When moving into a new apartment or house make sure you change the locks or have them changed. You never know who might have a key and you certainly do not want any strangers in your home. Personal safety is always essential. A dead bolt will make you safe. Make sure both the front and back doors are visible to neighbors. Your home is more secure the more visible the entry points are.

Your doors should not have large glass panels on them, as they are easy to see in and break. Look for a door with smaller glass inserts that are away from the lock. Make sure the hinges on the doors are on the inside so that they cannot be popped from the outside. Hinges on the outside are not safe at all.

If your house or apartment has window locks installed do not remove them if you install the security grates on the windows. You need to ask how to quickly remove these grates in case a fire breaks out within your home.

If you are moving into an apartment building make sure the hallways, and public areas are well lit, this increases personal safety so much. If you are moving into a house, make sure there are lights on all of the porches. It is always a great idea to install those motion senor lights on the garage if you have one or on the porch for added security.

Do not be afraid to call the police or apartment manager if you notice some one strange hanging around. When you are new to the area you should go to the police department and ask about the crime rate in and around your area. Neighborhood watch programs are great added security, find out if your neighborhood has one and join.