NUTS & BOLTS
RISK MITIGATION
Seasonal Safety HERE ARE 10 TIPS TO HELP ELIMINATE HOLIDAY MISHAPS AT YOUR PROPERTIES.
by BreAnn Stephenson
have a cornucopia of memories of holiday family gath- erings. Many begin with me standing on the thawed porch near twilight at my aunt’s and uncle’s house. Their gift for hospitality extends to details that often go unnoticed: the walks are always cleared, driveways empty so we have places to park, and my aunt always runs an orderly kitchen, even if it is a bustling and busy one. Now, think about this—your tenants are likely hosting friends and family for the holidays. And if they are not instinctively at- tentive to such details, a cooking fire can occur or someone may be injured on the icy front steps. So, what can you do to encour- age their safety and ensure your property doesn’t get damaged during the jolly season? Pay close attention to these 10 areas: NO. 1 TREES There is no time like the present, pun intended, to check your trees. It may seem expensive to hire this service, but one storm can cause even more costly damage and may create additional hard- ship if you have to move your tenants out. As tree trimming can be dangerous, we recommend hiring a certified arborist. The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) has a search tool on its main site, www.tcia.org. TCIA also runs www.treecaretips.org, where the organization offers ways to identify “at-risk” trees, fight com- mon pests and more. Another good resource is the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). You can learn more about proper tree care at www.treesaregood.org, a site that ISA hosts. NO. 2 PARKING My aunt and uncle live in a condo near a historic outdoor shopping area in Kansas City. Part of their street has a steep hill, and there are very specific areas where parking is allowed and also where it is safest, especially in icy weather. Familiarize yourself with state and city parking laws: Are there any areas in the neighborhood where it’s illegal or unsafe to park? Your local Department of Transportation can help you navigate these park- ing issues. For example, the Los Angeles Department of Trans- portation (LADOT) has a specific page on its website dedicated to answering the question “Can I park there?” I
Include guidelines for parking in your lease, making sure that your tenants are aware of the locations where holiday guests are encouraged to park, especially if they will be there
for several days. In addition to including the details in your lease, sending a nice reminder note before the holiday frenzy begins will encourage them to do this correctly. NO. 3 SIDEWALKS AND STEPS My grandmother set a good precedent for our family gath- erings. Her front walk and steps were always in good shape for a visit, and the stair railing was always well secured. One of the most common liability claims at an investment property is a “slip and fall.” You will want to make sure that your liability coverage has a high enough limit, but more importantly, preventive main- tenance can keep an injury from occurring on your property in the first place. Specify in your lease who is responsible for clearing walks and driveways in stormy weather. If the job will fall to your tenants, educate them about the risks of not keeping up with this innocent task. Do they want their best friend to end up with pins in his ankle? NO. 4 THE ROOF Inspect your roof’s condition. Any buckling or broken shingles will need to be replaced to keep water from coming inside. To pre- vent ice dams, you will also want to make sure your attic is properly insulated. The Ice DamGuys’ site has a Learning Center (www. icedamremovalguys.com/learning-center/) that points out the five telltale signs of ice dams and also has information about how to safely remove snow from your roof. If a large snowfall occurs, con- tact your tenants quickly. You don’t want them up on a dangerous roof—injuries from roof falls can be severe or even fatal.
NO. 5 OUTDOOR LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS Many people still hang outdoor lights along the roof ’s edge during the holidays. Using the proper height or kind of ladder can keep your tenant from becoming one of the 90,000 peo- ple who will receive ER treatment because of a ladder-related injury this year (Consumer Product Safety Commission). Did you know that there’s an American Ladder Institute? The ALI is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved developer of ladder safety standards. Check out “Ladders 101” or “Basic Ladder Safety” in the Safety and Training area of its More house fires occur in the months of December, January and February than at any other time of year, the National Fire Protection Association reports, and many of those fires are caused by heating appliances. Don’t be lazy in maintaining your HVAC system. Dust buildup is a fire hazard. HVAC systems should be cleaned at least twice a year. Ensuring your tenants have proper heat can also keep them from using the stove or other dangerous methods to stay warm. If you have a fireplace in any of your properties, have the chimney inspected before your tenants use it each year. The cre- osote, or residue buildup inside your chimney, is highly combus- tible. If it builds up enough and the internal temperature is hot enough, it could start a chimney fire, says the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Search for a CSIA certified professional and learn more about chimney care on its website, www.csia.org. website, www.americanladderinstitute.org. NO. 6 HEATING AND FIREPLACES
NO. 7 COOKING It is easy to get distracted while entertaining guests, so remind your tenants of safe cooking practices. Cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires, according to the NFPA. The NFPA has a variety of tip sheets to pass along to your tenants on its website, www.nfpa.org. NFPA has done all the work for you— just print or email! You may also consider purchasing a product called StoveTop FireStop. When the wick of this product is ignited, the small can releases a fire suppressant right over the pan, putting out the fire. A product like this can reduce the cost of a kitchen fire from tens of thousands of dollars (or even a total loss) to under a thou- sand dollars. Read the full review and find a link to purchase StoveTop FireStop in the Products section of the Affinity Loss Prevention Services website, www.affinitylps.com/product-re- views/stovetop-firestop/. NO. 8 RODENTS, PESTS AND GENERAL CLEANLINESS Maintaining the interior of your property actually begins during tenant placement. One way to find out how a prospective
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BreAnn Stephenson is assistant vice president of Affinity Loss Prevention Services. Contact her at breann@affinityLPS.com.
114 | think realty magazine november :: december 2016
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