How To Prepare Your House for Trick-or-Treaters
It’s nearly Halloween — the time for superhero capes, princess tiaras and children scampering from porch to porch.
No matter the trick-or-treaters’ game plan, they are ready for a candy bonanza – and that starts with a knock at your door. So don’t let slips, trips and falls dampen anyone’s night. Make sure you fit in a simple safety check before you fill the candy bowl.
If you plan on welcoming trick-or-treaters this year, we have nine tips to help you get ready.
Halloween Safety Tips for Homeowners
- Clear the walkways. Toys, rakes, errant stones — clear them all out of the way before trick-or-treating starts. (Wet leaves are an especially slippery culprit!) A quick clean-up is one of the easiest ways to make your home safer from slip, trip and fall hazards
- Light it up. Turn on your exterior lights, including any flood lights, to help create a safe path for trick-or-treaters. Check these early so you have time to replace any burned-out bulbs.
- Corral your pets. With all the doorbells and visitors, Halloween can be stressful for your animals – and even a well behaved pet can bite or scratch when they feel anxious. A constantly opening door makes it easy for furry friends to escape, too A better idea? Keep pets in a secured room or wing of the house.
- Lock all other doors. Mischief can happen when you’re doling out candy, so play it safe by locking all of your other doors. (That includes any garage and car doors, too!) The FBI reports that approximately 30% of all burglaries are committed without force courtesy of an unlocked door or window.
- Check your railing. If it feels rickety, take the time to secure it in place.
- Skip candles. Yes, they give your pumpkins that spooky glow. But a live flame isn’t worth the fire risk you consider all the draping costumes and accessories that will whiz by the flame. Pro tip: Opt for the flameless variety instead.
- Consider your candy choices. Many kids are allergic to candy ingredients like nuts. To help them enjoy the holiday, The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages leaving a teal pumpkin on your stoop to let trick-or-treaters know that you have non-food treats like stickers and toys on hand.
- Pick a good spot. If you have a lot of stairs or a long, winding path, consider handing out candy at the end of your driveway. Another option is to host a ‘trunk-or-treat’ event at another location.
- Comb your yard. With all luck, the kiddos will stay on sidewalks and driveways. But they may wander. Clear out sticks, objects or other tripping hazards from your yard.
Check out these blogs for more tips and tricks (the good kind) on Halloween safety:
- A Parent’s Guide to a Fun (and Safe!) Halloween
- 5 Trick-or-Treating Tips for Tweens and Teens
- 4 Lesser-Known Halloween Safety Tips
This Halloween, make sure your home is covered against unexpected tricks. Contact an Erie Insurance agent to find homeowners insurance that’s right for you.
