6 Christmas Safety Tips For Your Property
As the calendar flips over to December, the countdown is now on until Christmas, with a little over three weeks until the big guy in red puts in his much-anticipated annual appearance.
But as festive as the Christmas season might be, it’s not without some risks, including activities that can potentially damage the property you rent or own.
With that in mind, here are six Christmas safety tips for your property…
Christmas lights
What’s not to love about a property that’s quite literally lit up like a Christmas tree?
That said, it’s important to be mindful about the type of Christmas lights you put up around the home, including their condition, volume and installation, as Christmas lights can pose a fire risk.
Prior to putting powered lights up, check they are in good working order and that their condition is up to par, including looking for any nicked power cords, or exposed wiring.
It’s always a good idea to use surge protectors and be careful not to overload your electrical outlets.
Meanwhile, make sure you tun your Christmas lights off if you’re heading out, going away or just retiring to bed for the night.
Safe decorating
Not only is it important to be mindful of your personal safety when decorating around the home, it’s also critical to consider the safety implications of the decorations you use.
For example, do not block exits and entries with decorations, and be careful about where you position large items, which could potentially fall or topple, causing damage to people or property.
Candles
Whether it’s entertaining friends and family or just a bit of Christmas ambience, candles are a mainstay of the festive season.
But of course, they come with a fire risk, so it’s important to practice good candle safety, including:
- Extinguishing all candles if you leave the room and prior to going to bed
- Supervising children around candles
- Positioning candles away from Christmas trees and flammable items
Pool safety
Between holidays and extra entertaining, Christmas often involves time spent in and around swimming pools.
And if your property has a pool, it’s important to audit its safety.
This includes ensuring:
- Gates close properly
- All fencing is up to code
- The pool has had any required safety certification
- There is properly displayed first aid, CPR and resuscitation signage
Summer storms
Christmas falls smack bang in the middle of Australia’s summer storm season, and this is something both renters and property owners should prepare for.
This involves:
- Clearing the yard of debris and loose items
- Trimming trees back from the property
- Cleaning gutters and drains
Going away?
Meanwhile, if your Christmas involves heading off on holidays, it’s important to ensure your property is left locked up, safe and secure in a bid to reduce the likelihood of break-ins and theft.
As part of this it’s a good idea to consider leaving on a light or using a light timer so the property doesn’t look obviously vacant.
If possible, have someone come and collect your mail or have it diverted, and don’t leave your bins out as it’s a dead giveaway there’s no-one home.
How we can help
Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.
We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.
Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.
