@Survior When choosing your first POI it's best to choose one that's higher and preferably not wood. Use the roof of the building and break all the stairs so they can't get to you. I put up ladders all the way to the top of the building on the outside of the building and skipping the first two blocks so the zeds would have to jump 3 blocks high to reach the ladder.
Usually I try to dig underground every night and I always dig while in a squatted position to make less noise. You can monitor your noise level while in the squat position so if you hear a zed just stop for a little while until they pass by (Or go an kill it)