If you are an investment homeowner in the Lexington Park area, then you have put a lot of time and effort into your rental property to make it a safe and enjoyable place for your residents to live. However, the safety of both your residents and your property could be threatened if proper fire prevention habits are not formed and executed.
Reducing fire hazards with your Lexington Park rental property is easy to handle year-round for homeowners and residents alike. By taking the initiative and showing your residents that you care about their safety, you are establishing your credibility as an investment homeowner and ensuring the safety from fire-related incidences. Do not let fire hazard present themselves and start preparing your rental home today. Check out these tips from Real Property Management Gold to reduce fire hazard with your Lexington Park rental property.
1. Check Fire Extinguishers Regularly
If you are an investment homeowner, then you have prepared your rental property for residents to move in. Part of this preparation should be to include a fire-extinguisher in an accessible place within the household. However, once installed it can be easy to forget to check on it regularly, or even where it is if your residents forget. One of the best ways to ensure your fire extinguisher is ready if needed is to perform a visual check each year.
It may seem oversimplified; however, it could be lifesaving. During a visual check, a homeowner or landlord should make sure that it is in its designated spot and is easily accessible, that it is not damaged, nothing blocks or obstructs it and that it is fully operational. Additionally, you should check that that pressure gauge is within operating range and that the pull pin is sealed. The fire extinguisher will also have a tag on it, so be sure to mark the date of the visual inspection when you perform it.
2. Fire Marshal Review
Residents and homeowners alike assume that they should only contact the fire department when there is an emergency. However, your local fire department offers a variety of free services to ensure that your property is safe from fire hazards. This comprehensive fire review should always be done by a professional and having your residents present to answer questions and learn helpful fire prevention tips is important to ensure proper fire-safe practices.
These home safety checks are free, and worth every minute of it. A fire marshal would much rather give residents and homeowners tools to prevent fires than putting one in your kitchen out. The fire marshal will assess items such as evacuation plans, the frequency of fireplace and furnace cleaning, safe storage of flammable materials, if your smoke alarm needs replacement, etc. Take advantage of this free service yearly.
3. Appliance Fire Safety
Once you have prepared your Lexington Park rental property as best you can to prevent a fire, go the extra mile in ensuring that your residents are continually making fire-safe decisions in their day-to-day life. This would include giving them instructions to remove items that are surrounding or covering appliances such as water heaters and furnaces.
It is best to mark an area around these appliances with tape or some other form of permanent marking that helps residents always remember to keep any flammable items behind this line. Other items such as making sure all protective covers are in place, and removing lint and dust from ducts will all serve to prevent fires happening in your rental property.
Start making your Lexington Park rental property a safer place to live today with these tips to reduce fire hazards. If you would like more information about Real Property Management Gold and our services, then contact us online or call us at 301-392-2172 today.