do they come in underground or overhead? Overhead and underground telephone lines are harder to tamper with!