5 Things to Do to Get Your House Ready for Trick-or-Treat

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.com on behalf of Erie Insurance.

Fall is probably my favorite season. Back when I was teaching, I kind of dreaded the hectic months of establishing a routine with a new class and would have told you that Spring was my favorite. But ever since I stopped working in education, I have a new love for Fall. The weather is crisp and cool and the leaves are changing into gorgeous colors. I’m starting to get excited about the holidays but not feeling the stress, yet. And Halloween is always so fun – cute kids in adorable costumes, scary movies on TV and fun themed parties.

 

Back when Josh was young enough that I got to pick out his costume, I used to plot and plan to make sure we were being safe when trick-or-treating. I chose costumes that were warm enough if the weather was cool and had room for a jacket underneath in case it was cold. I chose costumes that would show up in the dark and made sure we had flashlights when we headed out. Of course we checked all of his candy before he ate any (especially since he has a nut allergy).

 

These days, he is more interested in staying home and handing out the candy than going trick-or-treating for it. And we are taking time to make sure our house is as safe as possible for those trick-or-treaters who will be ringing our doorbell. We’ve partnered with our friends at Erie Insurance to put together these tips to help you make your house trick-or-treat ready too!

Need costume ideas? Check out these super hero and villain costumes for boys!

 

5 Things to Do to Get Your House Ready for Trick-or-Treat

Make Sure Your Walkways are Clear

Be sure that any loose items like toys or gardening tools are put away so that no one can trip over them. Be especially aware of hoses as we see a lot of those left out and they can be hard to spot when walking.

Be Well Lit

Several days before your town’s trick-or-treat day, check all of your exterior lights and replace any burned out bulbs. This is also a great time to clear out any webs or dead bugs in the light fixtures.

Have a Plan for Pets

While it might be tempting to dress Fido up in a costume and let him answer the door with you, all of the ringing and new faces may be stressful for him. Keep in mind that the door will be opening and closing a LOT and pets may see it as the perfect time to make a break for it. Even if they are usually good about staying inside when the door opens, the stress and excitement of the night may bring on some different behaviors. Better to keep them in a safe area like a bedroom or a crate.

Use Lights Rather Than Candles

While the traditional Jack-o-Lantern usually has a candle inside, think about using a battery powered light or glow stick instead. First, you want to keep things as safe as possible for those trick-or-treaters with long flowing costumes that could easily brush against the flame and catch fire. An added bonus is that it won’t be roasting the inside of your pumpkin which should make it last longer.

Evaluate the Best Place to Pass Out Candy

If you have issues with your walkway or porch that can’t easily be fixed before Halloween (like uneven concrete or a loose railing) it might be better to avoid having trick-or-treaters come to your door. Perhaps you can set up a chair at the end of your driveway and meet them there instead. Have a few friends over and make it a mini-party while you wait for trick-or-treaters!

And even though you might do all the right things, accidents can still happen. And when they do, you’ll want to be covered by the best homeowners insurance policy that you can get – like one from Erie Insurance.

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