Halloween is right around the corner, and you know what that means: trick or treaters! Is there anything cuter than a parade of costumed tiny tots going door to door? You’ll want to be sure your porch is ready to welcome your tiny visitors. Here’s what you need to know:
Check your porch stairs now: as Metrowest homeowners, we can become accustomed to the fact our porch stairs are less than ideal. But if the porch steps are sagging, unevenly spaced, or otherwise damaged, they can be hard for little ones to climb safely. Give the stairs a quick inspection and if things aren’t up to snuff, call your deck builders for repairs: it’s a small job that can make everyone’s holiday better.
Test your lighting now: Families feel best about trick or treating at homes that are well-lighted and inviting. Don’t count on your porch lightbulb to be up to the task if you haven’t used it in a while. Test your deck lighting now. Turn it on and stand on the street or sidewalk: is it easy to see a route to your door? If not, change lightbulbs or install additional lighting fixtures.
Position decorations strategically: Wild witches and scary monsters are part of the Halloween fun. You want to be sure that all of your Halloween decorations are securely in place – it does get windy in the Metrowest area! – and positioned in such a way that children can approach your house without being too frightened. Some families have decks with two entranceways and decorating accordingly – one family friendly entrance that’s not so scary and a terrifying entrance for older kids who enjoy being scared.
A word about teal pumpkins: In nature, pumpkins are orange, white, and very occasionally pink. You may see teal pumpkins for sale or displayed at homes. These teal pumpkins are for homes that give out treats for children with food allergies, such as nuts, chocolate or soy. Many times this means toys or stickers instead of candy – it’s a nice gesture to be sure everyone can enjoy the holiday.