To most Americans, the holiday of Halloween means candy. For many of them, especially the kids, the most popular Halloween activity would be trick-or-treating. And this is true for virtually the whole country, including in Missouri City. 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 not only expected, it’s encouraged. And with Halloween around the corner, giving trick-or-treating safety tips is a good way to keep the communication going.
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 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 would also be helpful to pass along 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. Tell your tenants to secure all doors, douse any candles, and turn off all electronic decorations when leaving the house. This is because of the huge risk that candles and electric decorations pose— if left unattended. They are one of the leading causes of residential fires on Halloween.
The second thing we’re going to look at is how to properly prepare for visitors. This subject is also a part of Halloween that shouldn’t be neglected. As the property owner, you can begin with regular landscaping maintenance or ensuring that your tenants have done so. Something you can do before the holiday comes is to clear away overgrowth, low-hanging branches, and other potential hazards.
Suggest to your tenants that they can help make the celebration more pleasant for the children by clearing leaves and debris from sidewalks, driveways, and walkways, as well as removing any tripping hazards like garden hoses. It’s also a good idea to confirm if the property’s exterior lights are all in order or if you need to replace any burned-out bulbs. 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 plans to decorate the house with some jack o’ lanterns, then you should give them some advice on how to do it safely. 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, there are tenants that want to be authentic and use candles in their decorating. For cases like these, just make sure that they are placed 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 some additional things 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 what’s best for the pet during this time. This measure sees to it that nobody gets hurt because a dog was stressed out by strangers. In addition to that, you would hate it if you get sued because your tenant’s dog injured someone.
Your tenants should also be advised which items are considered safe and appropriate for trick-or-treaters of all ages. The best option is store-bought, individually wrapped items. But you have to make sure that they are big enough to not pose as a choking hazard. In some areas, an alternative is to leave a bowl of treats outside. This is a good option if your tenant is not planning to hand out candies themselves. This act helps keep your rental property from becoming the target of Halloween pranks and vandalism. On top of that, the kids would thank you!
While educating your tenants is an important part of rental property ownership— and it’s something you can’t ignore— it also takes up so much time. Since your real estate investing business has so many responsibilities that call for your attention, it might make sense to hire a Missouri City property manager. Real Property Management Prestige is an expert in the industry, providing services that allow you to spend your time on more valuable aspects of rental property ownership. Don’t hesitate to contact us online or give us a ring at 281-532-5455 to know more about 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.
