Apartment and Condo Security

Living in an apartment or condo doesn't mean that you should dedicate less time and effort into securing your home. Houses certainly aren't the only residences that require protection from intruders, and it is up to you to take the necessary steps to ensure that your property is protected.

If home security in general is something that you have never given much thought to, you should realize just how important it is for the safety of yourself and your family. Over the years, studies have shown that people who live in apartments and condos have particular concerns about the safety of their homes, but in many cases they tend to rely too much on property managers to offer adequate protection.

The reality is that most property management companies do not offer their residents complete protection that might help to deter burglars from targeting your home.

Of course, one of the best things you can do is have an alarm system installed, but it is certainly not the only option you have. If your property management company doesn't provide alarm systems, or if installing one simply isn't within your budget, there are other steps you can take in an effort to protect your home from intruders.

The Importance of Lighting
One of the best ways you can protect your apartment or condo is to make sure your property looks lived-in when you are away from home. Whether you are going on vacation or you're going to be at work all day, it is important to take the necessary steps to make it look like someone is at home. This is important because burglars historically look for homes that are unoccupied. If your home always looks like someone is there, then the odds are more than good that burglars will completely avoid your home as a potential target.

Consider purchasing an inexpensive timer (these can be found for as little as $5) to hook up to some of the lamps in your home, particularly those located at the front and rear windows. This option eliminates the need to have anything professionally installed and also reduces your out-of-pocket expense. Timers are great for making it look like someone is home at all times. Plus, having some lights on when you come home from work in the evening can be extremely comforting.

Motion sensor lights are an ideal choice for protecting your home because of their convenience and relatively modest expense (about $25-$35, depending on the brand you choose). One advantage of having this type of lighting installed is that the lights only come on when they are activated by the presence of body heat. You can set the timers on these lights to automatically turn off after a minute or two, which saves you some money each month on your electric bill.

One important note: make sure you have these lights installed at a height that is far enough out of reach so they can't be tampered with.

Reinforce Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors are routinely found in apartments and condos, and people mistakenly believe that these doors are equipped with sturdy locks. In reality, these types of doors do not have actual locks at all. They have latches, which can be easily broken by determined burglars.

You can reinforce your doors, however, by using something to block the track so that your doors cannot slide open. For example, you can use a piece of wood to fit into the space behind your door to keep intruders from being able to slide it open. If you don't already have a piece of wood of the proper length, you can find one at your local home improvement or hardware store.

You can also purchase a blocking device known as a "charley bar". These metal bars can be screwed into your sliding glass door to keep it from being opened. They can be found either online or in a home improvement store, and they are generally inexpensive ($20-$30). Make sure, however, that you purchase one in the appropriate size for your door.

Affordable home security for your apartment or condo is well within reach. All you need to do is take some proactive steps to ensure the security of your home in order to feel comfortable in the knowledge that you are adequately protected.

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