Home Security

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While living in an apartment building might be a little bit different than living in a house, there are still a lot of things to keep in mind when it comes to safety that carry over. For instance, remembering to always shut and lock your doors and windows. But some other things, like how to correctly handle common spaces and whether or not you let in a maintenance person when your landlord hasn’t mentioned it, are unique only to apartment living. Whether it’s your first time in a high-rise or you are simply looking to refresh yourself on the best ways possible to keep yourself safe while living in an apartment building, here are ten simple steps towards better apartment home security that apply to just about anywhere.

10. Know your neighborhood. If you’re new to the area, figure out if there is anything suspicious nearby that you should be avoiding late at night, learn the best spots to park, and where walking is okay and where it isn’t. That’s an important part of starting to feel safe in a new place.

9. Realize your car alarm can be your home alarm system. If you’re on the steps of your building and someone tries to mess with you, keep those car keys in hand and press the alarm button. You might be able to scare them away, and use that as sort of a home alarm to protect you while on the steps.

8. Leave some lights on. It might not seem as important for an apartment, but if you leave lights on in the windows that face the street, you’re making your space look busy and occupied to would-be robbers who might be casing it.

7. Ask for ID. If someone comes to the building and says they are installing cable, fixing plumbing, or anything else, don’t hesitate to ask for ID. If they provide you with a phone number, opt to look the business up in the Yellow Pages instead, so you can make sure you’re not getting swindled. And don’t hesitate to call and double-check with your landlord that there is supposed to be someone doing repairs.

6. Shut the windows. Even if it’s a really hot summer, you need to remember to shut and lock windows. This goes double if you are remotely close to a fire escape or other easy entry point for would-be robbers.

5. Be alert. When you’re coming home, don’t be juggling groceries, your cell phone, and a million other things. Pay attention to who is around you on the street. Just because you can see your building doesn’t mean you should be irresponsible. Your home security starts the minute you’re on your way into the apartment building, not when you open the door to your own place.

4. Do laundry during daylight hours. If you can, this is a big step towards staying safe. Laundry rooms in apartment buildings are often loud, secluded, and don’t allow for cell phone signal. That makes it an ideal place for someone with malicious intentions, and not the best spot to be at three in the morning. If you have a friend in the building, try to not do laundry alone, if you can.

3. Know your neighbors. If you don’t know someone, don’t hold the door open for them. It’s as simple as that. Once you get to know people, then you can be friendly enough to extend this courtesy. And anyone who has lived with older people in the same building will tell you that sometimes, they get angry when you DO hold the door, lest you be doing the same thing for criminals.

2. Set your home alarm system. Since alarm companies have made it so that alarms are able to travel and move along with their customers, you don’t need to worry about whether or not it’s a good investment for your studio or one-bedroom. But if you forget to set it, it will never do its job. So always arm it when you’re leaving.

1. Keep your keys in your hand. It sounds so simple, but people forget to do this all the time, and find themselves standing on the porch in the middle of the night, fumbling in a bag or pocket to find house keys. Save yourself this trouble and potential danger, and just keep your keys in your hand from the moment you exit your car or the subway/bus.



By: Levi Mortenson

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Safety first, particularly when it comes to apartment living. It doesn’t matter if you’ve chosen to save on rent by living in a marginal neighborhood, or if you are simply looking for ways to protect yourself in case of a fire, you will want to follow these steps in order to protect yourself and your valuables:
Purchase renter’s insurance. Make an inventory of your valuables and a brief video inventory of your apartment. Make sure you state the date and time, clearly at the start of the video. Put the inventory and video in a safe deposit box, or in a fire safe box in the apartment. Change the locks. Make sure that the locks to your apartment have been changed since a prior renter. Even though most landlords forbid giving a key out to a boyfriend/girlfriend, friend, or relative, you never know who lived in your apartment before you or to whom they gave keys. Lock your sliding glass door. It’s helpful to stick a dowel or a broom handle in the track of your sliding glass door. Many of these doors have flimsy locks, and require a little extra security. Guard your identity. Put only your last name, or your initials on your mailbox and buzzer. Also, keep an unlisted number. This will cut down on the number of solicitations you receive as well. Live above the first floor. When choosing an apartment, request one above the first floor. Statistics show that these apartments are less likely to be broken into. Check your smoke detector. When you move in, and periodically thereafter, check the batter on your smoke detector. Likewise, install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Staying safe is fairly simple if you follow these steps and use good common sense. Checking your smoke detector regularly, and purchasing renter’s insurance will both protect your personal safety, as well as cover any financial liability you may have in regards to your personal belongings. Safety is the most important aspect of living in an apartment, and in the end you are ultimately responsible for yourself.



