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Less Tricks, More Treats: Tips for Staying Safe this Halloween

Wake Forest Resident Holding a Stack of a Decorated Pumpkin and a Jack-o-LanternThe 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 Wake Forest. 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 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.

First, let’s look at a few simple safety rules that your tenants should abide by should they decide to go out trick-or-treating. You can encourage tenants to use reflective tape on costumes or carry flashlights to help improve visibility while walking down dark streets. It’s also good to give them 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. 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. As the property owner, you can begin with 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’s also a good plan to check the property’s exterior lights. If there are any burned-out bulbs, they should be replaced. 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 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 that doorways and walkways are kept free of candles and other hazards. To lessen the risk, suggest to your tenants to go for lighting sources that do not require an open flame. However, some tenants want to go traditional and use real candles in their decorating. In this case, make sure that they are placed at a safe distance from where visitors might be walking or standing. It is also crucial 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. A dog can be stressed out by strangers, so it is in the best interest of the pet to be secured. This ensures that nobody gets hurt. Also, imagine getting sued because your tenant’s dog injured someone. That’s probably the last thing you’d want.

Your tenants should also know what items are considered safe and appropriate for trick-or-treaters of all ages. Normally, store-bought, individually wrapped items are advised. But see to it that they are big enough to not 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. This gesture helps your rental property not be the target of Halloween pranks and vandalism. Not to mention how the kids will be delighted when they see the candy.

While educating your tenants is a critical responsibility that rental property owners must take on, it also takes time. With so many demands that your real estate investing business requires from you, it might make sense to hire a Wake Forest property manager. Real Property Management Raleigh 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 919-481-0008 to know more about what we have to offer property owners like yourself.

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