Some systems even include smoke detectors that alert a monitoring center to call the fire department whether you are at home or away. Companies that install monitoring systems usually charge a monthly fee, so factor that into your housing expenses if necessary. In suburban locations, you're most vulnerable to robbery at the moment you get out of your car to open the garage door. That's why automatic garage-door openers have become so popular. In urban condominium complexes and older houses where detached garages are more common, many home buyers take note of the distance and path to be traveled from the parking spot to the door.
Outdoor lighting becomes a factor here, as well as clear and level pathways.
In apartment buildings and multifamily houses with shared stairwells, there is yet another concern beyond getting to the entranceway. Despite popular fear, having woods or open fields behind a house does not usually increase the risk of burglary. More commonly, break-ins increase wherever road access is good. Driveways that bend around to the back of the house are an invitation to steal. Corner lots sometimes make emptying the house of its contents easier and more inviting.