It’s almost that time of year when the little ghoulies and goblins will be running amok in your neighbourhood, ringing your doorbell and yelling, “trick or treat!” Halloween tends to be one of those holidays that people either love or hate. If you enjoy getting dressed up in a costume and handing out candy to excited kids, then you’ll be eagerly looking forward to October 31st. If you hate the thought of answering the doorbell to a bunch of noisy and hyper children, then you may just want to turn off your lights and hide or, better yet, go out for the evening. If you’re planning to hand out candy, we’ve put together a few of our best Halloween etiquette tips for homeowners to make sure you’re getting the most out of the spookiest holiday of the year.
Decorating your home
If you love the Halloween season, you might have been out decorating your home as soon as October 1st hit. Bear in mind that some decorations may scare small children, so try and keep the fear level low, at least until the little ones have finished for the evening. After dark, you may want to step things up a notch! Some fun decorations suitable for youngsters could include eerily glowing pumpkins, spider webs, gravestones and hanging ghosts.
Handing out candy
If this is your first Halloween in a new home, you may not know how many children to expect. If you’ve lived in your home for many years, you’ll have a good idea of how active your neighbourhood is at this time of year. Aim to have plenty of candy available for at least one piece per child – you don’t want to be shorthanded at the end of the evening! If you have any candy leftovers, you could take them into work with you the next day, or even donate them to your child’s school or a local charity. Make sure the candy is individually wrapped and sealed, and hand one piece out to each child rather than letting them grab a huge handful themselves.
The Teal Pumpkin Project
Have you heard about the Teal Pumpkin Project? It’s a fantastic initiative promoting safety, inclusion and respect for children with food allergies, or for whom candy is not an option, at Halloween. By displaying a teal-coloured pumpkin on your porch, you indicate to any trick-or-treaters that you have non-edible treats available. These could be stickers, glow sticks, crayons, or any small inexpensive toys!
Keeping things safe
As you’ll have children trooping up and down your driveway all night, especially in the dark, you’ll want to make sure their pathway is clear. Tidy away any obstructions, such as bicycles, skateboards or sprinkler heads, and make sure your front yard is well lit. If you have pets, keep them away from the front door or maybe even shut them in another room for the evening so they don’t scare children or run away when the door is open.
End of the night
Run out of candy? Ready to call it a night? Make sure you turn any porch lights off and close your blinds or curtains. This is the universal code to signal ‘no candy here’. Usually things will wrap up around 8 or 9pm, especially if it’s a school night!
However you and your family are celebrating this Halloween, it’s important to have fun and stay safe! If you’re looking to buy or sell a home over the holiday season, our experienced and dedicated team of RealtorsⓇ at Royal LePage Performance Realty are here to help you achieve your real estate dreams. Don’t hesitate to contact us today.
