There’s a famous Plautus quote: “No guest is so welcome in a friend’s house that he will not become a nuisance after three days.” While that may not exactly be true for everybody, Plautus is making a good point — having house guests over can go from good to bad in the blink of an eye, often because they’ve just simply stayed too long. That can make for a really awkward situation.

If you’re hosting some friends or family members at your apartment, here are some tips for making sure things go smoothly with your house guests:

• If you have roommates, you should absolutely check in with them first. Tell them there’s a possibility that guests will be staying over at your apartment. Ask if that would be okay, and if so, how long they may stay.
• Talk to your house guests before they arrive, or preferably, before they make final plans. Let them know how long they may stay with you and be upfront about your house rules.
• You may also want to fill them in on your apartment complex’s rules.
• Going off the previous tip, find out what your house guests’ expectations are. Will they expect you to pick them up from the airport? Do they want you to take them on a tour of the city? Will you be their only transportation? These are important things to know before they arrive so you can plan accordingly. If they will be relying on you for transportation and your work schedule doesn’t really allow it, be sure to give them a heads up.
• Be honest about your expectations, too. If you want your house guests to wash their own dishes and help around the house, you should tactfully mention that when you extend your invitation.
• Once plans are made, make sure you have a place for your house guests to sleep. If you have a small apartment and only have a couch to offer up for bed space, let your guests know so that they can make arrangements to bring an air mattress or a sleeping bag.
• Have clean towels ready for them.
• If you know of any of their favorite snacks or drinks (you can always ask them!), you could pick them up before your house guests arrive. They’ll appreciate your thoughtful gesture.

Laying out rules and being clear with your house guests before they even arrive can help make things go as smoothly as possible. After all, being a host should be enjoyable, not a source of frustration and stress.

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Safe Apartments: How and Where

When it comes to finding an apartment, safety might be at the top of your list. It’s tough to gauge just how safe an apartment is without having lived there. And when you’re moving from a completely different city, it’s even more difficult to know which apartment complexes and neighborhoods are safe. Luckily, we’ve compiled some useful tips that might help you if you’re looking to rent a safe apartment.

Pass Up the First Floor

Yep, you’ll definitely be getting your exercise with a second-floor, third-floor or higher-up unit. But keep in mind that thieves have a much easier time breaking into first-floor apartments, meaning those that aren’t on the first floor are typically more secure. If your budget allows for it, consider renting a high-rise apartment.

Safe Inside and Out

It’s a common occurrence: You’re out looking for an apartment, you drive by an apartment complex that has a big fence with a gate that requires an entry code, and you assume that the place is very safe and secure. Stick around a little longer, though, you might notice that anyone can get in if they just follow behind a car that puts in the entry code.

Another consideration is lighting. When it’s dark outside, how well-lit is the parking lot, mailboxes, laundry room, walk-ups and stairways?

As for the actual apartment, you’ll want to take a look at the front door: Is it thick and sturdy and does it have a peephole? What kind of locks are on it? Is it possible to open the windows from the outside?

Ask Around

One of the best ways to find out if an apartment is safe is to talk to people who live there. Current residents usually aren’t shy about telling prospective renters exactly what they think of the place they call home. You can also talk to the management — ask if they’d be willing to check on your apartment or get your mail should you be gone for an extended period of time. You’ll also want to make sure they change the locks when a tenant moves out. Inquire about what the policy is regarding apartment office employees having access to your apartment, too. Last but not least, talk to the local police. They should be happy to talk to you about crime rate statistics for the neighborhood and specific apartment complex you’re looking at.

Even though there’s always a possibility during your apartment renting experience that something could happen regarding your safety, we hope our tips will help you out with renting a safe apartment. And if you’d like a hand in your quest for an apartment for rent, try using our easy apartment search! Not only is it free, but you earn up to $200 in renter rewards when you rent using ApartmentSearch.com.

