The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the public by surprise, and we’re all doing our best to catch up. In a world where the situation changes on a daily—even hourly—basis, it can be hard to know what your next move should be. As a property manager, Coronavirus is probably hurting your business as much as anyone’s. Yet at the end of the day, your first responsibility is to your tenants. Here’s what you can do to keep your tenants safe during COVID-19.
Top Things a Property Manager Can Do to Keep Their Tenants Safe During COVID-19
Get Your Information from Credible Sources
First and foremost, it’s important that you choose your sources of information carefully. There’s a lot of misinformation flying around, especially online, so make sure you’re relying on trustworthy sources. One of the best places to get up to date facts, statistics and information on best practices and procedures during COVID-19 is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, as well as your local health authorities.
Be Proactive
The old saying about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure has never been truer. Now is the time to be proactive in your efforts to protect your tenants, as well as your staff. The biggest mistake you can make is waiting for an outbreak, or not acting until after residents in your property have begun showing symptoms. A forward-thinking attitude will not only keep people safer, but ensure lesser disruption in day-to-day operations.
Minimize Contact
Train your staff in social distancing, and make sure everyone who works for you understands how to stay safe and healthy, especially those who do hands-on work on the properties you manage. While your team continues to perform necessary tasks like cleaning, maintenance and repairs, make sure they and your tenants understand the importance of social distancing. Post signage around your properties for tenants to read with necessary information on social distancing, sanitation and safety.
Establish Hygiene Procedures
We’re still learning about how long the virus can live on surfaces, so it pays to stay on the side of caution. Double down on your efforts to keep properties you manage clean, especially focusing on high-traffic spots and frequently-used common areas. Door hardware, handrails, restroom surfaces, countertops, desks, chairs and other frequently-touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected frequently. Provide hand sanitizer and other cleaning products for the use of your staff, tenants and visitors, if possible.
Keep Communication Open
It’s essential to keep lines of communication between you and your tenants open. Let them know how you and your team are working to respond to the crisis. Be proactive with sharing information, and use social media to keep your tenants informed. You should also expect your tenants to have a lot of questions, so establish a team to be in charge of fielding these questions. Let tenants know what you’re doing to keep them safe, and provide information on how they can help.
Be Flexible
New updates on COVID-19 are coming every day, so it’s important not to dig in your heels too much based on any one piece of information. As new details emerge and the situation continues to evolve, a great property manager must be flexible and willing to adapt to changing conditions. As we learn more about the virus and its spread, be prepared to continue doing what’s best for your tenants, even if that means adjusting your course.
Bellingham property manager
We’re here to help when it comes to keeping your tenants safe during the COVID-19 crisis. Contact us today to learn more about how you can continue to be a great property manager through this challenging time. Son-Rise Property Management has been serving the property management needs of Bellingham and Whatcom County since 1996.
