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Renting my first apartment.
I am renting my first apartment in a really nice safe town. The apartment is located on the first floor and the previous tenant has lived there for 5 yrs with no problems. Me being from the city I am still really paranoid. Can anyone give me advice about safety and any other tips about living on your own.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
pay your bills....and when your internal voice says "this isn't a good idea...."....listen to it.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
congrats on getting your first place! ;D
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
You may want to think about giving a TRUSTED friend an extra key, just in case you forget your set at work or somehow get locked out of your apartment. Even better is if that person is relatively close by.
Make sure the landlord has changed the locks since the last tenant. You never know who they may have given a key to.
You say you live on the first floor? Are your windows reachable from the street? Make sure to lock your windows when you're out. It's easy enough to pop a screen and then slide an unlocked or partially open window up. Only leave open the windows which someone can't get to. (This also goes for which window you decide to put an AC in if you don't have central air.)
Make sure your smoke detectors have good battaries.
You may want to consider having a small all purpose fire extinguisher. Also keep a box of baking soda around the stove for any greese fires.
It's best to have both a chain lock and deadbolt lock on your doors. You can use the dead bolt for security, or the chain when you need to check who's at your door without completely allowing them inside.
Have you just moved in? Take pictures of the rooms or note any items which might not be in perfect condition now, so you don't get blammed and loose your security deposit when you decide to move out.
Your answering machine or VM message should not sound singular like, "Hi you've called <insert name>, I can't come to the phone now..." Instead keep it generic and if possible plural like, "You've reached ###-###-####, we get to the phone now but..." (You may want to give your parents a heads up on this safety measure. ;) )
Best of luck with the new place!!!!
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Woman Alone - Safety Tips
AT HOME
Your door should be equipped with a door viewer and deadbolt lock, with a one inch throw.
All windows should be secure. Draw window shades or drapes after dark.
All entrances and garages should be well-lit.
Never remain alone in an apartment laundry room, mailroom or parking garage.
Avoid feminine identification. Do not put your first name on your mailbox, or in the telephone book. Use two initials and your last name.
Unknown persons should not be admitted to your premises unless proper credentials are presented.
Should a stranger request use of your phone, do not allow the person to enter. Offer to make the call yourself.
Should you return home to find windows or doors tampered with, do not enter or call out! Go to a neighbour and call the police.
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ON THE STREET
Plan your route and avoid short cuts through parks, vacant lots or unlit areas.
Do not overburden yourself with packages and a bulky purse.
Walk near the curb and away from alleys and doorways.
If you suspect you are being followed, cross the street; go to the nearest home, service station or open business premises and call the police.
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IN YOUR CAR
Always lock your car when entering and leaving it.
View the interior of your vehicle before entering to assure no one is hiding inside, even if the doors were locked.
Have your keys in hand so you do not have to linger before entering your car.
Travel on well-lit streets and keep your purse out of sight.
If you have car trouble in a dark area, raise the hood of the car, lock yourself in, and wait for the police to arrive. . If a stranger offers to help, do not get of your car. Ask the person to call for assistance.
Do not stop to offer help to a stranded motorist. Stop at the next phone booth and call for assistance.
If you suspect that someone is following you, drive to the nearest service station, drive-in restaurant, police station and blow your car horn to attract attention.
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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Try to avoid isolated bus stops.
Sit near other women or near the driver.
If someone bothers you, tell the driver immediately.
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HITCH-HIKING
Police implore women not to hitchhike under any circumstances
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PUBLIC PLACES
Use caution in conversations with strangers. Avoid giving your name, address or place of employment.
In theatres, avoid dark corners and sit near the aisle.
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PURSE SNATCHING
Do not carry large sums of money in your purse.
If possible, carry a small purse, tucked away from view, under the arm.
Be wary of approaching strangers.
If someone grabs your purse, do not resist.
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BABY SITTING
Leave information with your family about babysitting location, phone number and time expected home.