By: Lisa Marie Brown

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Security in an apartment block is essential especially if there are children and elderly people residing in it. All the side entrances and emergency doors to the apartment building should have door bolts. Also, all entrance doors to every apartment should have effective locks such as deadbolt locks that cannot be opened with a penknife or ATM card. It can be useful to have a door lock that doesn’t need a key to open from the inside. This type of lock is very helpful in case of emergency such as fires and earthquakes. Aside from installing effective locks, it is also crucial that the doors be solid wood or metal to provide strength.

Reliable door entry buzzer systems should be installed in order to secure apartment buildings. Multi-dwelling entry door buzzers are available for any type of building requirement that are a cost effective solution. With the installation of door entry buzzer system with audio and video features, the apartment dwellers will have the facility to see visitors at the door, thus enhancing security. It is a good idea for the building administrator to keep a list of regular visitors for each apartment unit for reference in case of necessity.

However, even if the most effective security system is installed in a building, but some apartment owners are not cooperative in maintaining safety and security; the security system is useless. Therefore, it is very essential to work with other owners and tenants in an apartment block to make sure that all doors are kept locked and all visitors are monitored. Tenants should not open the door unless the visitor has identified themselves. Also, tenants should not hold the building entrance door open to let strangers enter behind them. If the entry buzzer system is maintained properly and tenants cooperate, there is no need for a security guard to watch the apartment block.

Security in an apartment block can also be provided by proper lighting. All walkways, entrances, and hallways should be well lighted in order to deter crimes. If a light bulb replacement is needed, make sure that you report immediately to the landlord, or you may replace it and report afterwards. It is also critical that a secure door at the parking garage is maintained. The garage parking area is a common target of thieves to enter the apartment building. Thieves usually sneak in behinds tenants who are entering the building. This area in the building should also be well lighted.



By: Stan Yates

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Home security systems and burglar alarms that you can install yourself in your home have become much more affordable and offer features only found in expensive professional systems not too long ago. This increase in cost effectiveness and availability has caused many people to get their own personal residential or apartment alarm system and install it themselves. Here are a few things that you should consider if you decide to install your own system.

Try to detect intruders at the outside perimeters of your security zone:

When you are trying to keep a burglar or intruder from breaking in, you want to detect their presence as soon as possible, preferably before they have entered your home. The sooner they trip an alarm, the less chance they will have of doing damage or making away with your possessions or property.

With present day wireless security systems you should attempt to put detectors at any outside perimeter entry points. Put sensors on gates, fences, doors and windows. A burglar does not want to be standing out in clear view trying to get in when an alarm or siren sounds. If at all possible you want to detect an intruders presence while they’re still outside rather than concealed in your house.

Use area detection systems as your second line of defense:

If an intruder gets past your perimeter sensors, you need a method of detecting them inside your home. It is possible to safeguard inside locations where an intruder will have to pass by using motion sensors or infrared detectors. These kind of sensors are triggered because of the movement or presence of someone within the protected area.

These types of sensors are important to have due to the fact that you may have somebody get in by using an inadvertently unlocked door or other means that don’t trigger the door and window alarms. When your home is multi-level, motion detectors in staircases are an important part of any system.

Be certain to have extremely loud outdoor and indoor sirens or alarm bells:

There is nothing that will unnerve a crook or intruder more than the sound of a screaming ear-splitting siren or alarm. You see ads on TV where you have an intruder break in and then the alarm company calls and wants to chat with you and inquire if you are OK or if they should call law enforcement. This is a ridiculous scenario.

