What To Consider When Looking For Lofts in Michigan in Gated Communities For Your Family

If you’re moving house or apartment in the current climate, you must consider security. Gated communities and lofts in Michigan present an opportunity to experience what’s on offer in the local area while feeling safe and comfortable.

Choosing a loft in a gated community is a sound idea for your safety and to reduce your moving anxiety. This guide will cover the top security tools and measures you must look for when choosing a loft in a gated community for your family.

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Available Amenities

When evaluating a gated community, amenities are one of the first things you look for.

Many gated communities feature swimming pools, fitness centers, and clubhouses. These places give residents many opportunities to engage in physical activities and socialize. Gated communities often feature walking trails and parks for outside recreation too. If you’re also considering high-end luxury living spots, some communities even offer golf courses.

Some amenities are designed exclusively for kids. Examples are playgrounds and interactive toys. These can be particularly important if you have young ones in the family.

Sometimes, communities have restaurants, shops, and other services. This can be very convenient for those who want to stay in the comfort of their surroundings for everyday errands. There are even gated communities with their own schools and daycare facilities which allow families to keep their children close by.

When evaluating the amenities offered by a gated community, consider your lifestyle and how you imagine your life in your new home environment should be.

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Visitor Management Intercom System

It’s safe to say that no matter where you live, visitors will come to stay with your family. This means you’ll need an easy way for visitors to enter your property. Visitor management systems are one of the best residential property solutions and help visitors enter the community quickly.

The solution integrates with cloud-based access control gate systems to provide visitors with a digital survey. Once they register and enter their details, the gate will open and allow them to enter. They won’t be able to reenter without filling out the form. The system will log their time of entry and exit.

To ensure that your visitors are who they claim to be and to prevent intrusion, the gated community can implement a video intercom reader. The reader will perform the same function as gate access control while providing the benefit of integrated video. Integrated video and access control mean that residents can view access logs alongside video feed information, verifying the identity of their visitor before permitting entry. 

The resident can perform this process using their mobile device for optimal convenience. Visitors can enter easily, and residents can rest assured of knowing who is at the gate before authorizing entry.

Access Control System

An access control system is a must-have for gated community security. Access control prevents lockpicking through the use of key card door locks. For gated communities, residents and interested buyers need assurance that shared spaces and amenities will be protected and reserved for residents only.

So, gated community property managers should install access control door locks to protect buildings within the gated community, such as loft complexes, pool facilities, gym facilities, and laundry facilities, from public access. Non-residents should only be able to access these spaces with access credentials.

Security Camera System

Surveillance protects residents in gated communities by aiding in criminal investigations and home insurance claim processes. Having evidence of a crime can discourage doubt from insurance companies, and having footage of the perpetrator may reveal their identity.

If you’re considering moving into a gated community with your family, you should verify that the security camera system has been installed by a security professional. 

Professional security camera installation is essential, as professionals are equipped with the skill and knowledge to create a system without blindspots – which a criminal could easily take advantage of to enter the property and commit a crime.

Additionally, to ensure the security processes in the gated community are agile and responsive, you should look for a community implementing cloud-based surveillance cameras. Cloud-based video management systems allow security teams to view camera footage from anywhere using a mobile device or cloud-based control center. This way, if there is a potential security alert, the team can investigate the issue quickly and determine if action is necessary.

Integration

In addition to providing more agility for security processes, cloud-based security tools offer open API integrations. Integrating different security systems can create a more user-friendly and efficient security process.

With an on-premise security system, your security team must log into several platforms during a security investigation. For this reason, comparing and analyzing data can be more challenging, leading to data silos between different security systems and databases. An integrated security system makes all information readily accessible on a single user interface for faster information retrieval and more data comparison.

Restrictions

Depending on what you are looking for, you may see restrictions imposed by the community either favorably or unfavorably.

The most common restrictions in a gated community include limiting the number or size of pets allowed, regulations on parking, building restrictions such as height limits for buildings or fences, and noise ordinances.

If you have pets, you should look for gated communities that allow you to keep them and understand the restrictions imposed. Similarly, if you plan to build a shed or fence in your yard, it is best to consider the size and height restrictions before committing to a community.

Those interested in gated communities for their quiet atmosphere should look for neighborhoods with strict restrictions, such as noise ordinances, to maintain peace and tranquility. In contrast, those who like to entertain guests or have frequent visitors should look for communities with less restrictive access policies.

By understanding the restrictions beforehand, you can be sure that they will not conflict with your lifestyle and that you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of living in a gated community without any restrictions.

Real Estate Value Projections

Buying a house is also an investment. Therefore you shouldn’t only look at the current value of your potential new real estate and how it’s likely to develop in the future.

Houses in gated communities tend to have higher real estate values and appreciation rates than those in non-gated communities due to their safer environment, so this is an additional factor you should consider when making your decision.

It’s impossible to have absolute certainty of how the real estate market will behave, but several elements can help you make an initial assessment. These include the presence of large companies in the area, whether or not there are plans to develop the infrastructure and local government policies.

Overall, if you take the time to do your research and understand all the factors that can influence real estate value projections, you can make an educated guess about what the future holds for your potential new home.

HOA Fees

HOA fees are used to cover the costs of maintaining and managing the community, such as landscaping, snow removal, and other services. These fees can vary greatly depending on the size of the community and its amenities.

The first step in evaluating HOA fees is to compare them with other HOAs in the area. This will give you an idea of what is typical for similar communities. It is also essential to consider how much money the association has in reserves and what its budget looks like. This will help you determine if they have enough funds to cover any unexpected expenses that may arise during your time living there.

It is also important to look at what services are included in the HOA fee. Some associations may include services like trash removal or pool maintenance, while others may not. Additionally, some associations may charge special assessments for unanticipated expenses such as roof repairs or major landscaping projects. Knowing what you are paying for will help you decide if it is worth it or not.

Finally, it would help if you got an idea of how often HOA fees increase and by how much. If they increase too often or by too large an amount, this could be a red flag that indicates financial mismanagement within the association.

Proximity to Schools, Hospitals, Stores, and Entertainment Spots

Last but not least, consider the proximity of your gated community to a number of important locations.

For example, if you have children in the household, you should research the local school district and find out what schools are close to the community.

Moreover, it would help if you also took into account the proximity to hospitals, stores, and entertainment sports. If a community is too far from these essential services, it can be inconvenient and lead to additional expenses.

Summary

If you’re looking to move to Michigan, a gated community will protect you and your family from the current homeless population in the city. However, you need to ensure that the community is safe. By looking for the security tools listed above, you can ensure that the facility is equipped to spot and resolve incidents in the community quickly.