ApartmentSearch by CORT does not guarantee security or safety at any property. For local crime statistics and information, please contact your local law enforcement agency.

Spring and summer brings about several severe thunderstorms, which can often lead to tornadoes. Tornadoes can sometimes occur without warning and cause large amounts of damage. At their worst, tornadoes can attain speeds of more than 300 mph. According to the National Weather Service, people who reside in apartments should have a storm plan laid out to avoid injury or death.

Tornado Safety: Best Location in an Apartment

Tornadoes are very quick and usually come without much notice, having your plan in place will protect you and the items in your apartment. First and foremost, once you hear that there is a possible tornado near your apartment, or that the conditions are right for a tornado, move to shelter immediately.

If you live in an apartment that is on an upper floor, get to the lowest level of the building that you can immediately. This could be an underground parking garage or a neighbor’s first floor apartment. If you live in a high-rise apartment building, you may not have enough time to get to a lower level, so picking a place in the hallway in the center of your building is the best idea. A closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot in your apartment during a tornado.

Also ask your apartment leasing manager if there are any storm shelters in your complex or building.

Tornado Safety: Other Apartment Safety Tips

Once you have relocated to your safe place, lie down on the floor and cover yourself up with pillows, blankets and even mattresses for protection from falling objects and debris. If your apartment’s safe place has a heavy piece of furniture, such as a large table, get under that for extra protection. Wearing a bicycle or similar helmet will help protect your head from injuries caused by flying debris.

It is also a great idea to keep an evacuation kit handy. This kit should include a portable radio, flashlight with extra batteries, credit card and cash, first aid kit, spare set of keys, personal identification and anything else of importance or of value to you. Having all of this together near the safe place of your apartment will save you time and worry during a tornado threat.

Tornado Safety: After the Tornado

If a tornado does come near your apartment, please use extreme caution when exiting your home. Watch out for fallen utility lines and tree limbs that may not have fallen yet. Make sure that everyone is alright and provide assistance to your neighbors that may need attention. Finally, remember to take pictures of damage to your property for your insurance claim.

Residential fires, either in your single-family dwelling or apartment, are frightening for all involved. However, there are steps that you can take to help insure that you, your pet and your family are safe even in the incidence of a fire.

Before you rent an apartment, perform a fire inspection and make sure that it is up-to-code. Make sure there is an adequate number of working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. If there isn’t, have the leasing agent correct this before signing the lease.

Top Causes of Apartment Fires

Although apartment fires can be caused by several things, the top causes include cooking/kitchen fires, heating equipment (i.e. space heaters, kerosene heaters), smoking materials (major cause of fatal fires), and arson, which even includes children playing with matches and fire.

Steps to Prevent Apartment Fires

There are several steps that you can take to help prevent a fire from starting in your apartment. They are as follows:

• Be careful with smoking materials and never smoke in bed.
• Keep matches and lighters where children can’t get to them.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep heating equipment at least three feet away from combustible materials.
• Replace worn electrical cords, make sure to always use power strips if additional outlets are needed.
• Do not store flammable liquids or compressed gases (i.e. propane) in your apartment or on your balcony.
• Do not use your balcony for storage or for grilling food.

What to Do in Case of an Apartment Fire

If there is a fire in your apartment, make sure that you have a plan and that your plan works. Know your fire escape route and know where all the extinguishers are in your building. Never ignore a fire alarm or your building’s public announcement system, if you have one.

Always follow these steps to escape safely:·

• Check doors before opening them. If the door is cool, open it slowly and stay low to the ground and leave the building as quickly as possible. If the door is warm, seal the door and the vents with wet bedding or towels. Go to a window, and if there is no smoke outside, open it and signal for help. If you are able, call 9-1-1 and let them know that you are trapped in the building and give them your location.
• Never use an elevator during a fire! Use the stairs!
• Once you are safely out of the building, NEVER go back in. If you need help, call 9-1-1 or ask a member of the fire department that has responded to your apartment fire.