Although there are many Halloween traditions, it seems that the most popular one is trick-or-treating. To kids all around the country— including in Charles County— Halloween just means candy. No matter how your tenants want to participate in the festivities— either by trick-or-treating by going out or by receiving costumed guests for candies, there are some important things they have to go through to make sure the evening is a safe and enjoyable one for all. Now, as a property owner, regular tenant communication is very important. So, with Halloween fast approaching, providing your tenants with great safety tips on trick-or-treating goes well with that goal.
The first thing we’ll take up are a few simple safety rules that should be followed should your tenants choose to go out trick-or-treating. A safety tip you can give your tenants is for them to use reflective tape on costumes or carry flashlights to help improve visibility while walking down dark streets. It would also be beneficial to give some good advice about costumes. Avoid masks that obstruct your vision and skip the oversized shoes, robes, or skirts that could cause someone to trip and fall. For safety purposes, encourage your tenants to secure all doors, douse any candles, and turn off all electronic decorations, when they leave the house. This is because of the risk that comes with unattended candles and electric decorations. These are actually one of the leading causes of residential fires on Halloween.
The second thing we’ll talk about is the giving end of trick-or-treating. We’re talking about how to properly prepare for visitors—as this is also very important when celebrating Halloween. Being the property owner, you can help by doing regular landscaping maintenance or ensuring that your tenants have done so. One thing you can do, before receiving the costume-clad visitors, is to clear away overgrowth, low-hanging branches, and other potential hazards
Tell your tenants that they could help make the fun evening go smoother by clearing leaves and debris from sidewalks, driveways, and walkways, as well as removing any tripping hazards like garden hoses. It would also be smart to check the property’s exterior lights and replace burned-out bulbs if there are any. As you do your check, also notice if there are dark areas around the property. These should be illuminated with extra light sources, such as landscaping lights or even battery-powered tea lights in decorative bags. A clear and well-lit walkway is a safe walkway.
If your tenant plans to display jack o’ lanterns, then they should do so safely. Here are a few tips you could give to them. First, keep doorways and walkways free of candles and other hazards. There are also alternative lighting sources that do not require an open flame. You should encourage your tenants to opt for that. However, if your tenant really wants to use candles in their decorating, make sure that they are placed at a safe distance from where visitors might be walking or standing. Another important thing is to ensure that all exterior decorations your tenant hangs up are properly secured. If a decorative item were to fall and injure a visitor or an improperly placed candle burns someone or starts a fire, this could result in a lawsuit against you as the property owner.
There are a few more safety measures your tenant can do to prevent accidents and injuries on Halloween. If your tenant has pets and plans to give out candy on Halloween, they should be sure to keep their furry friends indoors and secured in a safe location. It’s the best thing to do for your pet. This sees to it that nobody gets hurt just because strangers keep walking up to the property and stress out the dog. In addition to that, you would hate it if you get sued because your tenant’s dog injured someone.
Your tenants should also know that not all items are considered safe and appropriate for trick-or-treaters of all ages. Store-bought, individually wrapped items are normally the go-to option, provided, of course, that they aren’t too small that they pose as a choking hazard. In many locations, you can also leave a bowl of treats outside. This would be a good alternative especially if your tenant is not planning to hand out candies themselves. Doing this also helps your rental property from becoming the target of Halloween pranks and vandalism.
Educating your tenants is truly an important part of being a rental property owner. However, it also takes a lot of time. Since your real estate investing business demands so much time and attention from you, it might make sense to hire a Charles County property manager. Real Property Management Gold is an expert in the industry, providing services that allow you to spend your time on more valuable aspects of rental property ownership. Feel free to contact us online or by phone at 301-392-2172. We’ll be glad to show you what we have to offer property owners like yourself.
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