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Spring Break Readiness

March is spring break month. Many students are hitting the beach or participating in Pi Kappa Phi’s Ability Camp through The Ability Experience. Some are just heading home for some rest before the home stretch of the school year.

While some chapter members stay in town over the spring break to work or catch up on needed studying, it’s important to make sure that we’re watching out for the chapter house. As the old saying goes “if it’s everybody’s responsibility, it’s no one’s responsibility,” the same is true for fraternity men and chapter housing. Here are a few things to remember this spring break:

• Securely lock the property and limit access to only designated alumni or undergraduates
• Have a responsible alumnus, undergraduate or professional property management company check the property daily to ensure a loss has not occurred. A consistent daily presence will deter thieves and vandals. Hiring a professional property management company is strongly recommended.
• Inform local police and/or campus security if the property will not be occupied. Provide them with a key/code for access to the facility and ask them to patrol frequently
• If it will not affect the function of your fire sprinkler system or other systems requiring water, turn the water off at the main supply line (contact a professional for this service)
• When not in use, remove all hoses and store in an appropriate place, preferably inside facility
• Remove spigot knobs or install locks at each spigot location. Many vandalism claims involve turning on the attached hose and placing it near or in the house with the water turned on
• Hire a mature caretaker to reside in and look after the property in exchange for free/reduced rent if a house mother and/or resident advisor is not available

These tips are courtesy of Holmes Murphy Insurance. Please make sure to stay safe this spring break. That includes our chapter homes on campus!

For more information on tips to prepare your chapter house, contact Pi Kappa Phi Properties at (980) 318-5360 or at Properties@pikapp.org.