If a person breaks in, you don’t want to wait for the alarm company to phone you, then call the police and wait for them to come. You want the loudest and most ear piercing sirens that you can get going off. If you get a system which alerts the authorities while doing so, that is great. Criminals do not want attention. And by having both inside and outside sirens the burglar will not know if you or a next door neighbor has taken action. And the loud noise helps make the crook nervous because he can’t hear if there are police sirens also approaching.

Some people argue that they desire a silent alarm instead of loud wailing sirens or alarms. They say the cops won’t catch the crook if a siren or alarm frightens them off. You have got to decide if you want to be in junior law enforcement or if you wish to keep your family safe. If your wife or youngsters are home alone and someone breaks in, they would probably want the intruder to be chased off instead of having them attacking them in the house while the police respond to a silent alarm and drive to your home.

A DIY home security kit is a very good way of giving you and your loved ones protection. Take some time to think through your installation before you start, and use these tips to setup your system to give yourself the most peace of mind.



By: Zach Carson

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Real estate investment has become an extremely popular way for people to try to make money. Owning an apartment or multi family housing unit can be a way to wealth, however, real estate investing requires a lot of time, knowledge and up-front capital.

Apartment building loans are often offered on two different levels. The first usually requires a minimum loan of $500,000, is a smaller unit, but comprised of no less than five units. The second is for loans over $3,000,000, and is designed for financing much larger units such as large apartment complexes, student housing, or senior or assisted living facilities.

Most lenders will provide financing for units in good condition, and have little deferred maintenance. If the building is in poor condition, you may not qualify for a loan, or have to pay a much higher down payment.

Apartment building loan sources are numerous to say the very least. Before speaking with anyone it’s helpful to have a list of question you may want to ask. For example:

oIs the property fully leased (about 95%)?

oDo you want to borrow more than 80% of today’s value?

oAre you willing to re-finance the property or are you planning on selling in the next 3 years or so?

oWill you accept a loan with a large prepayment penalty?

oDo you expect leasing activity in the building over the next 3 years(either from existing or new tenants)to increase the property value greater than 25%?

oIf the property value is increasing more than 25% over the next 3 years, will the loan request today be 75% or less of the increased value?

oWill 50% of the building leases expire in any one of the next 3 years?

oAre you installing land infrastructure, gutting the building or converting the use?

oIs the property value greater than $10 million?

Apartment building financing, or multifamily property financing, is in a constant state of change. As a result, multifamily finance providers must have thorough knowledge and awareness of available debt programs and be prepared to quickly analyze financing options.

Visit Security National Capital today to learn more about apartment building and multi family property loans.



By: Michael Southard

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Let’s look at the common home security mistakes that people often regarding their doors and windows. Being aware of these is the first step toward better protecting your own home.

Mistake #1: Not securing all your doors

The first mistake is not securing back or side doors as well as the front door.

Burglars don’t care which door they get in through. If one door is well-secured and one isn’t, guess which one they’ll try?

It’s very common for front doors to be solid, but rear and side doors to be flimsy, especially in older homes. A burglar might actually prefer a side or a rear door, because that’s going to be away from the street where they can be less visible.

Any entrance door, wherever it is located should be a sturdy steel door and frame with deadbolts and strike plates.

Don’t forget about your sliding glass doors which typically have notoriously bad locks.

Fortunately, there’s a fantastically easy solution: just lay down a piece of wood, such as a dowel in the track to keep the door from sliding open if the lock is defeated.

Mistake #2: Old or broken locks & windows

The second mistake is not replacing broken or old locks on doors and windows-or even the broken or old doors and windows themselves!

This one may not seem obvious after you think about it a bit-after all, a broken latch or lock might not be visible, but all that really means is that it won’t attract a burglar. You don’t want to make their job easy if they should happen to try to open it.

Several problems fall under this category:

1. Many doors can easily be kicked in.

The experts recommend having a sturdy, reinforced steel door.

They also recommend improving the strike plate on your door (the piece of metal that attaches to the door frame or door jamb where the deadbolts or latch extends into the frame) or installing one if you don’t have one on each outside door. Deadbolts should not extend directly into the wooden frame.

