There is nothing better than the feelings of excitement and pride that come with moving into your own apartment for the first time. You finally have a space to call your own and decorate however you want, and you no longer have to deal with the hassles that come with living back at home with your parents or with a roommate.
Moving into your own apartment can also bring a new level of independence to a single girl being 100% responsible for chores and household cleaning, learning how to fix common household problems without the help of your boyfriend, and even being out on your own without another person to rely on. Sure, it can seem a little bit frightening at first, but that's half of the fun of it.
it's true that crime is an equal-opportunity offender. No one is immune. But thousands of women each year continue be singled out as the objects of stalkers, sex offenders and worse. Women living in urban environments don't have to consider themselves placed at additional risk because of their environment. Instead, their surroundings can be used to their advantage.
However, living on your own also has it's dangers especially for a young, single girl. Whether you live in the nicest area in town, you have a great studio in the heart of the city, or you are surrounded by other students on your college campus, there is a certain level of danger that comes with having your own place. For instance, if you go out on a date with a new love interest, you don't have any roommates that will be waiting up for you and making sure that you arrived home safely at the end of the night. Or, if someone were to break into your home, how prepared would you be on your own to handle the situation?
Living on your own should be something that you are excited for and something that you enjoy, not something you are afraid of. To help put your mind at ease about living solo for the first time, we have put together these simple apartment safety tips that will keep you feeling prepared for any instances that may occur:
Buy A Quality Lock:
The one thing that is keeping you away from the dangers outside is the lock on your door, so make sure it is a good one. Most apartments come with a standard lock and key set, but can be changed for a much more sturdy, safe set. One lockset that we recommend is the Kwikset Electronic Lock. This high-tech lock set completely eliminates the need for keys, meaning you never have to worry about losing yours when out at a bar or stress about who might grab yours from your bag.
With your own personal code, you can enter your home with just a few simple pushes of a button and lock it with just one. You also get more control over who has access to your home. Just assign a temporary code to your friends or boyfriend if they need one and delete it when you see fit.
Know Who To Call In Case Of An Emergency:
If you’re moving to a new city, you may not know the closest hospital or how to get to the police station. When you settle in your new locale, make a list of nearby hospitals, the phone number and address of the police station and fire department and directions to each of these centers. Keep it in a visible place in your apartment, like the fridge or inside a kitchen cabinet. If your friends and family aren’t familiar with your new area, make sure they have a copy too.
Practice Self Defense:
In today’s scary society, anyone could become a victim at any time to a mugging or sexual assault. Knowing a few kicks and punches won’t necessarily fully stop an attack, but the more you do to empower yourself, the better. Knowing the best way to punch someone in the nose may end up giving you enough time to make a run for it, get someone’s attention or get to a phone, saving your life.
Before you move in or even sign a lease, for that matter request that your locks be changed, and get it in writing. You never know if the previous resident had copies of his or her key made for friends. This will have to be cleared through management, and they'll have to have a copy of your new key.
When you move in, you'll be asked how you want your name to appear in the resident directory posted in the apartment lobby. Don't post your first and last name; that immediately identifies you as a single woman living alone. Instead, list your first initial and last name. One exception to that rule, however: How have the single men chosen to identify themselves? Do they, too, list just their first initials and last names? If so, list yours the same way. If they haven't, an intruder may quickly assume that names listed with first initials are women.
The solution is easy: Use your middle initial, too." If you don't have a middle name, it's time to invent one for yourself. Apply the same rule to the listing beside your doorbell and your listing in the local phone directory.
Take a look at the mailboxes in the lobby. Are the contents visible through any slots? If so, cover them up with a piece of paper on the inside of the box. Does your apartment have a mail slot on the front door? Do the same thing cover it. An intruder can lift up the cover and quickly determine if anyone's at home. If you're planning on being absent for any length of time, ask management or a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail while you're gone.
Once you've moved in, never leave your door unlocked even if you're just running down the hall to dump your trash or drop off something at your neighbor's apartment. It only takes seconds for an intruder to enter your apartment. If you ever approach your front door and suspect that it's been tampered with, don't enter your apartment. Head straight for security, and have the apartment thoroughly inspected before you re-enter. Furthermore, have your locks changed while you're at it.
Get to know your neighbors. Know their habits and their schedules, and agree to look out for each other. That includes agreeing to close any outside doors you see propped open and not allowing entry to any strangers waiting outside the building. To protect each other's safety, choose a night of the week during which you'll both do laundry. It's not a good idea to hang out in the laundry room in the evening alone; laundry rooms tend to be located in the basement level of buildings, usually in dark, unprotected areas.
If someone should knock on your door, don't open it without looking through your peephole first. If you don't have one, ask for ID from your visitor. If you're still unsure about the legitimacy of your visitor, call security to help you verify the information. If your visitor doesn't cooperate with your requests, don't give in. Stand your ground, refuse to open the door and tell him or her goodbye. Alert security, management or the police.
When getting on your elevator, check out the inside before you enter. If you see someone whom you don't recognize, and your instincts tell you to wait, by all means, wait for the next elevator. And when you get on the elevator, stand by the emergency button in the event that someone enters the elevator and places you in danger. That's assuming, of course, that you don't manage to exit the elevator first don't be afraid to do that if your instincts are telling you to leave the situation.
Finally, when leaving your underground parking garage, remain alert to your surroundings. Don't leave your car if you spot someone suspicious. Drive out of the garage, head to the nearest phone and call security. Never leave valuables in your car within full view.
And keep a phone in your car to protect yourself. If you arrive home late at night, don't hesitate to call security to escort you from your car into the building safely and Living on your own is a great way to gain your independence and finally start life out on your own. However, make sure you are following these three important safety tips to ensure that you are staying safe.
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