8 Safety Features Students Want to See in an Apartment

By Christine Ascher on August 22, 2017

One of the most important factors that students — and, in particular, their parents — will take into consideration when they’re looking for an apartment building is its attention to safety. An easy way to impress student residents is by paying attention to and showing off these safety features.

These features will show them that your apartments are safe and ensure that students realize how important your safety is to them.

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1. Security guards and cameras

If your building has a lobby, it’s a good idea to have a security guard on duty there, especially at night. Students will like to see that someone is present at all times to make sure no one suspicious can get into the building. It will also give them added peace of mind to know that, if they have an emergency, there will always be security on hand. This is especially appealing if your building is in a large city, where many people living in the area are not affiliated with the university.

Since many other buildings probably won’t have actual security on duty at all times, this will definitely help you stand out as well. Installing security cameras throughout the property is another good idea. Students will like to see them in hallways, elevators, and parking garages — all areas where incidents could occur. Even if your building is otherwise secure, students will like to have the extra protection afforded by security cameras.

2. Smoke detector

While this sounds like a given, you should make sure that all of the smoke detectors throughout your building are functioning when students come for a tour and before they move in. A smoke detector is of no use if the batteries have run out or if it’s malfunctioning, and if this is the case you’ll definitely turn students off with the lack of attention given to such an important safety feature. Conduct a simple test from time to time ensure that everything is in working order, and so students know that they will never have to worry about their smoke detector failing.

3. Carbon monoxide detector

Especially if your apartments have gas burning appliances, make sure that they have functioning carbon monoxide detectors in addition to smoke alarms. The lack of one may raise some red flags for students who are concerned about the safety of the building, so this is another feature that you should ensure is up and running before students move in. Again, it doesn’t hurt to check in once and awhile to make sure that it’s still up and running.

4. Blinds

While installing blinds is a relatively simple task, it can have a huge impact on how safe a student feels in their apartment. If there are no blinds on the windows, students may feel like they’re on display with any person walking by able to look in and see them. It may also make them more susceptible to break-ins, as anyone looking at the building can easily tell whether a student is at home or not and can see the location of their valuables. Just having the option to close the blinds will be a safety feature that students will need to see.

5. Proper locks on the windows

In addition to blinds, make sure that there are proper locks on all of the windows in your apartments. While a lock on the front door is obvious, students will also be concerned about the security of the windows. This is especially important if the apartment is on a lower level, or if there is a fire escape or another easy route to reach windows that are higher up. Make sure the windows are of good quality as well; if a student can hear people talking outside their bedroom window, even if there’s no present threat to their safety at that moment, it will make them feel less secure inside their apartment.

6. Double locks on the door

For added safety, students will like to know that there are double locks on their doors or a way to deadbolt the door from the inside. Being able to double-lock the front door at night will add to a student’s sense of security, especially if the normal lock is easy to pick or if there’s a possibility that previous residents or building employees still possess a key to the apartment.

7. Double locks on sliding glass doors

If the apartments in your building have balconies or outdoor spaces with sliding doors that lead out to them, make sure that these doors have secure locks as well. Burglars can easily access a property from the balcony if the sliding doors are easy to pry open, so the added bonus of having an outdoor space will be quickly diminished if a student finds that it’s not secured properly.

8. Peepholes on the door

Considering you never know who is coming and going in a college apartment building, it’s not a good idea for a student to open the door to just anyone. Having a peephole will allow students to check on who is visiting their apartment before they have to open the doors to let anyone in. Make sure all of the apartments have peepholes that are clean and updated — they’re no good to students if you can’t see clearly to the other side of the door.

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