While summer may be in full swing, it’s about that time of year when families prepare for another school year. At OccupancySolutions.com, we know how important safety and security is to families all across the country, and how important happy families are to community management teams. To prepare for this back-to-school season, there’s no better time to give your property security a quick check-up.

While some states have minimum age restrictions for kids allowed to spend time home alone after school, much of the United States does not. According to Afterschool Alliance, more than 11 million kids across the country go home to empty houses for at least a small portion of time after school each day. For families, this is often out of necessity, and keeping kids safe at home after school is a top priority. A few ways you can ensure your community is a safe space for kids coming home from school this year are:

  • Installing deadbolt locks on units – If residences within your community are not outfitted with deadbolt locks, this could be one way to impactfully invest in the safety of your community. If deadbolt locks are already installed, back-to-school time is the perfect time to inspect and replace any locks that may be loose, aging, or otherwise defective.
  • Maintain sidewalks and walkways – As kids walk home from school, or walk from the bus stop to their residences, they’re not likely to look very closely at the ground beneath their feet. To avoid injury on your property, back to school season is a great time to check and repair cracks or damages to any walkways around your community.
  • Secure common areas with security cameras – Common areas like laundromats, playgrounds, or community clubhouses are places where all residents are welcome to visit and congregate. Ensure that residents of all ages feel secure by investing in security cameras within these common spaces.

At OccupancySolutions.com we know how important safety is to resident retention – whether those residents include families with children or not. To learn more about improving the safety and security of your community, contact us at OccupancySolutions.com today.