As we close out Realtor Safety Month and head into Halloween, it's a great time to think not just about costumes and candy, but also about keeping our homes and neighborhoods safe. Whether you're expecting a crowd of trick-or-treaters or simply want to protect your property from seasonal hazards, safety should always be part of your Halloween checklist. In a recent article from HouseLogic.com, Oliver Marks outlines seven practical ways homeowners can make Halloween fun and safe for everyone.
Plenty of people love a good Halloween scare as long as no one gets hurt. And that includes your house. Hot lights and kids on foot present some real risks to homeowners. Follow these seven tips for trick-or-treat safety:
Make Your Outdoor Lights as Bright as Possible. Check the label on your outdoor light fixtures and use the highest wattage bulbs they can safely handle. You can always switch them back after the holiday for a softer glow.
Prop Open the Storm Door for Trick-or-Treaters. Keep the screen or storm door propped open so it doesn't get in the way when kids are on your stoop. Yellow caution tape can do the trick while keeping with your Halloween theme. A 1,000-foot roll of three-inch-wide tape costs about $8.
Use LEDs Instead of Real Candles. We all know the danger of using real candles with a flame in decorations like carved pumpkins or paper lanterns; they're a fire waiting to happen. LED-bulb faux candles are much safer, and the light looks a lot like the real thing. Before you purchase Halloween decorative lights, be sure to look for safety certifications such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories).
Use Motion Lights After the Trick-or-Treaters Have Left. When the trick-or-treaters go home, the vandals often come out. Motion sensor lights that illuminate the whole house can help scare away any mischief makers.
Tighten Railings. Fixing wobbly or broken porch railings is a trick-or-treat safety must. They can cause severe injuries if anyone leans on them a little too hard. Hire a contractor or handyman to fix the problem before your guests arrive.
Use Friction Tape on Steps. Steps can get slippery in damp weather. Prepare by applying friction tape ($16 for a 60-foot roll of one-inch-wide tape) to the steps.
If your neighborhood is at risk for an early freeze, stock up on ice melt, too ($20 for a 50-pound bag).
A related Halloween trick-or-treat safety tip: Clear your walk, steps, and stoop of any obstructions like potted plants – and even jack-o'-lanterns. Move them where no one can accidentally stumble on them.
Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips. Here's a scary statistic: On average, over two times as many child pedestrians die on Halloween compared to other days, according to the Children's Safety Network. Of all the trick-or-treat safety guidelines, this one could be the most important.
Reduce risks to little pedestrians by clearing parked cars from the curb for better visibility and placing a reflective "Watch for Children" sign at the edge of the road. On busy streets, consider having adults take turns maintaining safety in the street with a hand-held traffic control light.
Halloween may be all about spooky fun, but real safety hazards don't have to be part of the night. Whether you're a homeowner welcoming trick-or-treaters or a Realtor helping clients prepare their property, small steps can make a big difference in keeping people safe. Let's continue the spirit of Realtor Safety Month by staying alert, prepared, and community-minded not just in October, but all year long. That'sWhoWeR
Greater Chattanooga REALTORS® is The Voice of Real Estate in Greater Chattanooga. A regional organization with nearly 3,000 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is one of some 1,200 local boards and associations of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors service Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee, and Catoosa, Dade, and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. For more information, visit www.gcar.net or call 423.698.8001.