How To Deter Trick-Or-Treaters
Halloween is a fun holiday for many people, but it can be overwhelming and irritating for a homeowner. Between the large crowds of trick-or-treaters, loud noises, and having to buy candy, Halloween isn’t always fun and games for everyone. Understandably, many homeowners don’t want to participate in the holiday but struggle with how to deter trick-or-treaters.
You can deter trick-or-treaters and stop them from coming to your door if you put a sign or note on your door or walkway. Express that you don’t have any candy in the note and turn off your outdoor lights to keep trick-or-treaters away. Leave the house if you don’t want to deal with the crowds or simply turn off the lights inside your house so it looks like you’re not there.
If you decorate your yard for Halloween, trick-or-treaters are more likely to knock on your door. You can always tell your neighbors you aren’t participating in Halloween this year, but you will still get some trick-or-treaters. Follow along as we explore how to deter trick-or-treaters so you can enjoy a quiet, peaceful Halloween.
How Do You Politely Stop Trick-Or-Treaters?
Put A Sign Out
The politest way to stop trick-or-treaters is to simply leave a sign outside. You can either hang a sign at the start of your walkway or on your front door. If you don’t want them to even approach your door, you may want to put the sign on your walkway, so nobody gets too close to your house.
Otherwise, you can leave a note on your door. Make sure to word it politely and say something like, “I’m sorry, but we don’t have any candy”. The note should be worded so that you don’t upset anyone, while still being clear and expressing that you don’t have anything to offer. This will deter trick-or-treaters politely and concisely.
Turn Off Your Outdoor Lights
Trick-or-treaters are unlikely to knock on your door if your outdoor lights aren’t on. This sends a message to would-be trick-or-treaters that you aren’t participating. Parents who bring their kids trick-or-treating will understand and will simply pass your house.
You can also deter trick-or-treaters if you turn off many of your indoor lights as well. This will make it appear as if you aren’t home or that you are asleep.
Leave The House
Not only can you deter trick-or-treaters if you leave the house, but you can avoid them altogether. It’s easy to tell when somebody isn’t home, and trick-or-treaters and their parents don’t want to waste their time. Make sure to lock your doors for safety and turn off most of the lights in your house so nobody approaches.
Try to stay out of the house until 9 p.m. or later if you want to avoid trick-or-treaters. This will ensure that you miss at least most of the crowd without staying out late enough to share the road with the party crowd.
Don’t Decorate For Halloween
Nothing is more inviting to trick-or-treaters than a house that is decorated for Halloween. When they see the lights and decorations, they will understandably assume that you have candy. You can avoid this problem altogether if you don’t decorate your yard and porch for Halloween.
If you still want to celebrate the holiday, you can simply decorate the inside of your home. Of course, you can still decorate outside without providing candy, but it will send mixed signals to trick-or-treaters.
Leave An Empty Bowl Out
If you want to appear like you’re participating in Halloween without having to deal with trick-or-treaters, you can perform a trick of your own. It involves some cunning and trickery, but you can stop trick-or-treaters from knocking on your door if you leave an empty candy bowl out for them to see. Make a sign that says to take candy from the bowl, but don’t fill it with candy.
Trick-or-treaters will simply assume that you ran out of candy early. This will stop them from knocking on your door, and you won’t look like you’re completely ignoring Halloween.
Move Your Car
Do you usually park your car in your driveway? If so, you may want to move your car into the garage or somewhere down the block if it’s not too inconvenient. Trick-or-treaters from your neighborhood may notice that your car isn’t in the same spot as usual, and they will likely assume you aren’t home.
Tell The HOA
Are you part of an HOA? If so, you can politely notify your fellow members that you will not participate this year on Halloween. This may be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be a problem, as long as you draft a polite email that expresses your concerns.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that trick-or-treaters won’t visit your house on Halloween. It should at least minimize the crowd and you won’t likely get as many trick-or-treaters from your neighborhood. Put a sign on your door or walkway as well to deter as many people from knocking as possible.
When Do People Start Trick-Or-Treating?
People typically start trick-or-treating at sunset. The exact time varies based on which time zone you live in. For most people, this is between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. However, don't expect huge crowds of trick-or-treaters until closer to 7 p.m.
What Time Should You Stop Trick-Or-Treaters?
The best time to stop trick-or-treaters on Halloween is 9 p.m. This is an appropriate time to stop trick-or-treaters, especially when Halloween falls on a weekday. You can’t necessarily stop them from coming to your house, but you can at least stop putting candy out.
After 9 p.m., you can put a note on your door that says you are out of candy. It also helps to turn off the exterior lights in your yard and on your porch.
Summing It Up
The best way to deter trick-or-treaters is to turn off your outdoor lights and put a sign on your door or walkway. Word the sign politely and explain that you don’t have any candy to offer, so trick-or-treaters won’t knock on your door. Avoid decorating for Halloween so you don’t entice trick-or-treaters to visit and leave the house until 9 p.m. or later if you don’t want to be around trick-or-treaters.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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