Trip hazards that could haunt your Halloween!

🎃 Watch Your Step! Exterior Trip Hazards That Could Haunt Your Halloween 🎃

As spooky season creeps in and little ghosts and goblins prepare to haunt your front porch, now is the perfect time to take a closer look at your home’s exterior. While you're hanging up cobwebs and setting out pumpkins, don’t overlook something that could cause a real scare: trip hazards.

At every home inspection, one of the most common exterior findings we note is uneven walkways, loose pavers, or cracked steps. While these may seem minor, they can pose a serious risk not just to your family, but to unsuspecting trick-or-treaters navigating your yard in the dark.

Here are a few common trip hazards we spot during inspections and that you should fix before Halloween:

🪨 Cracked or uneven sidewalks: Concrete shifts over time. If sections have lifted or sunken, they can easily catch a toe.

🕳️ Loose bricks or pavers: Decorative paths look great, but only if they’re stable. A loose brick can become a hidden danger under a costume.

🍂 Wet leaves or debris: Fall foliage is beautiful, but when it piles up, it hides holes or cracks and becomes slippery.

🌙 Poor lighting: A poorly lit walkway is a recipe for tumbles. Consider adding low-voltage or solar lights to illuminate paths.

🎃 Decorations in walking paths: That giant inflatable spider might look great on your walkway, but consider whether it’s blocking a clear path to your door.

From a home inspection perspective, these hazards are more than seasonal—they’re signs of maintenance issues that could get worse over time. Uneven grading, deteriorating materials, or improper drainage can all contribute. And if left unaddressed, they can lead to injuries and costly repairs (or even liability issues).

So before the trick-or-treaters arrive, take a quick walk around your property. View it from a child’s perspective, or better yet, in the dark with a flashlight. It might reveal hazards you hadn’t noticed before.

Happy Halloween, and may your night be filled with treats, not trips! 👻