The fall is probably my favourite time of year. Don’t get me wrong… summer’s fun and all but I love autumn. The weather starts to cool down, the leaves change, the air gets crisper, it’s harvest time, hockey’s back and of course, it’s Halloween! Why wouldn’t you enjoy a holiday where you can eat as many mini Mars bars as you want?
Of course, with Halloween on the horizon, that means trick or treaters will be coming to your home. With just a few short weeks to prepare for the onslaught of tiny, sweet seeking Spidermen and Wonder Women, I figured I’d give you a few tips on how to prepare your home for Halloween.
Avoid Tripping Hazards
Everyone wants have the spookiest yard on Halloween but if you’re going to go all out, make sure your decorations (and their extension cords) are positioned safely away from the main walking path. You want people to rave about how scary your house was because of the amazing Halloween decorations, not because people kept falling down when they tried to get candy.
Light It Up
Dim lighting can really set a scene in a horror film but it’s dangerous in real life. Resist the temptation to create a “Nightmare on Lakeshore Drive” scenario and reduce the chances of accidents by ensuring your lighting is up to snuff. Swap out dead bulbs on your porch and walkway so that visitors have a nice bright path to your door. Remember, most kids will have masks on so their vision may be obscured already. Even if you’re not home, a brightly lit yard is a great way to ward off would be vandals who might be up to some Halloween mischief.
Secure Railings and Clean Your Steps
Ever stepped on a wet leaf on wooden stairs? It’s slippery… banana peel in an old cartoon slippery! Give your walkway and steps a good cleaning before the big day to avoid any mishaps. Rake up any leaves, sweep away loose gravel, and pressure wash away any moss or grime. It’s not just for the kids, it’s for you too! While you’re at it, haul out the toolbox and tighten up any rickety railings to prevent dangerous falls.
Keep Pets Contained
Halloween is a stressful time for pets but can you blame them? The doorbell’s ringing constantly and strangers in masks are intruding on their territory. To prevent pets from scaring trick or treaters or worse, getting out and running away, It’s a good idea to put your cats or dogs in a calm, quiet, secure area. That way they won’t be able to escape when you open the door to hand out candy.
Don’t Play With Fire
Much like the scary decorations, people really go all out for their Jack O’lanterns now. The classically simple triangle eyes and toothy grins have been replaced by some outstanding designs (check out these Star Wars ones!). To go full 21st century Halloween, light up your pumpkins with an electric candle or LED lights instead of a real candle. It’s a more fire safe option and you won’t have to worry about anything going up in flames if it gets knocked over.
“BC home sales rose nearly 5 per cent from August on a seasonally adjusted basis,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Total active listings on the market continue to trend at ten-year lows in most BC regions, limiting unit sales and pushing home prices higher. While the economic fundamentals support elevated housing demand, rising home prices are eroding affordability, particularly for first-time buyers.”
