Iowa, These Are 3 Signs That A House Isn’t Handing Out Halloween Candy

It's about time to hit the street with your mini-Batmans and Barbies but there's one thing you should be on the lookout for as you're trick-or-treating.

Just because a house isn't handing out candy tonight doesn't make them a Halloween Scrooge. There could be a myriad of reasons why: maybe they're not home, maybe they ran out of candy earlier in the night, maybe they're content to watch "Hocus Pocus" and keep their mini Twix to themselves.

If you're taking the littles trick-or-treating in a neighborhood you're not familiar with, make sure you're prepared to not knock on every door. You can't just assume everyone will answer with a bowl o' goodies.

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If you're not already aware, there are 3 key factors to look out for before you encourage your kiddos to walk up to a house.

Interior Lights Are Dim Or Off

My family would put blankets over our windows when we ran out of candy and we turned the living room & hallway lights off. Sure a car was clearly in the driveway so it's obvious we were home, but we weren't outside and no lights were on.

No One Is Outside On The Porch

It doesn't always mean that the house isn't trick-or-treater friendly, but often times you'll see someone in a chair parked outside on the porch with candy. Decorations alone also don't mean trick-or-treaters are welcome.

No Lights, No Bites

The biggest one: if you don't see the porch light on, it's pretty much the universal signal that the house isn't participating in trick-or-treating.

The best way to figure out which houses to knock on with the kiddos is to use your own judgment. Does the house look lively and lit? Do you see other kids trick-or-treating at that house? You may figure out that you've found one of these not-into-it houses if no one answers after you knock.

Now go get that Snickers!