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

Marietta Resident Holding a Stack of a Decorated Pumpkin and a Jack-o-LanternAlthough there are many Halloween traditions, it seems that the most popular one is trick-or-treating. To kids all around the country— including in Marietta— Halloween just means candy. No matter how your tenants want to participate in the festivities— either by trick-or-treating by going out or by receiving costumed guests for candies, there are some important things they have to go through to make sure the evening is a safe and enjoyable one for all. Now, as a property owner, regular tenant communication is encouraged, and this includes providing some safety tips on trick-or-treating.

The first thing we’ll look at are some simple safety rules your tenants should follow if they decide to go out trick-or-treating. One thing you could do is to encourage tenants to place 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 that, when they leave the house, they should secure all doors, douse any candles, and turn off all electronic decorations. This is because of the risk that comes with unattended candles and electric decorations. These are actually one of the leading causes of residential fires on Halloween.

The second thing we’ll take up is about receiving the guests. Properly preparing for visitors is also a big part of celebrating Halloween. As the owner of the property, you can start by performing regular landscaping maintenance or ensuring that your tenants have done so. Clearing away overgrowth, low-hanging branches, and other potential hazards are a good idea to make the property ready for the trick-or-treaters.

Encourage your tenants to help the celebration go without accidents by clearing leaves and debris from sidewalks, driveways, and walkways, as well as removing any tripping hazards like garden hoses. It’s also a nice idea to check the property’s exterior lights to see if they all work. If not, you may need to replace any burned-out bulbs. As you walk around checking the lights, also keep an eye out for any dark areas around the property. It’s 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 wants to join in the fun by having a few jack o’ lanterns around the property, then you should give them some tips to make sure they do it safely. First, keep doorways and walkways free of candles and other hazards. You could also suggest to your tenants to use lighting sources that do not require an open flame. 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 make sure that all exterior decorations your tenant hangs up are properly secured. Should a decorative item fall and injure a visitor, or perhaps an improperly placed candle burn someone or start 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. 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. Together with that, wouldn’t you absolutely hate it if you get sued because your tenant’s dog injured someone?

Your tenants should also be informed about 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 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.

While educating your tenants is an important task that rental property owners must do, it also takes time. Since your real estate investing business demands so much time and attention from you, it might make sense to hire a Marietta property manager. Real Property Management East Cobb is an expert in the industry, providing services that allow you to spend your time on more valuable aspects of rental property ownership. Please contact us online or call us at 770-622-5657 to learn more about what we have to offer property owners like yourself.

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