Should I stop on the first floor of the apartment? Precautions when living on the 1st floor and crime prevention and pest measures you should know
Why is it said that you should stop on the first floor?
When renting a rental property, the second floor is often preferred to the first floor, and there may actually be a difference in rent.
Here, let's look at the main disadvantages of why many people want to avoid the first floor.
Security and privacy issues
When living on the first floor, it can be said that the point of concern is crime prevention.
There are many properties that are surrounded by grids and block walls, but considering the ease of intrusion, it is certain that there is greater anxiety than on the upper floors.
There is also a privacy issue, such as being able to easily see the inside of the room in a location facing the road.
Especially for women, there are concerns about the laundry being dried outside, so some measures are required.
Sunlight and humidity issues
Although it depends on the direction and location of the windows, it is often felt cold in winter on the first floor, which is less sunny than the upper floors.
In addition, because it is easily affected by the ground, it also tends to retain moisture. In order to live a comfortable life on the first floor, diligent temperature and humidity control is required.
Risk of invasion of unpleasant pests
Compared to the upper floors, the first floor has a higher risk of pests coming in from the outside, which is also a disadvantage. Be careful, especially in an environment where moisture tends to accumulate, as the possibility of intrusion increases.
South-facing rental special feature Rental special feature with enhanced security and crime prevention measuresNot all the drawbacks! 4 benefits of living on the 1st floor
Although the disadvantages of the first floor are more noticeable than the other floors, there are some advantages to living. If you compare the two and feel that the benefits are greater, the first floor will be a good choice.
Here, we will introduce four advantages of the first floor.
Rent tends to be cheaper than on the upper floors
The attraction of the 1st floor is that the rent is often cheaper than the 2nd floor and above. Even if the rooms are in the same building, there are places where the difference in the number of floors can make a difference of several thousand yen or more.
Therefore, you may be able to choose a property with a better location and facilities just by compromising the number of floors.
No need to worry about noise and vibration downstairs
Another big attraction on the first floor is that you don't have to worry about the impact on the downstairs.
In apartments and other apartments, noise and vibration problems due to footsteps can occur, so it is a great advantage to be able to live without worrying about downstairs.
This is a great advantage especially for households with small children who run around in the room.
Easy to move and carry in luggage
The first floor, which eliminates the need for stairs and elevators, is easy to move around, making it easy to move and take out trash.
In everyday life, there are surprisingly many opportunities to carry large luggage or heavy garbage bags, so there are many occasions when you feel the convenience of the first floor.
In addition, even in the event of an emergency such as an elevator failure or disaster, the first floor will not be affected as much as the upper floors. Another advantage is that the impact of the shaking caused by the earthquake is smaller than that of higher floors.
Some properties have a private garden
Some properties have a large private garden for residents on the first floor. You can enjoy gardening and kitchen gardens even if you are renting a property, as long as it is within the scope of the management agreement.
It can also be used as a space where you can play with peace of mind in homes with small children.
Special feature on renting the 1st floor of an apartment Special feature on renting with and with a gardenImportant if you live on the first floor!Key points for choosing a room with high security
There are various conditions other than the number of floors that affect the security of a property. Here, let's look at the points to keep in mind when choosing a room with high security.
Look at security equipment
It is important to pay attention to the three main points of security-related equipment: "auto lock," "intercom with monitor," and "administrator management form."
Auto-locking and intercoms with monitors are also popular options, especially among women, and can be said to be effective equipment that reduces the risk of intrusion by suspicious persons.
Resident, day shift, patrol, unmanned ... Management form of manager
In addition, there are four main types of manager management: "resident management," "day shift management," "patrol management," and "unmanned management."
Resident management is a form in which there is a resident manager in the apartment, and if there is a sudden trouble, there is a possibility that you will be able to handle it even at night.
Day shift management is a management form in which a manager is stationed at a fixed time such as 9 to 17 o'clock on weekdays. Patrol management is a system in which the manager patrols on a fixed day and time of about 2 to 3 days every week.
In addition, unmanned management often takes the form of managing by installing surveillance cameras, etc., without assigning a manager.
Focus on building
Along with security equipment, building construction is also an important criterion. Especially on the 1st floor, it is important to check if there are any places that could be an intrusion route at the preview stage.
Also, check whether the balcony side is easy to see to some extent.
Ensuring privacy is important, but be aware that in places that are too uncrowded, the risk of suspicious intrusion increases.
Look at the surrounding environment
The surrounding environment of the building is also an important point when considering crime prevention. It is safe to check the route from the nearest station or bus stop, the number of street lights around, etc. when you look inside.
For information on local security, you can visually check the locations where crimes and traffic accidents have occurred in the past on the crime information map and traffic accident occurrence map released by the Metropolitan Police Department and local governments.
In addition, hazard maps published by each municipality can be used to investigate the risk of natural disasters such as floods, tsunamis, storm surges, landslides, and volcanoes.
You can also see information about the security of the city (station) where you want to live in the LIFULL HOME'S service "Machimusubi". Before moving to an unfamiliar area, it's a good idea to check in advance.
Special feature on rental with auto lock Special feature on properties with resident managerLet's think about it since we lived!Security measures on the first floor that you can do yourself
In order to live a life with peace of mind, it is important to take security measures even after you actually move in. Here, let's take a look at the security measures on the first floor that you can do yourself.
Basically, do not neglect to lock
According to the investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department, most of the causes of invasion cases such as burglaries are "unlocked".
Not only single-family homes, but also middle- and high-rise homes on the 4th floor and above, and all other homes, the main cause is the lack of keys. Therefore, first of all, it is the basis of crime prevention measures not to neglect to lock the entrance and windows.
Use security goods
Easy ways to improve crime prevention include "attaching a commercially available auxiliary lock to the entrance or window," "attaching a sensor light to the opening," or "attaching a buzzer that responds to vibration."
It is one of the effective crime prevention measures that can be adopted even in rental properties because it can be used immediately after purchase and does not require major construction work.
Search for rental properties Special feature on rentals on the second floor and abovePest control that you should be aware of when living on the first floor
When living on the first floor, pay attention to pest control as well as crime prevention measures. Here, we will introduce specific pest control measures separately before and after moving in.
Things to do before moving in
Depending on the condition before moving in, pests may be lurking or eggs may be laid, so it is effective to use a smoke-type insecticide before bringing in furniture.
However, depending on the type of product, the fire alarm may respond, so read the instruction manual before using it.
Also, if there is a route that pests are likely to invade from the outside, it is important to repair it properly. If you find a gap in a door, wall, floor, or a torn screen door, contact your real estate agent to have it fixed.
Things to be aware of in everyday life
The basis of pest control is to clean the swill frequently without leaving it unattended. Keep it as clean as possible, as it can attract pests.
In addition, it is important to always take measures against humidity. It is important to provide diligent ventilation, especially during the rainy season when the humidity is high and in the summer when pest activity is active.
In addition, fragrances such as mint and herbs can be expected to have a certain effect on cockroaches, which are also representative of unpleasant pests.
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