There’s a reason we call it “leaving the nest” when you move out of your parents’ home and into your own place. You’re taking an exciting step that feels like a huge leap from what’s comfortable and secure, and you can only hope you fly instead of fall.

You may have spent nights alone in the past, but there’s something different about living in your first apartment. You likely felt safe in your parents’ home or in your college dorm because there was always someone around who was older and wiser—someone in charge if anything bad happened. Now that you’re the one in charge, you can enjoy more freedom and independence. Yet you might also be worried about feeling safe without others to watch out for you.

If you’re nervous about moving into your first apartment, here are some tips for feeling safer:

Install a security system. Homeowners aren’t the only ones who can benefit from home security systems. You can either sign on with a security provider or use technology like smart cameras or smart locks to DIY your own security system. Check out this article for more information on the individual needs of home security for renters.

Ask the landlord to make necessary updates. Before you even move into the apartment, try to find out what kind of landlord or management company you’ll be dealing with. Ask neighbors how quickly maintenance requests get resolved, and find out how you can make those requests. This is important because if you find a window that doesn’t lock, a door that gets jammed, or other security risks, you will feel safer knowing that the issue will be fixed right away.

Get a pet. Not every apartment will allow for pets, and some will only accept certain kinds of pets. But having an animal companion will reduce your loneliness as well as help prevent against home invasions. You don’t necessarily have to get a vicious dog—any animal that makes a lot of noise might deter burglars. Even a nonthreatening but yappy chihuahua will fit the bill. Anyone breaking and entering a home will want as few complications as possible.

Find roommates. Strange shadows are a lot less terrifying when there’s someone in the next room. If you’re not set on living alone, it doesn’t hurt to split the rent with someone you trust. You’ll end up with  lower monthly bills, a built-in movie night buddy, and better peace of mind. However, you should not live with anyone you don’t trust. That doesn’t mean you have to live with someone you already know, but do your research on potential roommates.

Research the neighborhood. What are the crime rates? Are there any sex offenders living nearby? Use online tools to look for this information, and also check out online communities for people living in the area. Many neighborhoods have pages on Facebook, NextDoor, and other social platforms. You can get a good idea of the general vibe of the area if you spend some time visiting those sites.

Befriend your neighbors. Don’t be shy about baking cookies for your neighbors or stopping to chat with them in the hall. If you have a good relationship with the neighbors, you can rely on them for help to protect your apartment. They might be willing to collect your mail when you’re out of town and keep an eye on your place when you can’t. If something bad happens to you at home, they might be the first to notice that something is off, and thus alert authorities. Be sure to reciprocate any favors they do for you so that everyone benefits from the relationship.

Keep pepper spray in a couple convenient spots. You may not feel comfortable with a gun or other weapons in your apartment, but pepper spray is a helpful alternative that will incapacitate any home invaders while offering you the chance to escape. Although some people keep pepper spray next to their beds, consider buying multiple canisters that you can hide in a few convenient spots through the apartment. That way you will be within easy reach of a canister no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Shut curtains or blinds at night. Especially if you have an apartment near the ground level, with easy access through windows and balconies, don’t forget to close your curtains and blinds at night, as well as whenever you leave. Thieves like to go for low-hanging fruit, so they often target homes where they can map a straightforward entry and exit plan. If you block their view of your apartment’s interior, you make it much more difficult for them to make any sort of plan, and thus they will be less likely to risk entering.

Wait until later to share social media posts disclosing location. We’ve all done it—you’re out with friends, you take a group selfie, and then immediately the whole group uploads to Instagram and starts tagging each other. The problem is, especially if you have public sharing settings, broadcasting your whereabouts like that can open you up to potential break-ins. Someone targeting you will be able to see that you’re not at home, or that you’re nearby, and plan accordingly. When possible, refrain from posting this kind of information until well after the fact. Read this useful guide to savvy social media use.

Put your lights on timers. With constant advancement in smart home technology it’s become incredibly easy to automate various devices in your apartment. Automated lights are a particularly effective deterrent to invasions because they create the illusion of an occupied home, even when you’re away. The trick is to make the lights appear to flick on and off at random, rather than on a predictable pattern.

Purchase renters insurance. Of course the hope is that you will never need to use your renters insurance, but knowing you have it could be a huge relief if you are the victim of theft, or if a disaster damages your personal belongings. You won’t be able to prevent everything, so you should have a safety net in place in case the worst happens.

With time you will feel more confident and secure living in your first apartment, whether that’s alone or with roommates. But these strategies and suggestions should help you get to that point.

