Although there are many different Halloween traditions across the many cultures of America, one of the most popular ones is trick-or-treating. Many kids all across the country— including Camarillo— get excited at the prospect of free candy. Your tenants may be eager to don a costume and go out trick-or-treating, or they may prefer to stay home and receive costumed guests for candies. No matter how they choose to participate, there are some things to consider to ensure that the evening is a safe and enjoyable one for all. Now, as a property owner, regular tenant communication is crucial. So, you can use this holiday to continue interacting with them by giving them tidbits like trick-or-treating safety tips.
First, should your tenants choose to go out trick-or-treating, there are a few simple safety rules that they should stick to. 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 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. Because, if left unattended, candles and electric decorations pose a risk. They are one of the leading causes of residential fires on Halloween.
The second topic we’ll look at is about how to properly prepare for visitors. After all, this is also a huge part of the Halloween celebration. Being the property owner, you can help by doing regular landscaping maintenance or ensuring that your tenants have done so. Clearing away overgrowth, low-hanging branches, and other potential hazards are some preventive maintenance that you can do any time of the year.
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 checking the exterior lights, also observe if there are any dark areas. It would be best that these 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 get with the spirit of the holiday by placing jack o’ lanterns around the house, you have to make sure they do it safely. Here are a couple of 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. It is also vital that all exterior decorations your tenant hangs up are properly secured. If a decorative item falls and injures a visitor, or maybe an improperly placed candle was to tip over and burn someone or start a fire, you’d have a disaster on your hands. This could result in, among others, a lawsuit against you as the property owner.
There are still some other safeguards your tenant can take 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 option for the sake of your pet’s safety. This ensures that nobody gets hurt because a dog was stressed out by a bunch of strangers. Also, imagine getting sued because your tenant’s dog injured someone. That’s probably the last thing you’d want.
Your tenants should also be aware of what 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 a lot of areas, families leave a bowl of treats outside. This is a good idea especially if your tenant is not planning to hand out candies themselves. When you do this, you’re not only making it more fun for the children but you’re also helping your own rental property from becoming the target of Halloween pranks and vandalism.
While educating your tenants is a critical responsibility that rental property owners must take on, it also takes time. Now, because your real estate investing business requires a lot of your time and attention for many things, it might make sense to hire a Camarillo property manager. Real Property Management Ventura County is an expert in the industry, providing services that allow you to spend your time on more valuable aspects of rental property ownership. To know more about what we have to offer property owners like yourself, please contact us online or give us a ring at 805-387-3682.
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.
