Last modified on October 17th, 2017
By Christina Burch

The leaves have fallen, the days are shorter, temperatures have dipped, and it’s getting to be the time of year for haunted houses, ghouls, and goblins. Yes, Halloween is fast approaching, and while the evening of October 31 is all about jack-o’-lanterns, trick or treating, and candy, it’s also a time of year when property managers should take stock of the facilities they manage to ensure that everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

Here’s a look at some things that property managers should be addressing in order to ensure Halloween goes off without a hitch:

How to Prep for Halloween

• Keep walking paths well-lit (and clean): It gets dark earlier this time of year, which can make it difficult for trick or treaters to see where they’re going. You’ll want to not only make sure that any walking paths are free from leaves and other debris, but also that they’re well lit. Well lit walking paths are safer and  can help put trick or treaters at ease. Parking lots and common areas should also have adequate lighting installed.
• Keep pets indoors: Pets, unusual situations, and high-energy activity don’t typically mix. While many pets may be perfectly fine with trick or treaters going door to door in unusual costumes, it’s best to play things safe. Property managers should advise renters to keep their pets inside of their homes during high traffic hours. This way, there’s no risk of a pet behaving erratically and potentially scaring or injuring anyone.
• Check smoke detectors: Jack-o’-lanterns need candles, and with candles comes the risk of fire. No matter how careful renters may be, accidents still happen. That’s why it’s always a good idea to check smoke detectors prior to Halloween and replace batteries as necessary. Failure to do so could result in a fire, or worse yet, an injury or fatality.
• Recommend flameless candles: Speaking of jack-o’-lanterns and candles, why not recommend flameless candles to your tenants this year? They still perform the ultimate end goal of illuminating the decoration and don’t come with any of the fire risks. If you want to take things a step further, perhaps you can even provide flameless candles to tenants that they can pick up in the office area of the complex if they’d like.
• Test door locks: Halloween is supposed to be all about fun and candy but that doesn’t mean that your renters shouldn’t take extra preventative measures to keep their belongings safe. After all, trick or treating means that there’s bound to be a lot of people milling about the complex for candy. Noting this, we’d recommend that you ask renters to test their door locks and ensure that they are still working as they should, just in case someone attempts to enter their property during trick or treating hours. On the same note, property managers should also consider making any vacant units on their property look “lived in” in an effort to discourage any break ins.
• Remind renters of property rules: Finally, always be sure that you’re constantly reminding renters of any rules that you’ve set for your property. Send out a notice reminding them of set trick or treating hours, for instance. Remind them of any curfews. And if you have any decoration rules, be sure to issue a reminder about that, as well. Do whatever you have to do to ensure a fun, safe Halloween for all.