Once inside the house, lock all doors and windows.
If you hear strange noises outside the house, call the police.
Be escorted home after dark.
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IF ATTACKED...
Run to the nearest residence or business. Cries for help can discourage criminals and may result in their arrest.
IF you choose to physically resist, take advantage of any 'weapons' you may have - such as a purse or umbrella.
Attempt to determine points of identification such as clothing, glasses, scars, hair colour and height. Call the police immediately.
The choice of whether or not to physically resist attack can only be made by you. If the assailant is armed, your options are limited. There is no way to predict an attacker's actions.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Do the common sense things (like don't leave your door open or let strangers in) but don't be paranoid all the time. Relax and listen to your intuition - if you're in danger it will let you know, but if your constantly flooding yourself with fear signals because you're walking to your car by yourself or at a bus stop by yourself you may not hear those real fear signals that happen when you are in danger.
If this is a topic your interested in, read The Gift Of Fear, by Gavin de Becker.
Lena
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
I agree with Lena and the tips that Ver and Mojo give are very good as well. If you have never lived alone before (which seems to be the case here), accept that you will be "jumpy" for a little while until you get used to the newness and the new noises of your place. Once the "routine" settles in, you'll be fine.
Congrats and take care of yourself!!
--Venus
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
first off, congrats on your new apartment. :)
Next, advice...if you would call it that:
If you live on the first floor and have windows accessable to the public, keep them locked and put something in front of them if you can, completely covering them if possible, especially in the bedroom.
If someone is knocking or banging on your door, and you didn't order anything (such as something on-line or food), or family/friends have not called and said they're coming over,then you're not there...even if you're on the phone, or the t.v. is on. They can go to the Stop-n-Go for sugar, and the renter's office to 'borrow' the phone.
Voicemail message:
"It's me...you know what to do..."
I normally don't answer the phone unless I'm in the mood to (which is rare), or recognize the number. If it's that important, the caller can leave a message. If you're still doing phone work, a business line may be in order. That way, your clients call the business line and you won't miss calls.
Get unlisted, private phone lines. Less fiber optic spam that way.
If the 'neighbors' get loud. Lay low at first, see what management does. If they do nothing, move. Reporting them may make things worse instead of better.
That may be a bit much, but consider the fact that I'm sharing with you what I do. And considering where I live, it's not enough.
Also...remember what big mama en 'em said..."don't talk to strangers", especially if you get a bad vibe from them.
that is all
:alien:
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
:) Congrats on your first apartment!! All of the advice listed here is excellent. Aother idea.....if you think you'll be feeling nervous the first couple of nights in your new place, maybe you could invite a couple of your friends to stay with you. Have a girls' night IN. Make it fun like all the slumber parties from back in the day. :D
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Wow Mojo,that was a very detailed and comprehensive list.My husband tells me all of those things verbatum when he gets deployed overseas everytime.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
One more...yell FIRE instead of HELP.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
For your car,
keep a shovel (sp) in the trunk :mischievous:...no seriously, during the winter months, just in case you have to dig yourself out of the snow. A couple of blankets wouldn't hurt either, and run it at least five minutes before heading out for the day. I've gotten to the point where I do this year round.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Keep extra rolls of TP in the bathroom. When you live alone you can't say "GOD DAMMIT....I NEED TP!!!".....but then again, maybe women don't have this problem...since you're all smarter than we are.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
sorry,i say dont take the ground floor apt.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Hmmm.... notice that it's mostly the guys who have this expectancy that a woman living alone (in a ground floor apartment *gasp*) is automatically in danger. I wonder what that means?
I feel like I have to say this. I live alone, and have for the last seven years or so. Most of the girls on this forum live alone. Most of us have never been assaulted in our homes by a stranger, and most of us never will be. It is much more likely that you would be assaulted by a family freind or a person you're dating.
