Living alone can give you a lot of freedom - you can live any way you want. However, you’re also the only one responsible for your home security and personal safety. If you don’t have a roommate that can back you up in an emergency, you may need other kinds of support.
Moving out of the family home and learning to live on your own can be challenging. Make sure you don’t get caught off guard by using these ten proactive solutions to ensure your safety in your home. The following tips on living alone for the first time can help ease the transition from living together with others to managing on your own.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home. That’s why you might consider installing security for your home. Asking for the help of a professional is probably the most intelligent decision you can make. Sure Lock & Key is ready to help you make your home a safer place.
How do you protect yourself when you live alone
Living alone has many benefits. The most significant advantage is that you have more freedom and can enjoy your own space. At the same time, the disadvantage is obvious – a possible lack of safety and security. One way to protect yourself is not to make it evident that you live alone. Most criminals and burglars look for easy targets. If they know you live alone, you might be at a greater risk of being robbed. However, there are a few simple ways to help avoid that situation.
First, when it gets dark, ensure there are plenty of lights on inside and outside your home. Burglars often avoid well-lit homes.
Close the curtains. It prevents intruders from seeing how many people live in the house.
Finally, invite your friends to come over from time to time to make your home look like a busy place with many people.
You may also want to install motion detectors. They sense any motion and send the notification to your phone. You can also connect it to your neighbor’s phone if you trust them. It’s always good to have someone nearby that can support you. Motion detectors are affordable and easy to install. They are a great option with respect to adding an extra layer of security to the outside areas of your home.
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How to give your apartment a safety check
When looking for a new place to move into, it’s a good idea to check all the safety factors. Below you will find a short safety check-list to help you do a secure check. It can help you decide whether the place is secure enough for your needs:
- District: general areas around the neighborhood, neighbors, etc.
- What is the crime rate in the neighborhood?
- Is it a secluded or busy neighborhood?
- What do the public safety reports say?
- Are the exterior entrances and fences around your home/apartment protected from intruders?
- Are the sidewalks and front steps in good condition?
- Is there protection against seasonal hazards?
- Is there sufficient exterior lighting?
- Is the parking lot safe?
- Are there security cameras?
- Main Entrance Security up
- Is your apartment on the first floor?
- Is the front door secure?
- Are there sufficient door locks?
- Are the windows secured?
- Complex and building security
- Are there security personnel on campus?
- Does staff have access to your apartment?
- Is your apartment safe when you are not home?
- Is there fire extinguishing equipment?
- Are there sufficient smoke detectors?
- Are all appliances adequately maintained?
- Do you see signs of mold or infestation?
What are the 5 safety rules of home
Up to 2,5 million burglaries occur in the US annually, and nearly half a million are committed during daylight hours. Despite these statistics, most homeowners take minimal steps to protect their homes from intruders. Fortunately, there are many quick and easy rules you may follow to make your home safer.
- Lock doors and windows
It may seem obvious, but one-third of all home burglars enter a home through unlocked doors and windows. So, it’s essential to always be cautious and protect all possible entrances to your home. Many burglars go from house to house looking for accessible opportunities, and this common-sense move can eliminate your home from their list.
- Invest in personal protective equipment
For people living alone, it’s good to always keep personal protective equipment around. Even pepper spray may scare off an attacker. Keep these tools in places you can easily access, for example, your bag, bedside table, your work desk are all perfect for that purpose. These simple steps can deter attackers or at least stun them so you can escape.
- Install the best home security system
Up to 88% of burglars will not attack a home if it is equipped with a surveillance camera system. These cameras can be both inside and outside the home. The footage from these cameras can be viewed in real-time on phones and other devices from anywhere. This allows you to monitor any suspicious activity while you are not home.
- Be smart with spare keys
It’s always good to have a spare key in case you lose the original one. However, the more keys circulating that can open your lock, the greater the risk that your security will be compromised. So, think about the best place to store them. You don’t want to leave your keys out in plain sight. Hiding them under mats and fake rocks is certainly not the best idea.
- Come up with a backup plan
Accidents are not something you can predict, which is why it’s always crucial to be prepared for any kind of emergency and have a backup plan.
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Summing up
Security always comes down to reducing risk and vulnerability and being aware of your surroundings. If you are concerned about any of these potential threats, it’s time to be proactive and practical regarding your safety and home security. Sure Lock & Key is always ready to provide you with all kinds of residential services to ensure your safety.
