Improving Security at Your Westside Multifamily With Safety Conscious Renovations

What did you look for in a home when you were last buying or renting? Maybe it was a certain number of bedrooms, an open-plan living area or a cellar to stockpile your growing collection of Californian wine. But I imagine that whatever features you had your eye on, the level of security the home could provide was right there at the top of the list.

Crime rates of every kind rose in LA in 2015, and it’s more important than ever to be able to prove to would-be tenants that you’ve thought of everything when it comes to their safety. Even more so if your multifamily happens to be located in Westside where property crime rates are higher than average. It’s an industry fact that renters are willing to pay more for additional security measures and we’ve talked before about upgrades you can implement on your property. But do you consider security when you’re making other improvements? When you’re landscaping your multifamily for instance? Don’t miss the opportunity because any kind of outdoor renovation work is an excellent excuse to analyze and improve your current security setup. Let me demonstrate:

Renovating Your Building’s Exterior

Whether you’re giving your multifamily a facelift, carrying out routine repairs or completing a particular renovation project such as an earthquake retrofit, there are a number of security improvements that can be made while renovating your multifamily’s exterior:

Replace wooden doors with a more secure alternative. Does your multifamily use cheap, hollow core doors for exterior entries? These should only be used for interior doors. Replace them instead with solid wood or steel doors that aren’t just more secure but more stylish as well. This is also an opportunity to insert peepholes into apartment doors if they aren’t there already, or upgrade existing peepholes to new, wide angle versions. These are a cheap but effective way of providing residents with an additional form of security that can combat any unexpected knocks at the door.
Replace locks with keyless entry. If you’re replacing your doors, then you should also consider upgrading locks to a keyless option. Aside from the convenience, keyless alternatives such as fobs or touchscreens are much harder to break into and can act as a deterrent to any would-be burglar
Reinforce windows. You don’t need to replace all of the windows in your multifamily to improve security. One option is to install alarms on all first-floor windows during routine maintenance work. These alarms stick onto windows and detect any significant vibrations, notifying yourself or residents if windows are broken. Upgrading your HVAC system can also improve window security by removing the break-in risk that window air conditioners bring to first and second-floor apartments.
Think blind corners and line of sight. You may already have security cameras installed at strategic points around your property to offer close to 360-degree video monitoring, but what happens when you add new structures? When planning the positioning of new structures, always keep in mind how this will impact your current security system. You may wish to avoid building new structures close to your existing block to avoid blind corners and alleyways. Space between structures is even more important when building single-story, flat-roofed buildings that can be easily climbed. Carports, garages and the like should always be ten feet or more away from an apartment wall.

Anticipating the methods a criminal may utilize can help you plan the smartest renovations.

Landscape Renovations for Peace of Mind

It’s not just your building’s exterior where renovations can help boost security. Renovating your multifamily’s garden can be about more than just improving your apartment’s curb appeal or creating a tranquil environment for residents. Some tips to keep in mind when renovating outdoor spaces include:

Keep tall landscaping away from buildings. Trees, statues, fountains and other large landscaping features can add height and style to any garden. Plant or position them too close to your building, however, and they can become an easy route into second- or third-floor apartments. Keep these features toward the center of your garden and regularly trim the branches of any trees that grow adjacent to your buildings.
Install stronger, more secure fencing. You may see landscape renovation as an opportunity to replace your 7ft high metal fence with a row of trees or a smaller whitewashed fence. But hold on there, Tom Sawyer. Picture yourself as a criminal—which would you most like to confront on a break in? For the extra security-conscious, you can take this renovation opportunity to turn your entire complex into a gated community. This is an increasingly sought after amenity that, if coupled with keyless entry, can provide several more layers to your multifamily’s security system.
Add motion detectors. Not sure you want to shell out for security cameras but still want additional protection? Motion detectors can be both a cost-effective alternative to traditional security systems and a worthwhile addition to your current setup. Wireless, infrared detectors can be seamlessly fitted into your landscaped garden and alert you or the police when triggered at night. When it comes to deciding on where to place them, get into the mindset of a thief. Are there any places criminals can easily hide? Where would they expect them to be? Make sure you place them so that they cover all of the entrances and exits, as well as around trees and bushes—ideally 6’-10’ above the ground. Avoid putting them anywhere they can be triggered by accident, such as by a busy road or sidewalk.

It can be easy to get carried away with creating a beautiful landscape without a thought to how it impacts your complex’s security, but it is absolutely necessary to consider how it may impact your property’s security.

Vehicle Storage Matters

California cities lead the nation in car thefts. As a result, if you can provide tenants with a secure place to park their motor vehicle, you’ll reap the rewards in the form of increased tenant retention rates. But do you provide a carport or a car garage?

Carports are the cheaper option of the two. Typically consisting of four pillars and a flat roof, building a carport doesn’t require building permissions and they provide sufficient protection from the elements—but not necessarily from thieves. That being said, a well-executed security camera system can make up for the lack of physical protection. The existence of cameras will typically act as a deterrent, too.
Car garages, whether they are above or underground offer significantly better protection for vehicles and are a much sought after amenity as a result. Typically this means the opportunity to charge comparatively higher rental prices and enjoy increased retention rates. This is a good thing because they also come with a higher price and the regulatory red tape you’d expect of a renovation project of this size.

These solutions are great if you have parking within your complex, but what about if you have a tangent parking lot? It may not be feasible to construct carports or garages in these lots, but you can still deter thieves from breaking into your residents’ vehicles. The best option is to use motion detected lighting at entrance points and in all corners of the parking lot, just as you would in your garden and around your apartment block perimeter.

Choosing the Right Contractor

Keeping security at the forefront of your mind doesn’t have to be a headache. By opting for a contractor with a solid reputation, you can carry out renovation work with the knowledge that your multifamily’s security will always be a primary concern.

REIG strives to deliver expert service and works hard to minimize renovation disturbance around your property. This means working within agreed timeframes, keeping the construction area tidy at all times, and maintaining a professional attitude throughout the work. Speak to one of our advisors for more information today about making your property safer than it’s ever been.