The holiday period is just around the corner and it’s so important to tick off items before vacations start.

There are lots to do in the community, from emailing residents to preparing for (more) snow and ice and organizing parcels to having a holiday party. So, what do you need to do before the holidays? Find out here!

Keep talking

It’s a good idea to keep an open line of communication with residents during the busy Holiday season. Remind them of the rules around decorating, give them weather warnings if there’s a storm coming.

Make sure to talk to them about security if they’re away over the holidays because you do get people who steal parcels and break into houses.

With Neighbors you can send notices to residents from the app which automatically sends emails to everyone in your community.

What about the pipes and sidewalks?

If you haven’t checked the gutters and pipes, you should check that there are no problems and they aren’t at risk of freezing. Make sure that gutters aren’t blocked with fall leaves, ice or any products. Exterior pipes that are vulnerable to freezing may need insulation, you should call a professional to have a look.

Sidewalks are the same, make sure they’re not covered with ice or snow as people may slip. Especially older residents are in danger of really hurting themselves.

Baby, it’s cold outside

Keep an eye on the weather, and check if there are storms coming. If there is snow or ice coming, you do need to let your residents know. They should possibly stockpile some food in case they get snowed in.

If there may be power outages you need to communicate this to residents and let them know any plans that might be in place. If there is a storm brewing secure a reliable snow removal company to clear roads in your community. Don’t forget that it may be necessary to remove snow buildups from roofs, you should hire a contractor to clear them.

Flurry of parcels

This depends on how your community is set up, but if you collect packages in one space you probably are already receiving loads and loads of packages. Neighbors can help you to organize your parcels and let residents know when something has arrived for them.

If packages are delivered straight to residents’ houses then remind them of security procedures if they’re out. Normally, the mailman will knock on the house next door to see if they can take it, but not always. Ask residents to include instructions to the mailman so that a lot of packages aren’t left out, as this may attract thieves.

Help thy neighbor

Volunteer in your community, either in the condo or HOA or in your town. The holidays are a time to reflect on how lucky you are and how you can give back. Look on Google to find some good causes in your town and think about how you can contribute.

Maybe you can give your time, or donate money or food to a charity that you support. In your community, the board or property manager could have donation points for food, clothes or non-perishable food. Or you could put up a poster or notice about food drives, or volunteering days.

Holiday party

You can have very different types of parties to include the whole community. If your condo is small, or the residents of your HOA are very involved then maybe you could have a small party with secret santa or white elephant. This is a lovely way to get everyone together and exchange gifts, bought or homemade. In a larger community, you could buy a tree and have a tree decorating party.

If your HOA has a lot of children you could organize decoration-making to get them involved. You could have holiday music, food and drink to get everyone in a festive spirit and get as many people as possible together.

Happy Holidays from everyone at Vinteum!

Start your free trial with Neighbors today and become even more organized and joyful this winter.