Having had two of my three kids in the superb chaos that is October, I long ago accepted that this month isn’t just “fall” — it’s the Super Bowl of parenting. My children quickly learned that their birthdays came with graveyard cake, witches’ fingers, and mummy hotdogs — not because I’m that creative, but because I refuse to compete with Pinterest moms who hand-stitch costumes out of moonlight and regret. They could dress in whatever they wanted, as long as they participated.

And when it came to trick-or-treating? Oh, I didn’t just participate — I coached. We had studied the laminated maps, planned out water breaks and enforced a strict “no stopping for conversation” policy. Candy haul strategy was serious business. It wasn’t about the candy either. It was about finishing the race, which required more steps than a day at Disneyland and more stamina than the Ogden Marathon. It is for this reason that, even though my children are adults now, my house still looks like the Spirit Halloween store exploded across our front yard. Ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, witches, eyeballs, bones and animatronic characters that randomly call out creepy comments surround our home. There is even a creepy clown living in the attic who is backlit by the spirits from beyond.

This year, as I began coaching my 18-month-old grandson in the fine art of trick-or-treating, it hit me: House hunting is just the grown-up version of trick or treating– fewer creative costumes, bigger disappointments and the occasional full-size candy bar of a listing that actually lives up to the photos.

Walking up to a new listing in anticipation is the best part. Just like on Halloween, you only approach the houses with the lights on. The rest either need to try harder, don’t really want to sell or have clearly opted out of handing out candy — or welcoming prospective buyers. Big party poopers. Whether you want to sell your home or participate in the Halloween festivities, there are just too many homes to choose from to bother walking all the way up the driveway to a dark and mundane doorstep. Throw the proverbial pumpkin on the porch and make it clear you’re ready for visitors — whether they’re carrying candy bags or pre-approval letters.

Since the most decked-out, brightly lit houses get all the trick-or-treaters, you might have to wait your turn in a line of mini superheroes and K-pop Demon Hunters to get your king-size candy bar. After all, word on the street about who’s giving out the good stuff spreads fast. The same holds true in real estate. Homes that are well-prepared, well-lit and welcoming attract more buyers — and often sell faster and for more. Just like the house with the king-size candy bar, a listing that truly shows its value quickly earns a line of interested visitors.

There are times, however, when what lies behind the door is a huge disappointment. Rather than a king size Twix bar, you get a box of raisins, or worse — a toothbrush. Really, who hurt these people? In real estate, it’s the same emotional betrayal. You walk up to a home that looks stunning from the street — fresh paint, cute porch lights, maybe even a pumpkin or two — and then step inside to find… dirty and worn carpet, poorly patched walls and the faint smell of pumpkin spice candle that is definitely attempting to cover up a much stronger odor that is nothing close to pumpkin spice.

It’s like being promised a full-size Snickers (or my personal favorite — a 16 oz bag of Twizzlers) and getting a celery stick. Sure, it’s technically “a treat,” but nobody’s fooling anyone. Great curb appeal might draw the crowd, but if what’s behind the door screams years of deferred maintenance and poor plumbing, the magic ends fast. Because whether you’re trick-or-treating or house-hunting, nobody wants to get tricked when they just came for the treats.

While we are at it, let’s be honest; there’s no heartbreak quite like watching someone else walk off with the last Reese’s while you’re left holding an empty plastic pumpkin. In real estate, that’s the same gut punch as seeing “Under Contract” pop up on the listing you finally decided to tour. In both cases, timing is everything. The early birds (and the fast-footed trick-or-treaters) get the good stuff — the best candy, the best houses, the best deals. Wait too long, and you’ll be staring at a sad “Sorry, we’re out” sign while someone else celebrates their sweet victory. Moral of the story? Lace up your sneakers, grab your flashlight — or your pre-approval letter — and move fast. The good ones don’t stay on the porch for long.

Of course, in our case, the last costumed candy crusader to ring the doorbell by 9:30 p.m. (my self-declared bedtime) wins the lottery. We dump the remainder of our candy into the pillowcase and turn off the lights. At this point, we are highly motivated to be done and are anxious to move on. In the world of real estate, make that mean what you will.

Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com