Having a generator on hand can make all the difference when the electricity goes out.
Are you prepared for an emergency? Whether it’s a fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency, you want to know that your property is prepared. Not having an emergency preparedness plan can not only put your property at risk but can also put your tenants at risk as well. Here are a few tips for making sure you’re prepared for an emergency.
Keeping Emergency Features Up to Date
First, check your existing emergency features. Any sprinklers, fire detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors should all be up-to-date and in working order. The batteries on your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors should be checked every six months. You should also keep a fire extinguisher on every floor of the home, taking care to keep one of them near the kitchen. Most fire extinguishers should work for anywhere between 5 to 15 years. To make sure your fire extinguisher still works, be sure to check the pressure gauge.
Equipping a Generator
After you’ve checked that all your existing safety features are up-to-date, it’s time to get an emergency generator. Make sure there is a safe place to store the generator, such as in the basement or the garage of the property. Having an emergency generator on the property can help ensure that tenants are not left without electricity during a particularly nasty storm.
Providing Tenants with an Emergency Preparedness Plan
Finally, you want to make sure that your tenants know what to do in the event of an emergency. You may know how to work the generator, where the emergency routes are, and how to use the fire extinguisher, but you likely won’t be around during an emergency. When renting to new tenants, you can give them some paperwork along with their lease that explains what to do in an emergency. This emergency preparedness plan should have instructions for working the generator, how to use the fire extinguisher, where the safe exits are, where tenants should meet after escaping the building, and phone numbers for emergency services (as well as the phone number for the property manager!). Knowing that your tenants are prepared in the event of an emergency can give you more peace of mind.
Residential Property Management from Red Umbrella
With over 15 years of experience, Red Umbrella offers a wide range of services to fit your unique needs and desires. We fill tenant vacancies, perform home staging, conduct tenant screening, and more! Looking for a personal assistant? We can run your errands, take care of pets, organize events, and more! From professional to personal, we offer the exact services you need.
To contact Red Umbrella, simply visit our contact page, give us a call at 443.995.0628, or send an email to Tracy Weiss-Biddinger at tweiss@ruprop.com. Want to keep up with the latest advice and updates? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google+!