October is a month full of treats, and if you’re not quite as lucky, some tricks too. Along with a new chill, you can practically feel the anticipation buzzing in the air. Halloween is upon us, and much like we did growing up, we are taking some steps to prepare for the big day. While our preparation may no longer consist of coordinating costumes or strategizing which neighborhoods to hit while trick or treating, that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. 

In fact, as property owners, it’s our responsibility to make sure that Halloween is a safe and fun evening for the children of our community. Each year, Mass.gov releases a guide to Halloween safety providing helpful tips and tricks for parents, caregivers, and property owners.  

When it comes to costumes, it’s important to minimize risk. Some precautions recommended by Mass.gov include:

• Costumes should fit well and not drag on the ground
• Costumes should be flame resistant or flame-retardant
• Costumes should be light colored for maximum visibility at night
• Costumes with masks should have adequately sized eye-holes and fit well
• Costumes that are hard to see should have reflective tape added

As a property owner, you have little to no control over the costumes that visiting trick-or-treaters wear. However, you can make sure that you are taking necessary preventative measures to keep yourself, your home, and neighbors safe. Some preventative measures Mass.gov suggests are:

• Keeping indoor and outside lights on during trick-or-treating hours
• Avoid placing candles and jack-o-lanterns on doorsteps or walkways where costumes can come in contact
• Only hand out wrapped or packaged treats

By following the suggestions of Mass.gov, we are confident that you can create a memorable and safe night for your kids and the children of your community. While Halloween safety is certainly a relevant topic as we approach the end of October, you may be wondering why we are sharing these insights with you. The answer to that is two-fold.

First, when our team commits to managing your condo association or investment property, we are committing to keeping you and your residents up to date and aware of anything and everything that could impact your safety. We always have the best interest of our clients in mind, which is why we feel so strongly about sharing relevant and timely information with you via our blog, social media accounts, email communication, and more.  

Secondly, Peacock Properties puts a strong emphasis on preventative measures. So, whether it’s helping you draft up new rules and regulations for open flame candles, personally ensuring that your buildings lights are on throughout the night, or stressing the importance of never allowing unknown or strange visitors onto your property, our team is dedicated to keeping your neighborhood and your shared investment safe.