Unfortunately, most strike plates come with relatively short screws, like an inch or so, so make sure the strike plates you have and any new ones have much longer screws. Short screws can pull out with a good kick to the door, ripping the strike plate out of the door frame, and probably shattering the frame-and then the burglar’s in.

2. Make sure you have a deadbolt on every outside door. This is really important. As I’m sure you know, a deadbolt is much harder to defeat than spring-loaded latches, which you should never rely on for outside doors.

3. Change the locks if you didn’t do so when you moved in. Not changing the locks isn’t quite like leaving the place wide open, but it does mean that someone may have the key to your place. And if they didn’t change the locks when they moved in, then someone else may have a key as well.

This can get a little tricky with apartments. Not all landlords are going to be proactive about this. You might need to ask them or even bug them a bit to get them to change locks.

Mistake #3: Unlocked doors and windows

The last mistake on my list: unlocked doors and windows.

How many times have you left your home wide open?

Have you ever gone ever gone over to a neighbor’s house or apartment intending to come right back, only to end up staying much longer? Have you ever gone to run a quick errand and decided not to bother locking up because you’d be back so quickly? Have you ever slept with the window open in the room or a different room?

Or have you mowed the lawn or done other yard work, worked out in the garage, or sat out on the patio leaving doors open that you couldn’t see?

How secure is your home?

Are you making any of these common mistakes at your home? Correct them now and better protect yourself and your home!



By: Dave Hausmann

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Home security is often focused on detached, single-family houses. However, millions of Americans live in apartments, condos, and townhouses and have as many security concerns as homeowners.

Apartments are common targets for burglars, they are easier to stake out and they can hit more home with less work. This is why extra security measures are necessary if you’re an apartment dweller. While renter’s insurance is a good idea and can help you out after the fact, ideally you want to prevent your stuff being stolen. Home, or apartment, security should be the top priority for everyone, and particular attention should be to certain areas of security when living in an apartment.

It is especially important to lock your doors and windows. For your windows you should install strong sash locks, and should augment that with a security bar of some sort in the track of the sliding window. This will force a burglar to actually break the window which will draw a lot of attention to the scene, especially if you live in an apartment complex with a lot of neighbors in close proximity. If you do have a house, a window breaking will then sound an alarm from one of the window sensors that came with most monitored home security burglar alarm.

Keeping your front door locked is common sense, but not everyone goes the extra step and has a case-hardened steel deadbolt lock installed. If you live in an apartment, having a very strong deadbolt lock is highly recommended, talk to your landlord about installing one.



By: Mark Lowry

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The need for a perfect home security alarm system is the need of the hour in most of the countries whether in urban, suburban or the rural areas due to rise in home breaking incidents.

Choosing the Right Security System

Out of the options available it is indeed a hard task to select the most appropriate system. Is a professionally monitored system better choice? Or one should go for wired or wireless system? This is what goes on into the minds of the average customer before installing any system.

Keep the following in mind before going in for any purchase of the right home security system for your house.

If you have a home security system with alarm in your mind, you could be sure of having a great effect on your home security. If you go for self-installed alarm systems, it could be just the right choice. Though they are easily available and are quiet satisfying but sometimes they may not function as perfectly as you wish.

Professionally Installed Alarm System

Professionally installed alarm system on the other hand could be a better option than the self-home alarm system as they offer more security, a better operation and many more benefits. It gives twenty-four hours functioning daily and in case you are unable to contact the monitoring authorities, you are still protected.

When it comes to making a choice between the wired and wireless security systems, the wireless systems have an upper hand due to their smooth functioning, better polished modern outlook.

Hybrid Wired/Wireless Systems, the Best Choice

When it comes to giving the best system to your home nothing could be better in the world than a hybrid wired/wireless security system. In this system the motion detectors and sensors are wireless whereas the main control unit is hard-wired in your home. On top of it they are run by the battery so they are functioning even when you do not have power back up in your house.

This is the only system which offers you the advantages of both the wireless and wired home security systems. As the sensors are wireless you could have them moved from one place to other in your house, also can have them increased or decreased in numbers as per your needs. So do not hurry while making a choice, choose the best system for your home and make it even safe and secure.



By: Chit Adalatwale

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