While getting a new apartment is a fun, exciting experience, you need to follow a few tips to keep it that way. Apartment safety is an important aspect of living in a rental property; following these tips will keep it a fun experience.

The first thing to do is to get renter’s insurance. This will protect your stuff if it’s lost, stolen or damaged, as well as protecting your assets if someone comes to harm within your apartment and sues you.

Change the locks on the doors. Many rental properties will do this automatically when a renter leaves. Ask your landlord if the locks have been changed. If they haven’t been, ask them to do so. Another tip in this vein is to not make copies of your apartment key.

Get an unlisted phone number. This will cut down on sales phone calls as well as removing your name from the public sphere.

Don’t put your full name on your mailbox. The mailperson will be able to figure it out with just your initials. This keeps your name safe and unknown to all but those you introduce yourself to.

Don’t leave mail or packages sitting outside your door. Take them inside as soon as possible.

Get to know your neighbors. In addition to helping you make new friends, you’ll also be able to recognize strangers who don’t belong.

Lock your windows and doors. Leaving windows unlocked or open when you’re not home or are asleep is a great invitation for thieves. Lock up every night and every time you leave.

Check your smoke detectors. These are important safety tools, so make sure they’re working properly.

Know your escape routes in case of an emergency. These should be posted in the building, on every floor.

For many people, that perfect apartment is a little more than they can afford. This is especially true when you’re finding your first apartment. A limited budget can greatly affect the size and location of apartment you get. One way to afford a better apartment is by taking on a roommate or two. While this will go a long way towards stretching your budget, it can lead to hassles and headaches of its own. Here are a few tips to remember when getting a roommate into the act.Rent and utilities- Make sure your roommate knows exactly how much of the rent and utilities they are expected to pay and that it is due on a certain day each month. Allowing them to pay on different days every month will send the signal that they can pay their share whenever they feel like it and this will end up making you shoulder the burden alone.

Chores- Apartments, like every other type of living accommodation, get dirty. Dishes pile up, the floor needs to be vacuumed and dusting needs to be done. No one likes cleaning, but it’s part of life. Set up a rotating set of chores or clearly define who has to clean what. This will help keep the apartment liveable and avoid one person having to do everything.

Groceries- You’ll need to define who has access to which foods. The best option is usually to decide that your roommate can only eat what they have purchased. This will help cut down on “empty fridge” syndrome and save you some cash on groceries, as well.

While it may be tempting to think that the safety of the apartment complex is the sole responsibility of the property owner or management company, it doesn’t work that way.  An apartment complex is a community and that community must take steps on its own to protect the complex as a whole.

One of the best ways to help make your apartment a safer place to live is by getting to know your neighbors.  This will help you make friends as well as notice people hanging around that don’t belong there.  Knowing who belongs and who doesn’t goes a long way towards making your apartment a safer place to live.  Thieves and vandals don’t like attention and if they know they’ve been spotted, are less likely to return.

Make sure your front door has a deadbolt and a peephole.  If your door doesn’t, then ask your landlord to have them installed; these are great safety items and can do a lot to make your apartment experience better.

Make sure you know the apartment complex’s safety rules and regulations.  These go beyond the “no diving” sign on the pool; they affect who can come and go with ease, what time visitors are allowed to wander the complex and more.  Following these rules and regulations will help you maintain a safer living environment.

Knowing what is going on around the complex, being involved with other residents and keeping an eye out for suspicious activity will help you have a safer and more enjoyable apartment living experience.