According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 1/3 of the U.S. population lives in multi-housing dwellings an almost 50% of apartments are occupied by a single resident with an average age of 50. With this in mind, let’s look at how to find the safest apartment options for you and your family.
When looking for an apartment, there are several things you should be aware of from a security standpoint. Does the apartment complex have security personnel actively patrolling the property on a regular basis? Many places say they have courtesy officers that live at the complex but do they actually patrol the area? You should go by the complex at night to make sure that the parking areas are well lit and observe what kind of activities are allowed to happen at night. You wouldn’t want to rent an apartment thinking it will be quiet and later find that there is a party in the parking area every night. Drive around surrounding areas to determine what kinds of activities are allowed to occur there. Sometimes, what happens next door will find its way into your apartment complex.
Once you have found the apartment complex that you think you want live in you will need to decide if you want to live on the ground floor or not. If you choose to live upstairs, securing your apartment will be simpler than a ground floor apartment. For an upstairs apartment you will definitely want to put a wireless security alarm on your door. If you choose a ground floor apartment, you would want to have all windows and doors monitored by a wireless system. These systems are now more economical than they were just a couple of years ago.
No matter where you are, you should always be mindful of your surroundings. When leaving your apartment, make sure to look around to see if something or someone is out of place. Trust your instincts if you think something is wrong until you are certain there aren’t any threats. If you live upstairs, take a moment to look down into the parking area. If you are able to, look behind the building to make sure everything is as it should be. Be mindful of any bushes or trees that could conceal someone.
There is an aspect of living in an apartment complex that you can use to your advantage. As time goes on you may become acquainted with those living around you. You can then help each other by being your neighbor’s keeper. I don’t mean being in everybody’s business but being mindful of their comings and goings just to make sure they are alright (in other words be a good neighbor). Let them know if someone was at their door earlier in the day that seemed out of place or if someone was asking about them.
If you are currently living in an apartment complex that you think could be safer, talk to your property manager and have them give us a call at Madison Security Group, 256-232-7030.
By: Brian Black – Operations Manager of Madison Security Group
203 US Highway 31 S Athens Alabama 35611
