Halloween Home Safety

It’s that time of year again – superheroes, witches, goblins, and princesses are about to hit your doorstep! While you may have your candy ready, it’s just as important to make sure your home is safe and secure for trick-or-treaters.

Follow these tips to keep your guests – and your property – protected while enjoying all the Halloween fun.

Turn the lights on (and consider adding more).

A well-lit home is safer and helps prevent pranks or accidents. Replace burned-out bulbs in exterior lights and turn them on before sunset. Consider adding temporary lighting like glow sticks, lanterns, or decorative string lights to illuminate pathways and highlight your seasonal décor.

If you prefer to skip trick-or-treaters, keeping your lights off is a clear signal, but be sure your home is still secure if you’ll be away.

Create a safe path. 

Clear leaves, tree limbs, toys, or any debris from sidewalks and yards. Move cars to the garage if possible, and position decorations, such as pumpkins or inflatables, away from walking paths. Secure cords and stakes from the lights or inflatables to prevent trips or falls. A well-lit, clutter-free path keeps kids (and adults!) safe while letting your decorations shine.

Keep your pets in a safe place.

Frequent doorbell ringing, strangers in the yard, and scary costumes easily frighten pets. Halloween and July 4th probably aren’t your pets’ favorite holidays. It’s important to protect your furry friends from cars and trick-or-treaters, but it’s also important to protect your guests. Not everyone will be comfortable with your furry friends coming up for attention. Avoid anyone getting bitten or harmed (or even scared) by your pet acting out of fear or stress. It’s best to keep them inside or in some kind of safe, enclosed space away from the front door and walkway.

At the end of the night, be sure to look over your yard for any litter that may have been thrown on the ground in a child’s excitement to eat their treats. You don’t want your pet to eat the wrappings or any leftover candy that may have fallen to the ground as well.

Deactivate your security system, but lock areas not in use.

Trick-or-treating can trigger alarms with constant doorbell rings and opened doors. Disarm your system temporarily, but remember to reactivate it before bedtime. If you’ll be away, leave your alarm on and use motion-sensor lights to deter unwanted visitors.

Lastly, be sure to lock up any other buildings not in use. This will prevent any trick-or-treaters from entering the wrong location, and it will help deter anyone looking to do harm from having easy access to outbuildings. So, if you have a garage, barn, shop, or other structure, be sure to lock it up and secure any valuables that may be outside.

Prevent fires.

Candles in pumpkins are traditional, but they pose a risk. Keep flames away from walkways, decorations, and flammable materials like hay or dried cornstalks. Battery-powered LED lights are a safe and festive alternative for jack-o-lanterns.

Take pictures. 

Before the festivities begin, consider taking photos of your yard and home. If any pranks or damage occur, having pictures on hand can help with insurance claims and peace of mind.

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HAVE A HAPPY & SAFE HALLOWEEN!

With a few simple precautions, your home can be a fun, welcoming, and safe spot for little ghouls and goblins this Halloween.

If you see a property that you’re interested in while you’re out on the town trick-or-treating, give us a call or click here! We’d love to share any information with you and set up a showing.

Enjoy your night!