Apartment Hunting Security: before moving in

 So you graduated, and you no longer have to live in your parent’s house. You are now officially an “adult”. Welcome to the world of empty bank statements, empty pantries, and now its time for apartment hunting!
Choosing the best apartment for you can be tricky, and complicated.  It can be confusing and stressful, especially if it’s your first time. I recently was able to finally settle down in a two-bedroom two-bath apartment with my roommate. But the journey towards finding the right apartment took a bit of looking. Apartment hunting is like dating.  You show up with high hopes, excited, and within the minute you see the place you automatically have developed a predisposition towards the apartment.
But wait you can’t judge a book by its cover! Didn’t your mother teach you anything? You need to go inside, get to know the place, ask questions, find out some history, and then you can give your opinion. One thing we were looking for when we went apartment hunting was security, and price, (but mainly security) are two of the biggest things for two girls in their early 20’s.
Security was the number one factor. Depending on the area that surrounds your apartment you want to consider where you car will be stored, if there are gates, passwords required, and keys to enter the facilities. Once you have secured the outside perimeter of the complex, you move to the inside. Look at the windows, look at the layout, is it practical for your needs?
All apartments will have its minor quirks that may be a security risk, for example doors in the apartment that don’t lock. Or maybe you are on the second floor and you have a balcony? Balconies can be a great luxury to have, but you need to make sure your windows are fully secured just incase someone tries scaling the side of the apartment complex. An old fashioned piece of wood can keep the window from opening up by placing it in between the sliding doors to keep the door from sliding open.
Another security risk are the door locks. All door locks in the complex have the same type of lock. If someone breaks into your neighbor’s apartment consider replacing the lock on your door. If someone was able to break into his or her apartment, and you both have the same door lock, your risk of a break in is slightly higher. Most apartment complexes will allow you to do this if you provide the main office with a key, replacing the lock with a more durable different lock will not only give you more piece of mind, but it will also be more secure than the original apartment locks.
Lastly, light. Robbers and intruders prefer to sneak around in poorly lit or dark areas. When you are considering an apartment, check the entrances, hallways, walkways, parking areas, elevators, stairways, mail areas, and laundry rooms to make sure they have enough lighting at night. The fewer places an offender has to hide, the safer you’ll be!