You Need To Ensure The Safety Of Your Home
Living in a home with a garden and a lawn is a dream that most people have, but do not chase. Even those who can afford to buy or build a home by themselves would rather go for a luxury projects in India for the same budget due to several factors, and security is on the top of the list. Apartments usually have a common and full-time security, which could otherwise become a cumbersome and costly affair if one were living a house of one's own.
But, is the apartment that you are moving into, actually safe? Here are some things that if not put in place, may compromise the security of your home:
Electronic surveillance: Few things can replace the impact of physical vigil. However, with increasing manpower cost and the extent of human error, it is crucial for a building to have enough CCTVs and electronic alarms and warning systems in place to ensure that the residential project in India is secured from all fronts. Ensure that the builder of completed projects or new projects has invested in quality electronic surveillance systems to make sure that the building remains safe. The system should allow fast communication like phones or video phones to reach the main security of the building for emergency response. Such surveillance helps save many lives.
Locks and bolts: Electronics might be the new game, but the traditional locks and bolts should not be ignored. Ensure that the windows, doors and the balconies are secured with quality locks made by reputed companies. Regularly changing these locks also helps. If there are glass windows, ensure that there are strong grills which can stop intruders and bolster the sliding doors appropriately.
Fire safety: Living in an apartment, especially with lifts, makes it a tad hazardous in times of fire and other accidents. Make sure that there is a fire-safety entrance which is well-maintained. A few apartments tend to ignore them after the first few years. Ensure that your builder or apartment secretary takes note of such things. It is also advisable for new apartments in India to install smoke detectors, which sends warning alarms in case there is a fire.
Adequate security personnel: Every apartment building has a security guard. However, ensure that he is vigilant enough and does not become a victim of residents pestering him to run errands and chores. There should also be enough security personnel manning an entire society, especially if there are several buildings in one plot in India. The walls and the gates should be manned by multiple security guards.
Maintenance of cracks and breaks: As the buildings get older, they do age in the form of cracks in the walls. While residents keep up with the repairs of their own apartment, it is also advised to address such cracks in the common walls of the society buildings. Gaps in boundary walls invite burglars and other criminal elements. Keep a close eye on the walls that have mini-gardens attached to them. Plants and regular watering can make these walls weak over time.
(The writer has been working as a business journalist for the last nine years, and has covered beats across banking, pharma, healthcare, telecom, technology, power, infrastructure, shipping and commodities)