{"id":31502,"date":"2023-09-20T18:42:12","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T18:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/?p=31502"},"modified":"2024-12-12T17:14:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T17:14:49","slug":"holiday-checklist-for-property-managers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/en-us\/blog\/holiday-checklist-for-property-managers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prep for the Holiday Rush: A Checklist for Property Managers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though the temperatures remain ho-ho-hot, now is the perfect time to prepare your community and residents for the holiday season. Readying now boosts the resident experience while also ensuring the safety of all residents.<\/p>\n

Four Wise Ways to Increase Safety During the Holiday Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As you\u2019ll see below, one of the key themes throughout our safety protocols is communication. Posting on social media, creating community notices, and emailing residents all work to get residents to take notice and action.<\/p>\n

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  1. Reiterate Guest Policies<\/strong> \u2013 Yes, this is the most glorious time of the year, but also one when visitor numbers reach their peak. Remind residents about policies including parking rules, letting in unfamiliar faces, sharing passcodes, or duplicating safety keys.<\/li>\n
  2. Emphasize Vacation Best Practices \u2013 <\/strong>Residents might escape to build a snowman, but it doesn\u2019t mean they should broadcast it to the world. Communicate with residents about the hazards of posting on social media while on vacation or allowing newspapers to pile up at their doorsteps. Both of these missteps literally telegraph to nosy neighbors that your unit is vacant. Sprinkle an ounce of prevention by using lighting apps and switches that easily mimic the signs of an occupied home. Further, assigning a close friend or neighbor to \u201ccheck in\u201d on your unit may also prove prudent.<\/li>\n
  3. Equipment Tune-Up<\/strong> \u2013 Before fall turns to winter, work with your maintenance experts to check chimneys, smoke alarms, snow blowers, or other seasonal equipment. Take the time to inspect water heaters and especially water pressure valves. Here\u2019s where an ounce of prevention is worth its weight in safety.<\/li>\n
  4. Review Common Areas \u2013 <\/strong>Communal areas deserve closer inspection too. Look not only for dangerous cords but also for signs of water and mold. Animals make their way into buildings as well, so remain on the lookout for reindeer, mice, and assorted other animals.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to Increase Package Security<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    \u2018Tis the season of abundance with package deliveries jumping up a dazzling 81%<\/a> at apartments during the holiday season.1<\/sup> For a nice (and not naughty) experience, we recommend the following:<\/p>\n

    Review Your Package System<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Make sure your package management process is working for you and your residents \u2013 before the holiday package crush hits. Smart lockers, for instance, can help you get out of the package management business and deliver on-demand access for all of your residents\u2019 special holiday deliveries. Don\u2019t forget about creating a space just for oversized items as well as a special reminder to residents that these items might require two people for retrieval.<\/p>\n

    Alert Residents<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    It\u2019s easy for residents to forget about the logistics of retrieving a package. For pick-ups from the leasing office or other controlled access areas at the property, remind them about any necessary identification, scheduled holidays, and hours to retrieve a package. For pick-ups via Parcel Pending lockers, remind residents about late fees (if applicable), about using Vacation Mode (if they plan to go out of town), and where\/how to retrieve oversize deliveries.<\/p>\n

    Prepare Your Team for Key Peak Periods<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    There are heavily and widely promoted events during the fourth quarter that will exponentially contribute to the onslaught of packages. Extra staffing and instituting a \u201cno-grace period\u201d package pick-up policy immediately after these sales events can also make your package management system more efficient.<\/p>\n