Being a manager or owner is not a 9 to 5 job. Problems can arise 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Since emergencies can happen at any time, it is best to be as prepared as possible before one actually occurs. By having an emergency plan for yourself and for your tenants that outlines how to deal with these unexpected situations, you will help minimize anxiety, injury and hopefully damage to the property.

Establish Your Emergency Contact Number

If an emergency does arise, you need to have a way for tenants, police and other emergency services to contact you 24 hours a day. Email alone will not suffice as a method of emergency communication.

If you do not feel comfortable using your personal phone number as a means of contact, you can hire a 24- hour answering service as the point of emergency contact. Simply do an internet search for “24-hour emergency telephone answering services” and you will find many options to choose from.

Provide the emergency service with your personal contact number, along with a list of situations you consider to be true emergencies, so they can contact you according to your wishes or can contact the proper authorities when time is of the essence. Tenants will be able to call this number when they feel they have an emergency and the service will respond accordingly, either by quelling their fears or by calling the proper authorities.

List All Emergency Plan Numbers in Plain Sight

Upon move-in, provide all tenants with a list of essential emergency numbers. This should include, but is not limited to, your emergency contact number, numbers for the emergency medical service, fire department, police department, gas company, electric company and poison control center. You should also list the address of the property because it is easy to become overwhelmed and disoriented during an emergency, so having it in plain sight can be useful.

These numbers should be listed in plain sight in every tenant’s apartment, such as on the back of the entrance door, or in the kitchen near a telephone. If your property has a bulletin board, make sure the emergency numbers are listed here as well and that all tenants are aware of it.

Let Tenants Know What Constitutes a Real Emergency

It is important that tenants understand the difference between an inconvenience and a real emergency. Emergencies are situations that need to be handled immediately. Inconveniences do not require immediate attention, although it is important to respond to them in a timely manner. Upon move-in, supply tenants with an emergency plan. This should include the type of emergency, who should be contacted first, and when you, as the landlord or property manager, wish to be contacted regarding the emergency.

by Erin Eberlin

Since 1946 the Carnahan name has had a reputation for honest and ethical Real Estate Property Management services in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Burbank/Glendale, Los Angeles, Westside and Conejo Valley areas.

The reason for our success is helping owners like you when they need it. Below is a partial list of property management services we provide to help you protect your real estate investment.

• Tenant placement
• Tenant screening (including: credit check, landlord and employment verification, social security trace report, California eviction check and criminal check)
• Regular property inspections
• Accounting and landlord bill payment
• Monthly financial reporting
• Maintenance service and supervision (we use only proven independent vendors)
• Collections
• Evictions
• We supply all the necessary forms to meet California’s Landlord/Tenant laws
• 24 hour emergency phone service
• Advertising to the broadest tenant base possible

Call or e-mail us today for more information. We’re ready to get started!

Carnahan Property Management services Woodland Hills,West Hills, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Tarzana, Reseda, Topanga, Encino, Northridge, Van Nuys,North Hills,Chatsworth, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, Simi Valley, West Lake Village, Agoura,Toluca Lake, Valley Village, Burbank. Call us at (818) 884-1500 and check if we can service your area.