holiday safety tips

Safety Tips for Holiday Decorating

November 30, 2022
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As the holiday season gets into full swing, many property owners are decorating to spread some cheer and make their homes more desirable to renters. As I’m sure you know, this time of year tends to be the busiest and most profitable for vacation rentals. Therefore, with the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start decorating!

However, it’s important to note, while holiday decorations can be fun and beautiful, they can also present fire hazards. To keep your property intact throughout this holiday season, consider the following safety tips when decorating.

Safety Tips for Decorating Your Rental This Holiday Season

  • Only buy electrical decorations that have an Underwriter Laboratories rating on the label, which indicates that they have been tested for safe use.
  • Follow all installation and usage instructions for lighting decorations to ensure that you’re not increasing your chance of starting a fire.
  • Inspect new and used lights before using them and discard any that have cracks, exposed wires, or loose connections.
  • Don’t connect more than three sets of lights to an extension cord at one time.
  • Plug outside lighting only into a ground fault circuit interrupting outlet, as this will safeguard the outlet from any interaction with water.
  • Do not secure outside lights with staples or nails, and avoid placing indoor extension cords under carpeting, rugs, and furniture.
  • Remind your guests of the importance of unplugging lighting decorations before going to bed and leaving the property. To avoid lights being left on by mistake, it’s highly recommended to use timers.
  • If you set up a Christmas tree, place the tree in a sturdy stand at least 3 feet away from heat sources.
  • Only use fake trees as real ones need to be discarded after two weeks as they dry out and become highly flammable.
  • Purchase adequate vacation rental insurance to protect against covered perils (condo insurance average cost).

Be Mindful With Wiring

If you blow a fuse while decorating, discard the faulty light string or decoration and replace the blown fuse. If the fuse blows again, contact an electrician to investigate the problem further. This might indicate a more serious wiring problem at your property.

For more property safety guidance and insurance solutions, contact Property Insurance HQ today.

 

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