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How to Find a Safe Apartment |
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Your safety and well being is of utmost importance at all times. When apartment hunting, you should always be on the lookout for rentals in safe areas where you'll feel secure after move in day.
Research the area  Some research will occur while scoping out potential apartments, so make sure to also use this time to research the rental's location.
You can easily find information about your potential new apartment complex or building--and the surrounding community--by searching crime statistics online. Reviews of your complex should also reveal some information about the safety of its tenants as will a call to the local tenant board.
Avoid rental scams In addition to researching the area, you should also take note of the renters themselves, staying alert for signs of a possible rental scam. To avoid being scammed:
- Always perform a background check on the rental company or the landlord through the tenant board
- Never choose an apartment without taking a tour of it first (preferably with a buddy)
- Leave a paper trail by paying security deposits in traceable ways and saving any and all documentation
- Be aware of odd behaviour from a landlord such as refusing to speak outside of email, requesting money up front or asking for non-essential information like your social security number
- Remember, if the offer seems to be too good to be true, it probably is
Look for warning signs When getting a tour of your possibly-future apartment, it's important to be on the lookout for warnings that the area may be potentially unsafe for you as a resident. For added safety, don't forget to bring someone with you to investigate the apartment in question.
During your tour look for: - Excessive locks on the doors or bars on the windows
- Damaged door and window locks as well as un-sturdy exterior doors
- Broken windows inside the apartment
- No peephole leading from the apartment to the exterior
- No smoke or carbon monoxide detector
- No discernible means of escape in a potential fire
Before and after your tour watch out for:
- Poorly lit parking and communal areas such as laundry rooms and walkways
- Broken locks or windows in common areas
- A lack of lighting outside of the apartment's entrance/exit
- Suspicious characters lingering around
- Unkempt grounds and building exteriors (this could indicate a lack of care from the staff)
Listen to your gut Most importantly, ask yourself whether you will feel comfortable living in this area in the future. If the answer is no, trust your instincts and keep hunting until you find an area within your budget that doesn't leave you feeling uncomfortable or on edge.TIP: Don't just take a tour of the area during the day. Be sure to stop by in the evening to see how comfortable you feel at night before making your final decision. Practice safety procedures After you have moved into your apartment of choice, it's important to keep practicing the correct safety measures. For instance:
- Request that the locks be changed (if your landlord has not already done so)
- Get a bar to secure sliding glass doors
- While asleep in the evenings and when you are not home, lock your doors and windows
- Invest in a fire extinguisher and have an escape plan prepared in advance
- Get yourself tenant insurance
Follow this advice and you'll be well on your way to finding an appropriate rental in no time. Happy (and safe) apartment hunting! |
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Author : Cassandra Rose
on November 4, 2014
TopMoving.ca - Moving Expert
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