Tips for Community Living
“Yikes! Where did that kid come from?”
You don’t want these to be the words you’re screaming while you slam on the brakes in your apartment parking lot. The fact is that living in an apartment community can be a much different experience than other types of neighborhoods. Special considerations need to be taken for children, elderly and others who may have physical impairments. The staff at Apartments.com has assembled some tips for those who mean well but need to make the adjustment to community living. After all, you don’t want to be banned from the block party this year.
Tip 1: There are people around—watch out!
You may feel those precious minutes you spend in the car or every day on your way home are a great time to catch up on calls or texts. Hopefully you’re using an earpiece on the phone and not texting while driving, but once you get near your apartment, hang up! The National Safety Council recommends only making calls in emergencies and not while behind the wheel. This goes double for apartment living. Children often have no where else to play but the in street in front of your building or in the parking lot. Adults, including the elderly, may enjoy walks outside of their apartment and other recreational activities. A person with a handicap may have to travel to the central mailbox near the street. These are all reasons to slow down and pay extra attention when you approach your apartment.
Tip 2: Be courteous
When it comes to noise, it’s not just loud parties that will have 4F sneering at you in the hall. You and your roommate may love your raucous midnight monopoly tournaments which often end in belly-shaking laughter, but the mom with three kids who shares living room walls with you might not find it so hysterical. The same goes for late-night cleaning sprees—vacuum cleaners are very loud. Remember that apartment walls tend to be thinner than you think. When it starts to get late, keep it down.
Tip 3: Do your part to keep the building safe
You have an extra responsibility to your neighbors in addition to yourself to prevent a fire. Don’t smoke in bed and never leave candles or any other burning devices unattended—these are both leading causes of fires. Unplug all appliances as soon as you are done using them. This includes toasters, curling irons, irons and any other device that produces heat. In addition, don’t run extension cords under carpets or from unit to unit. They can easily overheat and should only be used temporarily. You may even want to consider holding a building meeting and planning an escape route in the event that a fire occurs. Be sure that children, the elderly and anyone with a handicap will have assistance in the event of a fire.
Make sure that neither you, nor anyone else in your building, is parking in front of fire hydrants or fire lanes. If someone is ignoring this law, politely remind them of it and express your concern. If that doesn’t work, make your building management aware or call the local authorities.
Tip 4: Know how to handle crime issues
It is your responsibility as a community resident to report any suspicious or criminal behavior that you see. If your complex or street has a neighborhood watch, show your concern by attending a meeting. If a watch doesn’t exist, you can start one. Find more information on the National Crime Prevention Council’s Web site.
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