Get Your Home Ready for Halloween

A Spooky House

I can remember all the way back to the days that I used to trick or treat. I recall one house that was always my favorite house to visit. Every Halloween night, I would anticipate going to that house on the corner and receiving the Halloween jackpot.

So what was it that made that house the favorite of just about every kid out there? It’s Simple, the outside decorations. The house was so cool and appealing that everyone wanted to check it out. So what can you  do to make you house the Halloween hotspot.

This process can actually begin a few weeks before Halloween begins. A person must first let their grass grow a little more than usual. Not enough to get the homeowners associations breathing down the back of your neck, but enough to make it look a little shaggy. It’s also a good idea to let the leaves gather up a little in the yard. In other words, don’t rake.

Now that the yard is prepared here’s a list of ideas that will help create a scary atmosphere for you trick or treaters.

• Create a grave yard in the front yard. Tombstones can be made out of boxes. Put creative, scary names on the boxes. If you really want to go all out, you can also buy more professional pre-made tombstones the are really creepy.
• Remember that a tree in the yard is a tool and should not be wasted. You can buy artificial spider webbing and wrap it around the trees or even from tree to tree. The base of a tree is a great place to put a few lit jack o lanterns.
• If the resources are available to create a scarecrow, this can be a very creepy idea. If you want to be cleaver, put the scarecrow in the yard, take the head off, and put it by your front door.
• Put something in every window in the house that faces your front yard and then put orange lights or strobe lights behind them.
• The front door itself should be a big attraction. Door mats that make scary noises when you step on them are a popular way to go. More jack o lanterns at the door is good. Black light or strobe lights are also good.
• Carve scary faces in your jack o lanterns, not happy faces.
• Some people have even gone to the extent of drawing chalk outlines of bodies and spilling fake blood on them.
• Your costume is THE most important factor! I remember the guy at my favorite house always dressed up as a vampire. His costume was very professional and made the guys on TV look like fake vampires. He had a line of blood dripping down his face and white face make-up. His outfit was awesome and has an awesome cape. He didn’t stop there though, he even went through the trouble of creating a very convincing vampire “I want to suck your blood” type accent. So the costume and presentation are very very important.
• Sound is an important factor. Halloweens sound tracks can be bought that have sound effects such as lightning, people screaming, wind blowing, and evil cackling witches. It’s best to play this somewhat loud, but not deafening.

These are all great ways to create a spooky environment around your house. It’s a great way to really get into Halloween and help the neighborhood kids have a great time. Make sure that all decorations around your house are safe and child proof! These ideas are just basic ideas that can be expanded on. Use your creativity to expand on them to be the #1 Halloween spot in town.