Halloween is an exciting time of the year where miniature goblins and ghosts wander around the neighborhood seeking out delicious sweets. Make sure that your guests have secure access to and around your property using lighting that provides an inviting pathway toward your home. Here are some ideas for outdoor lighting from us to help improve the security and safety of your house this fall and all through the year.

Prepare Your Home for Trick-or-Treaters

When it comes to a time of the year that children (and adults) from all age groups are likely to be coming to homes, it's essential to take certain precautions to ensure an enjoyable and safe experience. Here's a checklist of easy steps you can take to plan prior to your guests' arrival:

Brighter is Better

When it comes to lighting for your outdoor space, Halloween isn't the right time to save money on bulbs with low watts or create a sense of terror with an eerie, dark display full of cobwebs, monsters, and spiders. Be sure to keep your home well-lit by following these suggestions:

Replace bulbs that have burned out and bulbs with low-wattage ones with the maximum wattage allowed according to the specifications on each fixture.

Add lighting to your home by adding floodlights, wall lamps, lighting for pathways, rope lighting, and much more!

Safety First

The carving of pumpkins is a great autumn event, and your jack-o'-lanterns are a great way to illuminate your driveway, porch, or even your walkways. Make sure you are safe from fire by replacing traditional candles in favor of lighting sticks or LED lights powered by batteries.

Do a Sweep

Get a stiff broom to clean the path in front of your house, your driveway, the path that leads to your front door, and the steps to your front porch, as well as the area between your front door and the sidewalk. Remove larger objects such as sticks, stones, or debris, as well as household objects like bicycles, garden hoses, potted plants, and many more.

Tighten Up

Check the safety rails and handrails to make sure they're secured by tightening bolts or fixing them as required. A local handyman near you can help with larger projects or if expensive repairs are needed.

Prevent Slips

Wet leaves, rain, ice, and other dangers can cause slippery conditions and injuries. Clean up surfaces and use the ice melt or coarse sand, as well as friction tape, to offer those trick-or-treating with a secure grip.

Make Room

Parking your cars within the garage and down the street to allow enough space around your home and driveway. This can assist in increasing visibility.

Halloween Safety Tips for Homeowners

Keep Pets Secured Indoors

Halloween could be terrifying as well as stressful for your pet due to the extra noise and activities. Be sure to keep your pets inside during the night and lock them behind a locked door in the basement or bedroom to avoid escape every time the front door opens.

Test Your Smoke Alarms

The open flames of jack-o-lanterns or fireworks in the neighborhood can increase the chance of fire threatening your home. Examine your smoke alarms and make sure they're functioning properly, and replace the batteries as required.

Secure Your Home

After you've handed out the candy of the night, or you are planning to leave your home without a caretaker to take your children out, then turn on your home alarm and utilize motion sensor lights to discourage burglars, pranksters, or vandals from attacking your home.

Outdoor Lighting Should Be Grounded

Make sure to check the tags on your outdoor lighting and Halloween lights to make sure they're suitable to be used outdoors. Outdoor lighting must be grounded for safety, and ensure that you only use electrical outlets that are covered and equipped by GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters).