Tomorrow is Halloween and if you’re like me, you’re doing some last minute prep work around the house to get ready for a night full of fun, food and doorbell ringing! I always like to take the time to give a few tips on how to make sure your home and yard are safe for all the neighborhood Ghost, Goblins and Zombies!!
In the front – Keep your paths and walkways on unobstructed so that children and parents won’t trip, stumble, or fall and possibly hurt themselves. Your lawn should be free of all decorations, hoses, tools, or toys that could impede any pilgrim’s progress to and from your door. Remember that they’re excited and probably on a sugar rush and will not take the time to “be careful”. Any debris should be removed as well including piles of leaves. Leaves can be very slippery when stepped upon and become especially dangerous if they are wet.
Lights and Action – Everyone knows the good stuff happens after dark. Make it easy for your ghastly guests to find their way to and from your front door. Keep the pathways on your property well lit so there won’t be even a ghost of a chance for any tripping witches, stumbling mummies, falling skeletons (they could easily break a bone!) or hobbling goblins showing up at your door this Halloween! A Safe Halloween Home bonus is that burglars are less likely to rob a well-lit home too!
Decorations – If you have jack-o-lanterns on display, make sure you keep candles away from landings and doorsteps, where costumes could brush against the flame. Also, if they’re inside, make sure candles are away from curtains, decorations and other items that could ignite. NEVER leave burning candles unattended and honestly, for this night, go the extra step and use a “flameless,” LED or battery-operated candle.
Nice Car! A smart move is to keep your cars off the streets and move them into the driveway if possible. If you’ll be driving on Halloween, drive VERY slowly and watch for children who might pop out between parked cars. I’m always amazed how fast people drive thru neighborhoods – especially on this night. Be especially careful entering or leaving driveways and alleys.
Precious Pets – You may think that your dog loves Halloween, but the truth is that the constant excitement of young children ringing the doorbell is simply too much for many pets. Scared cats can dart out the front door, knocking over carved pumpkins and candles. Dogs that mistake trick-or-treaters for intruders may inadvertently attack a young child. Play it safe and keep your pets contained.
So there are my tips for Halloween Safety.. if you’re expecting a lot of festivity, I’d love it if you’d share some pictures with me on my Facebook page!
Lara
Lara Taylor – Realtor/Broker
704-200-8835
Twitter – @AskForLara
Facebook
