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

Logan Circle Resident Holding a Stack of a Decorated Pumpkin and a Jack-o-LanternTo many Americans, Halloween revolves around candy. Yes, there are many traditions associated with Halloween but if you’re a child in America, the prospect of free candy would mean everything to you. This makes trick-or-treating a very popular Halloween activity both in Logan Circle and all over the country. Your tenants have a couple of choices when celebrating the evening. They may plan to go trick-or-treating by going out or they may stay home and receive costumed guests for candies. Either way, they still need to go through some important steps to ensure 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 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’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. Because, when candles and electric decorations are left unattended, they are a huge risk. 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, the first thing you can do is 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.

Inform your tenants that they can help the kids stay safe 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 check the lights, look around for any dark areas around the property. These should ideally 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 display jack o’ lanterns, then they should do so safely. Here are a few tips you could give to them. 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, that would be a disaster. Or what if an improperly placed candle would burn someone or start a fire? This could result in, among other things, a lawsuit against you as the property owner.

There are other measures 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 best for the sake of your pet. Doing this ensures that nobody gets hurt because some strangers stressed out a 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 be aware of 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 neighborhoods, it would be smart to leave a bowl of treats outside. This is great for the trick-or-treaters 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.

Educating your tenants is really an important responsibility that falls on the shoulders of rental property owners but it takes a lot of time to do it. Now, since there are so many things about your real estate investing business that require your time and attention, it might make sense to hire a Logan Circle property manager. Real Property Management DC Metro 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 202-269-0303 to know more about what we have to offer property owners like yourself.

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