Lena
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
All I know is...I'll never live in another first floor apartment ever again if I can help it, and wouldn't wish my current living situation...on my worst enemy.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Many girl on here own houses and live alone. I'm paying extra too live in a safe neighborhood. I beleive that if I lock all my windows doors, I should be safe. I'll take my chances at this point because my roommates absolutely suck.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Lena - while I understand your point, I have issue with your insinuation. The men of this forum who have made statements are making those, not out of experience, but rather based on what we have been taught and what the possibilities are. The list I provided was not one that *I* came up with...it's one provided by a university. I simply found it and approved of it. You are correct that most "assaults" come from family members....but that does not imply that we men are some sort of experienced psychopathic freakazoids who have done this sort of thing before.
Finally, I do not have an "expectency" that this person will have a problem. She asked for suggestions regarding safety. I provided some basic steps. Not following them does NOT imply that you will have a problem. However, following them DOES improve your chances of avoiding them.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
:-[.....Yes i can say be VERY SAFE AT ALL TIMES....or at least when meeting new guys in case you are single.....I had a nice apartment on the first floor. I felt very safe there until this guy a gave my adress to (im a dumbass) took a 4X4 board through my double pain sliding glass door. I was sleeping at the time. I made a report and took pictures as well.
Moral of the story is be careful to who you meet and who to might invite over. Worst part is that he was a firefighter and had a son. I am over it now but I hope i didnt scare you :'( :-*.
Oh yea dont freely give out your work schedule or your patterns of when youll be home and not. :eye:
Now I (and many others should) just look and listen as you walk to and from your car other areas... dont be afraid to go out at night just be careful...i guess i dont want anything bad to happen to you. I hope i was more helpful than scary. :optimist: :wave:
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Mojo, oh no, I didn't mean to imply that anyone was a violent psychopath or anything. I was just observing that men seem to be more concerned about womens safety than the women (in this thread, anyways).
Also I wasn't saying that you in particular have an expectancy of violence towards women. We all do. It's as American as apple pie. I just think we should be concious of it.
JMO, of course.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Quote:
Mojo, oh no, I didn't mean to imply that anyone was a violent psychopath or anything.
OHHHHHHHHH.........oops....sorry.....shit....did my response make me seem like a violent psychopath? DID IT? HUH??? ANSWER ME!!!!!!
:) kidding
Anyway - yes....we're all a bunch of saps. Teddy bears, I tell ya.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
they have portable alarms you can get to put on your doors and windows. cheaper than a whole system and you can install them yourself. they make a siren or chiming sound depending on which way you set it if the window or door gets moved.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Yeah.You can get those a Wallyworld.
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Re:Renting my first apartment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lena link=board=27;threadid=11437;start=msg145337#msg14 5337 date=1091027885
Hmmm.... notice that it's mostly the guys who have this expectancy that a woman living alone (in a ground floor apartment *gasp*) is automatically in danger. I wonder what that means?
My opinions come from being a father of 5 daughters and they come from a business with an elevated risk level for females that are not the same as some other professions.(understatement)
Just for shits and giggles,stop bye your local police dept and ask them if they reccommend a single female living on the ground floor.I would bet they say the same thing as my last post did.
Does that raise your eyebrow as well???
Just my opinion....
Most real men are protective over most real females.Its in our nature I belive and its something real men are taught from a young age by fathers,mothers and sisters, I had one of each.
Tell me this,why dont you think females are allowed to fight in the trenches with the military???(you do know its illegal for females to have a combat MOS right?)
Could it be that many men would get their ass shot off trying to protect them??
Its called human nature.
BTW I will still hold the door open for you before i pass thru it and i will always come to your aide as a knight in shinning armor if you need it,even if you dont ask for help or get pissed because i tried to help.
fuck the era and femmi nazi's.When i hold a door open for you,its not just for you,its for my mom,my sister,my grandmom,etc.
tho the armor is dented,worn and thin,
fear not the resolve and honer of the knight within.
wake up and smell the coffee fair maiden,
and see before you,a true gentlmen.