New research from estate agency network eXp UK suggests that while Halloween celebrations continue to grow in popularity across Britain, a majority of homeowners will be keeping their doors firmly shut this year – with many turning to smart home technology to manage, and in some cases avoid, the annual influx of trick-or-treaters.
The survey of UK homeowners found that 77% have no plans to take part in Halloween festivities, while a further 13% remain undecided.
The most common tactic for avoiding visitors is to skip decorations altogether, with many saying this discourages knocks at the door.
Traditional deterrents such as pretending not to be home also remain popular, but a newer strategy is emerging – the use of smart doorbells and home cameras to screen visitors in real time.
SMART DOORBELL
According to eXp UK’s findings, 35% of homeowners now own a smart doorbell or home security camera, and of those, two-thirds (66%) plan to use their devices this Halloween to screen and ignore unwanted callers.
Adam Day (main picture, inset), Head of eXp UK and Europe, says: “Halloween is, for the most part, harmless fun, but it can also heighten instances of anti-social behaviour and disturbance for some homeowners. For others, it’s simply inconvenient to keep answering the door throughout the evening.
“While many still rely on traditional deterrents such as keeping the lights off, the rise of smart home technology offers greater control.
“Smart doorbells allow homeowners to see exactly who’s at their door and decide whether to answer — avoiding unwanted knocks while ensuring they don’t miss genuine visitors.”
