We need not tell you the consequences of any natural disaster. You are already well aware of them. In the past, these disasters have become more common and increasingly severe. So is your property management company fully prepared or are you really unsure of what you should be doing about it all?
We talked to a couple of industry experts and they gave us a lot of valuable advice regarding what property managers can do about these situations.
Keep multiple copies of all your information
This is the first step which every property manager must take. Make multiple copies of all your information and keep them separately. For instance, you could have one copy in the office and the rest could be elsewhere like in your home files or something. Along with the hard copies, you should also have soft copies of all vital information. Store this on a drive, and create a backup on the cloud as well.
Train your employees
Train all your employees on the property and make sure they are well aware of what is expected of them and what they are supposed to do when an emergency strikes. If you can, hold a practice session with them so as to ascertain that each of them is doing his/her job properly. Should an emergency strike and even if there is just a slight mistake, it can be costly for you.
Have all contact information in one place
Contact numbers are vital, and you should store them together in a safe place that is easily accessible in an emergency. This goes for both your vendors and residents. All the members in your team should also have this information, and your residents should also be aware of the people whom they can contact in case of any emergency. Other than this, you should also make arrangements in a hotel beforehand. If the disaster is too severe, you may need a place for your accommodations.
As for your tenants, you should be aware if they are disabled or senior citizens. During an emergency, you may have to provide them with extra equipment.
Formulate an evacuation plan
If the weather is of high intensity, you will have to vacate the property immediately and gather in a safe area. Your property must have proper emergency exits for this and they must be easily accessible. Prepare a plan, and inform your team and residents about it.
