7 Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

tips

Some Halloween tricks can really cost you

Plenty of people love a good Halloween scare — as long no one gets hurt. And that includes your house.

Hot lights and kids on foot present some real risks to homeowners. Follow these seven tips for trick-or-treat safety:

#1 Make Your Outdoor Lights as Bright as Possible

Three trick-or-treaters waiting on a doorstep on Halloween — Image: Carolina Hanna/Offset

#2 Prop Open the Storm Door for Trick-or-Treaters

Keep the screen or storm door propped open so it doesn't get in the way when kids are on your stoop. Yellow caution tape can do the trick while keeping with your Halloween theme. A 1,000-foot roll of three-inch-wide tape costs about $8.

#3 Use LEDs Instead of Real Candles

Brick path lined with jack-o-lanterns lit with LED candles — Image: Jamie Garbutt/Getty

#4 Use Motion Lights After the Trick-or-Treaters Have Left

When the trick-or-treaters go home, the vandals often come out. Motion sensor lights that illuminate the whole house can help scare away any mischief makers.

#5 Tighten Railings

Fixing wobbly or broken porch railings is a trick-or-treat safety must. They can cause severe injuries if anyone leans on them a little too hard. Hire a contractor or handyman to fix the problem before your guests arrive.

#6 Use Friction Tape on Steps

Jack-o-lanterns placed out of the path of trick-or-treaters — Image: Grabill Creative/Getty

If your neighborhood is at risk for an early freeze, stock up on ice melt, too ($20 for a 50-pound bag).

A related Halloween trick-or-treat safety tip: Clear your walk, steps, and stoop of any obstructions like potted plants – and even jack-o'-lanterns. Move them where no one can accidentally stumble on them.

Image: Rebecca Resman

#7 Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

Of all the trick-or-treat safety guidelines, this one could be the most important. Reduce risks to little pedestrians by clearing parked cars from the curb for better visibility and placing a reflective “Watch for Children" sign at the edge of the road. On busy streets, consider having adults take turns maintaining safety in the street with a hand-held traffic control light.

Source: houselogic by Realtors®️

- https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/halloween-safety-rules/?site_ref=mosaic

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