Written by Level Home Staff
Halloween is a time of year filled with spooky fun, creative costumes, and festive celebrations. For homeowners, this enchanting time of year brings not only the excitement of costumes and candy but also a unique set of responsibilities. With trick-or-treaters knocking at your door and elaborate decorations adorning your yard, ensuring safety is essential.
From protecting your property to creating a welcoming yet safe environment for little ghouls and goblins, there are numerous ways to enjoy the holiday while minimizing risks. In this blog post, we’ll explore essential Halloween safety tips tailored specifically for homeowners, helping you create a spooktacular celebration that’s both fun and secure!
Decorating your home for Halloween is fun – pumpkins, lights, fake cobwebs, and all. When you’re setting up this year’s spooky decor, remember these few safety tips:
Opt for LED lights instead of traditional bulbs, as they produce less heat and reduce fire risks.
Use battery-operated candles for jack-o'-lanterns and other decorations to further minimize fire risks.
Ensure that all decorations are securely placed to prevent tripping hazards, things falling over onto visitors, or the decorations blowing away.
Keep flammable materials away from open flames or heat sources.
Use outdoor-rated electrical decorations and extension cords to avoid electrical hazards.
Do not overload electrical outlets indoors or outdoors.
Remember to follow manufacturers’ instructions when setting up any decorations, big or small, to avoid damage to your home and injury to guests, pets, and your family.
Whether you plan to stay home and watch scary movies, or go out to get some candy with the kids, it’s a good idea to prepare ahead of time for trick-or-treaters to come by.
Tip: If you have a smart lock you can double-check your door is secure even while you aren’t home!
Tip: If you’re home you can choose to hand it out yourself, or leave a bowl filled with treats out on your porch. If you choose the latter, or aren’t home to hand it out yourself, remember to leave a friendly note for trick-or-treaters to take only their fair share.
Ensure walkways are clear of any debris, decorations, or other potential tripping hazards.
If you plan to go out during Halloween, remember to drive slowly in residential areas and watch for children crossing the street, especially during peak trick-or-treating hours.
Securing your property for Halloween, trick-or-treating, and “mischief night” are an important part of the holiday for homeowners.
Tip: If you own a smart lock, you don’t have to pause your scary movie marathon to lock the front door. Even better, you can use a smart lock with a keypad to have guests let themselves in!
Tip: Replace any burnt-out bulbs before Halloween to maintain visibility.
While you may assume nobody would dare steal from your yard with so many witnesses out trick-or-treating, bring your children’s toys and expensive outdoor decor inside as burglaries increase by as much as 60% on Halloween night.
Tip: This is especially helpful if you need to make a homeowners insurance claim!
Talk to your kids about home safety and tricky people so they’re prepared in case anything happens.
Remember to keep your furry friends safe and secure on Halloween too!
During trick-or-treating hours, keep pets inside to avoid stress from strangers and the potential for escape.
Ensure pets have updated identification tags in case they do get loose.
Keep toxic treats away from your pets. Most people know chocolate is dangerous for pets, but most Halloween candy contains a sweetener called xylitol that’s equally dangerous for pets to ingest.
By following these safety tips, you can create a festive environment while ensuring the safety of your home and the enjoyment of all visitors this season. Happy Halloween!
