The city life offers its residents a constant pulse of creativity, energy and excitement. But, with that bustle and exhilaration comes a high number of people living in close proximity, often in a multi-unit building. According to a National Crime Prevention Council study, apartment residents are 85% more likely to be burglarized than those living in other types of housing; condo owners are nearly 25% more likely. Here are some security tips to offer your urban clients who are looking to purchase in a multi-unit building.
Secure all points of entry and items you own and store outside:
● Lock all the windows. Often being on a high floor lures people into a false sense of security. Intruders can access higher-level apartments because of fire escapes, ladders, and possibly even from another balcony.
● Always dead bolt the front door. Many apartment dwellers feel that because their front door opens to an interior hallway they don’t need to deadbolt or lock their doors. This provides easy access to criminals who can easily break in via a door lock.
● Check the door’s quality to make sure it can’t be kicked down. A sturdy door should be solid wood or metal.
● Put locks on outdoor furniture, grills, bikes and other items that maybe accessible to thieves on decks and patios.
Give the impression of habitation when you leave:
● Keep the television or radio on when you leave, to make it sound like someone is home.
● Keep the shades down and use light timers when you are out for the evening or out of town.
● If you are leaving for an extended period of time, ask someone you know to pick up your mail for you or put a hold on delivery.
● If you live alone, consider adding an additional name aside from yours on your mailbox to give the appearance that more people reside in the unit.
Stay informed and aware:
● Look up crime rates and the location of any sex offenders around your building to keep yourself informed.
● Meet your neighbors and join a condo association board, if available. Your neighbors will be able to help recognize signs of suspicious behavior.
● Keep track of everyone that could have a key to your unit. As a rule, you should always change the locks when you move in.
The tips above will help lower the likelihood of your apartment or condo falling victim to criminal activity, but nothing helps more than having a security system in your apartment or condo. SafeMart has reinvented the way home security is delivered so that renters and owners in a multi-unit building can add a home security system without having to sign long contracts, wait for installers or pay for expensive support visits. SafeMart lets you customize a system that fits your apartment or condo and gives you 24/7 control from your mobile phone or computer. It’s the perfect solution for apartment renters or condo owners.
This was a guest post from Sam McBride who writes the home security blog for SafeMart.com