Is It Safe?

In William Goldman’s Marathon Man, the antagonist, a Nazi war criminal, finds himself in New York City in search of a cache of hidden diamonds. At one point in the story, he kidnaps the protagonist and questions him while drilling his teeth sans any anesthetic with “Is it safe?”

If you don’t like going to the dentist, this scene will turn it into a full-blown phobia as it did for me. In any case, I won’t spoil it for anyone who wants to see the movie.

However, the question that should come up when searching for housing, whether shared housing or not.

Safe Location

Looking through Trulia, Zillow and other housing sites, some of the houses, apartment buildings, and townhouses often appear lovely at first glance. The big question comes up about the neighborhood: Is it safe? If you are interviewing to move into a shared house, you should be asking the following questions:

• Is off-street parking safe? If vehicle break-ins are frequent in the neighborhood, will there be a space to park your car in the garage, and is that an extra cost?
• How safe is the neighborhood after dark?
• Is it safe to have packages left on the porch or will you need to plan to have the package kept at the post office for pickup?
• Are all door and window locks in working order?
• Is there a neighborhood association that meets at least once a month and keeps people abreast of suspicious activities?
• When you take a walk around the neighborhood, do you notice what’s left behind on the ground such as litter, broken bottles, prophylactics, and used needles?

I base these questions on my experience after living in a small community in Vermont for six years that was described as “working class” when I first looked at the residence. However, after a couple of years and people moved away, the neighborhood became what a former neighbor described as “rough around the edges.” By my third year and the time that followed, I stopped walking the dogs after dark because it had become scary.

Keep in mind that every person’s perspective of safety is different. So do your research—apart from asking neighbors—also Google neighborhoods and talk to local police. A great housing deal that’s too good to be true could be a warning sign.

Now, of course, no neighborhood is immune to crime. You can live in Beverly Hills and have a violent home intruder. Wealth is not a deterrent to any type of dangerous activity. And you can live in a modest community where there’s never been any worrisome or serious incidents.

Safe and Healthy Building

A different aspect of safety is whether the building has problems that can lead to damage and disease.  By this I mean:

• Are there cracks in the foundation that allow rodents to easily get in?
• Is there any black mold?
• Is the electrical wiring up to standards?
• Does the heat work?
• Is the boiler working and getting inspected regularly?
• Are fire and carbon monoxide monitors checked and functioning?
• Are there possible gas leaks from the stove?

The house I rented was rampant with mice that left droppings in the kitchen drawers and cabinets. The basement was covered with black mold, and the bathroom floor was rotting. Admittedly, I was oblivious to what I should have been inspecting, but now I know better. And remember, if you’re paying rent to someone, it is their responsibility to fix what’s broken and not give you an excuse that it’s too expensive and no one has complained before. The last thing you want is to fall seriously ill with Hantavirus or black mold or have an electrical fire.

Lessons Learned

My intention isn’t to be doom and gloom. I learned these lessons because I was in desperate need of affordable housing. I should have taken more time to look for what was right for me as well as for the Sun and Moon.

Ask questions, closely inspect the property and the neighborhood, and if all looks good for both you and your future housemate, it’s time to move in!

Unless, of course, the neighbor is a dentist and has the Nazi flag hanging outside their house.