Making sure your home is safe for guests

Whether you’re leasing your home out to tenants, using it as an Airbnb property, or simply enjoy hosting parties, you should always make sure your home is both comfortable and safe.

If you want to create a stress-free visit for both you and your guests, use the following tips to reduce the risk of injuries.

Get to know your guests

Before your guests even arrive, start communicating with them to figure out how many people to expect and who is coming. This will allow you to begin making any accommodations to your home. For example, if they are planning on bringing a toddler, you’re going to need to babyproof your home. This might mean crawling around on the floor to look for any choking hazards or setting up baby gates around the home so that the toddler can’t fall down your steps.

Clean up clutter

Even if you’re a clean person, there is a possibility that you have everyday clutter laying around your home. Clutter laying around the floor of your house, especially in hallways, could create potential tripping hazards for your guests. Some types of clutter, such as flowers, could also stir up allergies.

Put dangerous items away

While you’re in the process of cleaning up clutter around your home, keep an eye out for dangerous items such as knives, guns, or other sharp objects that could hurt someone. Also, keep an eye out for cleaning supplies that contain toxic chemicals or medications that could be accidentally ingested. This step is particularly important if you have someone with small children visiting. Children often get into things they aren’t supposed to, and you don’t want them accidentally getting sick or injured while they’re exploring.

Look for unsafe situations

Take a walk around your home and look out for any accidents waiting to happen. For example, pools that aren’t gated can be dangerous, especially for young guests. If a child slips away from their parents and heads outside, they could get into the pool and potentially drown.

Check your indoor and outdoor lighting

Even if you can find your way through your house in the dark, your guests won’t be able to. Trying to navigate an unfamiliar house can be a frightening experience and it can lead to safety hazards. Your guest might trip over a piece of furniture or fall down the stairs. Make sure all the lights in your house are working properly. You can also put nightlights in your hallways to provide additional lighting. If your guest is arriving at night, make sure your outside lights are on. This will help your guests find their way to your front door without accidentally tripping.

Make weather-related accommodations

Sometimes weather impacts the conditions outside your home. If there is snow or ice, there is a chance your driveway or sidewalk could be icy. Salting your pathways could help prevent your guests from slipping. Or sometimes water might be tracked into your house if it’s raining outside. Having your guests wipe their feet off at the door or take their shoes off could prevent them from falling on a slippery surface.

Check for leaks or other hazards

Another reason a guest might slip inside the house is if there is water coming from an appliance. Check around your house for any leaky appliances. There are other common safety hazards that could potentially create an unsafe home. Make sure to check for other hazards that could accidentally cause choking, fires, or suffocation.

Have a first-aid kit

Unfortunately, sometimes accidents do happen, no matter how careful you are. Cuts, scrapes, and burns are all common injuries that can happen to anyone. And if there is a larger accident, a first-aid kit has necessary medical supplies that your guests can use until they’re able to seek medical treatment. And even if you end up not needing it, having one handy can provide you with peace of mind. If you’re not going to be in the house at the same time as your guests, make sure to instruct them on where they can find the first-aid supplies.

Make sure you’re insured

If an accident does happen in your home, you could be held responsible. For example, a guest could sue for a slip and fall injury. Talk to your insurance company to make sure your homeowner’s insurance can be applied to guests.

Final thoughts

Making your home as safe as possible could prevent an unfortunate accident from happening to your guests. But no matter how safe your home is, it’s always good to have a plan in place if someone does get injured or sick while staying at your home.