Keeping Your Properties Safe during the Holidays

The holiday season is rapidly approaching.  Along with family get-togethers, decorations, and presents, the holiday season poses a unique set of risks for property managers, including everything from apartment fires to a higher risk of property theft. While it will never be possible to prevent all adverse events, there are many precautions both you and your residents can take to prevent these potential issues from spoiling the holiday season.

Here are some ways to lower your property’s risk:

• Provide your residents with a safety guide that includes tips on keeping their apartment or home safe during the holidays; paying careful attention to fire safety issues such as burning candles. Another potential hazard is the combination of a dry Christmas tree coupled with lights burning around the clock. Trees need to be watered regularly, and lights turned off when the resident is not at home.
• The safe usage of outdoor lights should be addressed as well. If your residents typically decorate their patio or balcony, they need to make sure that lights are designed for outdoor use and that the lights are not resting on any flammable materials.
• If your property’s units have working fireplaces, have maintenance check each fireplace to ensure that it’s in prime working condition without any obstruction in the flue. Ideally, maintenance should spend a few moments with residents not familiar with working fireplaces to ensure that they’re comfortable using the fireplace safely.
• Address potential parking issues in your community before the holidays.  Many residents may have visitors, creating potential parking nightmares. If possible, offer extra spaces, but make sure residents are aware that parking in another resident’s assigned spot will result in the offender’s vehicle being towed.
• Keep a closer eye on strangers on your property. Property theft increases dramatically during the holiday season, with criminals well aware of the pile of presents that can likely be found in apartments during this season. The same advice goes for deliveries. Make sure that delivery personnel leave parcels in your office, not in front of your resident’s door.
• Lastly, many residents may be out of town in late November and December. Again, keep an eye out for strangers, and caution your residents to leave a light on inside, and arrange to have a neighbor park in their spot if possible. They’ll also want to stop newspaper delivery or have a neighbor collect them.

The holidays can be fun, but they can also be stressful. By addressing these common issues head-on, you’ll help to ensure that the holidays are not ruined for anyone