The holiday of Halloween has become synonymous with candy for most Americans. And for children, Halloween = candy. This makes Trick-or-treating one of the most Halloween activities in the country, including in Boonville. Your tenants may plan to participate in trick-or-treating by going out, or they may choose to stay home and be the ones receiving costumed guests for candies. Either way, there are some important things they can do to makes 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.
First, if your tenants choose to go out trick-or-treating, there are some simple safety rules they should follow. A tip you can give your tenants is for them to place reflective tape on costumes or carry flashlights to help improve visibility while walking down dark streets. It also won’t hurt to provide some 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. To ensure safety, encourage your tenants to secure all doors, douse any candles, and turn off all electronic decorations before they leave the house. This is because of the danger that unattended candles and electric decorations pose. These things are 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. As the property owner, one big help is to perform 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
Encourage your tenants to pitch in 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 go around the property checking the lights, try to see if there are any dark areas. 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 has plans to display jack o’ lanterns, then it would be good to make sure they do it safely. Here are some tips you should tell them to consider. First, make sure doorways and walkways are free of candles and other hazards. Alternatively, there are some lighting sources that do not require an open flame. Those would be better. However, if your tenant insists on being traditional and goes with candles in their decorating, have them place it in a low-risk area. See to it that they are at a safe distance from where visitors might be walking or standing. You must also see to it that any 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. Along with that, you run the risk of getting sued because your tenant’s dog injured someone. That would be really horrible.
Your tenants should also know what items are considered safe and appropriate for trick-or-treaters of all ages. Usually, store-bought, individually wrapped items are the best. Only make sure that they are big enough to not 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 not only makes the experience better for the kids but it 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. With so many demands that your real estate investing business requires from you, it might make sense to hire a Boonville property manager. Real Property Management Results 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 812-461-1676. We’ll be glad to show you what we have to offer property owners like yourself.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