There’s a reason we call it “leaving the nest” when you move out of your parents’ home and into your own place. You’re taking an exciting step that feels like a huge leap from what’s comfortable and secure, and you can only hope you fly instead of fall.

You may have spent nights alone in the past, but there’s something different about living in your first apartment. You likely felt safe in your parents’ home or in your college dorm because there was always someone around who was older and wiser—someone in charge if anything bad happened. Now that you’re the one in charge, you can enjoy more freedom and independence. Yet you might also be worried about feeling safe without others to watch out for you.

If you’re nervous about moving into your first apartment, here are some tips for feeling safer:

Install a security system. Homeowners aren’t the only ones who can benefit from home security systems. You can either sign on with a security provider or use technology like smart cameras or smart locks to DIY your own security system. Check out this article for more information on the individual needs of home security for renters.

Ask the landlord to make necessary updates. Before you even move into the apartment, try to find out what kind of landlord or management company you’ll be dealing with. Ask neighbors how quickly maintenance requests get resolved, and find out how you can make those requests. This is important because if you find a window that doesn’t lock, a door that gets jammed, or other security risks, you will feel safer knowing that the issue will be fixed right away.

Get a pet. Not every apartment will allow for pets, and some will only accept certain kinds of pets. But having an animal companion will reduce your loneliness as well as help prevent against home invasions. You don’t necessarily have to get a vicious dog—any animal that makes a lot of noise might deter burglars. Even a nonthreatening but yappy chihuahua will fit the bill. Anyone breaking and entering a home will want as few complications as possible.

Find roommates. Strange shadows are a lot less terrifying when there’s someone in the next room. If you’re not set on living alone, it doesn’t hurt to split the rent with someone you trust. You’ll end up with  lower monthly bills, a built-in movie night buddy, and better peace of mind. However, you should not live with anyone you don’t trust. That doesn’t mean you have to live with someone you already know, but do your research on potential roommates.

Research the neighborhood. What are the crime rates? Are there any sex offenders living nearby? Use online tools to look for this information, and also check out online communities for people living in the area. Many neighborhoods have pages on Facebook, NextDoor, and other social platforms. You can get a good idea of the general vibe of the area if you spend some time visiting those sites.

Befriend your neighbors. Don’t be shy about baking cookies for your neighbors or stopping to chat with them in the hall. If you have a good relationship with the neighbors, you can rely on them for help to protect your apartment. They might be willing to collect your mail when you’re out of town and keep an eye on your place when you can’t. If something bad happens to you at home, they might be the first to notice that something is off, and thus alert authorities. Be sure to reciprocate any favors they do for you so that everyone benefits from the relationship.

Keep pepper spray in a couple convenient spots. You may not feel comfortable with a gun or other weapons in your apartment, but pepper spray is a helpful alternative that will incapacitate any home invaders while offering you the chance to escape. Although some people keep pepper spray next to their beds, consider buying multiple canisters that you can hide in a few convenient spots through the apartment. That way you will be within easy reach of a canister no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Shut curtains or blinds at night. Especially if you have an apartment near the ground level, with easy access through windows and balconies, don’t forget to close your curtains and blinds at night, as well as whenever you leave. Thieves like to go for low-hanging fruit, so they often target homes where they can map a straightforward entry and exit plan. If you block their view of your apartment’s interior, you make it much more difficult for them to make any sort of plan, and thus they will be less likely to risk entering.

Wait until later to share social media posts disclosing location. We’ve all done it—you’re out with friends, you take a group selfie, and then immediately the whole group uploads to Instagram and starts tagging each other. The problem is, especially if you have public sharing settings, broadcasting your whereabouts like that can open you up to potential break-ins. Someone targeting you will be able to see that you’re not at home, or that you’re nearby, and plan accordingly. When possible, refrain from posting this kind of information until well after the fact. Read this useful guide to savvy social media use.

Put your lights on timers. With constant advancement in smart home technology it’s become incredibly easy to automate various devices in your apartment. Automated lights are a particularly effective deterrent to invasions because they create the illusion of an occupied home, even when you’re away. The trick is to make the lights appear to flick on and off at random, rather than on a predictable pattern.

Purchase renters insurance. Of course the hope is that you will never need to use your renters insurance, but knowing you have it could be a huge relief if you are the victim of theft, or if a disaster damages your personal belongings. You won’t be able to prevent everything, so you should have a safety net in place in case the worst happens.

With time you will feel more confident and secure living in your first apartment, whether that’s alone or with roommates. But these strategies and suggestions should help you get to that point.