Do You Expect Living In A Luxury Apartment To Be Safe?

Some people choose to live an apartment until they can afford to buy a house. Others choose to live in an apartment because of the advantages that come with apartment living.

Of course, in many urban areas, apartments are the only good choice. And, by choosing a luxury apartment, you can get a higher standard of living, along with some conveniences such as maintenance and lawn care handled by others.

If you decide to live in a luxury apartment, you will probably expect a higher level of safety as well - not just for yourself and your family, but also for your possessions. If you are currently looking for the safest option within your community's luxury apartments, use these 5 tips to maximize your chances.

1) Security staff - Each apartment complex will have their own standards, which can vary significantly. The top-end communities might employ full-time security personnel who are on-duty for regular shifts. Sometimes this is 24x7, sometimes just through the nights. Other apartments may contract with outside security companies to patrol the properties. Some apartments will try to attract law enforcement officers by offering them discounts. This way residents have the security of knowing a police officer is nearby if needed.

2) Security systems - At a minimum, your doors should have locks and deadbolts. But many luxury apartments will have a security system you can use. The entire apartment complex might even have surveillance in common areas. When people know that their actions are being watched and/or recorded, they are more likely to follow the rules. Don't forget about smoke detectors. Fire safety is important. Even if these are required by law, you should verify that they are working properly.

3) Secure parking - Luxury apartments often come with an enclosed parking garage. It might be a single monitored garage that all residents part in, or each resident might get their own private garage. Either way, you are assured that your car is safe when it's properly parked out of your site.

4) Traffic restrictions - Many apartment complexes post "no trespassing" and other warning signs to limit those who do not belong on the property. They might also prevent soliciting. If the community is gated, this can drastically reduce the number of unauthorized vehicles that can come in. Certainly these measures are not foolproof, but they help a lot.

5) Insurance - This is your responsibility. Be sure you are covered with a solid renter's insurance policy. You will want insurance that replaces your possessions, gives you liability coverage, and if necessary, pays for another place to live stay if your have to move out in an emergency.

Oh, and here's a bonus tip:

6) Live on the 2nd floor or higher - The chance of unauthorized entry into your apartment drops significantly for each floor above the ground floor. The higher up, the lower the risk. Higher floors have other advantages too... They are less likely to be flooded due to leaks in units above them, and the view from the windows is usually better too!