In no time at all you'll have little ghosts and witches crowding your doorstep for candy - is your home ready? If you're expecting trick-or-treaters, follow these simple suggestions to ensure the little ones (and their guardians) have a safe, fun, and happy Halloween.
Enter if you dare
Before the big night, check your entryway for any potential tripping hazards like loose steps, pavers, and extension cords. Take time to nail down loose steps, fix pavers, and tape down extension cords with brightly colored tape. If items cannot be fixed in time, take steps to guide children around these hazards with markers.
Up in flames
Statistically, Halloween is one of the most likely nights for accidental home fires. Ensure your home is not one of them by using LED lights in your jack-o-lanterns instead of traditional candles, check the wiring on any electrical decorations for frayed ends, and keep any flammable decorations such as hay and dried cornstalks away from heat sources.
Let there be light
Make sure your porch and walkways have adequate lighting to avoid potential hazards and turn on the lights in street-facing rooms for extra illumination. If you have a long walkway to your porch without built-in lighting, you can easily add small tea lights, solar lights, or glow sticks in time for Halloween night.
Cage the beast
With all the added activity at your front door, many pets can get easily spooked. Even if your animal is usually well behaved around strangers, the added element of costumes can often set them off. Set your furry friends up with a comfortable space in a secured place in your home away from your front door. If you've dressed your pooch up for the festivities and want to show them off, make sure they are on a short leash and unable to escape into the night.
