SAFETY AND SECURITY TIPS FOR YOUR CONDO UNIT

Condominium buildings are becoming the preferred residences of a lot of people especially for those who would like to reside near commercial and business areas. Despite the many benefits of living in a condominium building, there are some precautions that you have to take when you decide to live in one.

Some may think that living in a Philippine condo unit is relatively safe and secure especially with the number of neighbors, security, and staff in the building. However, there are still safety and security risks no matter where you live. Below are some tips to help you make living in your condo unit safer and more secure.

• Get to know other residents. This may seem difficult for those who prefer not to meet and mingle with other residents of thecondominium building, but this is not for social reasons. Your only goal is to know the faces and some of the names of the other residents. Not because you want to start hanging out with them, but because it pays to know whether someone loitering around the condo is a resident or not.

• Choose a main door that has a peephole. Do not open your door to strangers no matter how they introduce themselves. The important thing is to look and see who is at the door before opening it, which is the exact purpose of a peephole. If the door to your condo unit right now has no peephole, it is worth thinking about investing on a door that has one.

• Lock your doors. Whether you have a condo in Mandaluyong, Makati, or anywhere else, always make sure to lock your doors at all times. If a locked door cannot prevent criminals or burglars away, so much more if it’s an unlocked door.

• Know where the exit is. No matter where you are in the building,  always make it a habit to know where the emergency exits are. This can save your life if a fire occurs or an earthquake happens. Always orient yourself on where the nearest emergency exits are.

•  Install smoke alarms. Although this might not seem necessary for some condo residents, it’s a good way to increase fire safety in your unit. If a fire starts inside your unit, it might be difficult for the building staff to know about it. A smoke alarm will not only useful for you but also for your nearest neighbors.