As a responsible homeowner, making your property safe for young trick-or-treaters is essential. 

Everyone wants an accident-free Halloween in the neighborhood, so these few tips will ensure the local kids have a scary and super-fun night.

Clear paths

Little trick-or-treaters are excited and ususally run from house to house.  Tidy up the front yard, removing any garden tools or toys that might be left out to avoid tripping hazards.

Light it up

Turn on your exterior lights, especially if you have illuminated the edges of your garden path.

Flame-free

If you plan to decorate your home, it's a cool idea not to use anything flammable.

Animal Friendly Decor

Avoid using the faux spider web decor. These cobwebs are hard to remove after Halloween and birds often try to use it in nesting material come spring.  Although it's cozy, it's actually dangerous as it often tangles around the beaks and feet of both parents and babies in the nest.

Cable danger

If your Halloween installation needs electricity, please tape down extension cords and cables from where trick-or-treaters will walk.

Sweet treat 

If you're in the “treat brigade”, consider giving kids candy in reflective bags. Or offer gifts that are reflective, as these will help drivers see them as they move down your street.

Allergies

Don't include nuts or chocolate with nut content in your stash of treats. 

Check the candy

Sometimes treat wrappers aren't properly sealed when coming out of the box. It's a great idea to go through your candy stash to ensure everything is edible. Where wrappers are even slightly opened, discard the candy.

Be blunt

Many folks will use items like swords and wands to help dress the house so it's super-spooky. Please ensure these items are soft, and there's no possible way kids could come to any harm from them.

Brief neighbours

If you're planning a big Halloween party, it's a great idea to let the neighbors know.