Ultimate Checklist to Secure Your Home This Holiday
In this guide, we’ll provide the ultimate checklist to secure your home, covering essential home security tips and practical steps. Here you will learn more about:
- - **Home maintenance before vacation** tasks that should be done to protect your belongings.
- - Some alternatives to the smart home security system such as the security camera system and the presence detectors that you can utilize.
- - Technologies such as the Narwhal delivery box, and the Zuzi robot, and tips like installing motion-activated security lights and leaving the lights on in different parts of the home to create the illusion of occupancy, are effective ways to help you.
Introduction to Home Security Before Vacation
One of the last things on a holiday list is to ensure that your home is secure before you leave. By following an effective home security strategy, you not only protect your assets but also keep good care of your home while you are away. Sadly, most homeowners forget important steps, which leads to their homes being highly exposed to theft or damage.
This article gives a basic and simple-to-follow vacation home safety checklist that can be used by any house owner to help them secure their home while they are away on holiday. Making sure the windows and doors are closed and setting up surveillance cameras and automated smart lighting to guide you through the proper functioning of the home security things will in turn decrease the exposure to risks.
Making sure your mail delivery arrives as you are away and being ready in case of an emergency will be part of essential home maintenance duties. Adding trusted neighbors for support and home monitoring options, which are already available, will also make your place more secure. Follow all the items in our checklist to your home to make it safe, secure, and ready while you are away and full of enjoyment while you are gone.
Cleaning and Organizing Your Home
A cozy house will give you peace of mind when you are away. Here is a list of things you should already do before your vacation:
Clear Out Perishables
First, inspect both the freezer and the pantry. To be on the safe side, get rid of perishables that can become stinky and attract pests.
Organize Spaces
Getting rid of all the junk in the room to make your return as pleasant as possible is a crucial part of the process. A clean room is the key to having an easier and more stress-free life.
Secure Important Documents
Keep documents, which are important for you, as visible as possible. They are insurance policies and emergency contacts, so they are needed for your use.
Take Out the Trash
You need to make sure that you remove trash from dustbins, you will return to a clean house after the absence. It is important to keep the trash cans clean so as not to attract pests in your absence.
Not only do you create safety but also the house you come back to will feel fresh and clean.
Securing Windows and Doors
About home security ensuring that the entrances are well-guarded is key. Bringing in the window locks is the first step; these lockable windows are the ones to cut for the prompt job. Also, consider
For instance, you can install door security film to provide further protection should they shatter.
Another important thing is 'the doors'.
For example, you can buy heavy-duty deadbolts that will make your doors more secure. Also, you can fix the weak points on the doors and check if any cracks are on the door frames and hinges, which ought to be taken care of.
If you are willing to pay for more security, you might consider equipping your house with smart home devices like a doorbell camera or motion sensors. They can inform you of suspicious activities nearby while you are away. Another great idea would be outdoor lighting that has built-in motion sensors and, when turned on, does not allow intruders to enter your house. It is advisable to install outdoor lighting, particularly at night, which is motion-detecting and will not allow lurking intruders to become successful burglars in the area.
To start with, you need to strengthen the immovable building blocks of your house, for example, fixing the vacation home safety checklist. The very fact that a secure home is a haven of peace for you when you are on vacation should be your main concern. Ensure that your home is safe by checking the list below of steps needed to prevent burglaries during your absence.
Setting Up Smart Home Technology
One way to do this is by having smart home technology that you can control from anywhere you are. The devices that are equipped with smart technology are used to lower the risk of harm and also to enable you to rest calmly. Here’s how:
Smart Locks
AGet a security system that has remote access to door locks, so you can monitor the entries and exits of the house. You can also set user codes & give them a digital signature to enter, in case of pending guests, or lock/unlock your doors from a distance by using your phone.
Surveillance Cameras
You are recommended to position surveillance cameras indoors as well as outdoors to boost security. Newer security cameras are able to detect motion with their sensors and provide live monitoring or send alerts through cloud storage.
Smart Lighting
Make use of smart lights throughout the day to imitate that you are home which helps to keep burglars at bay. Examples of outdoor lighting systems with motion sensors are
Home Alarm System
Use a smart home alarm system that can promptly notify you and authorities if there is an intrusion. The ones that are compatible with smartphones and give you real-time alerts are the best choice.
With the help of these smart home tools, you can significantly improve the safety of your home.
Arranging for Mail and Package Management
Keeping track of your mail and packages is a must even before you go on vacation. The main sign that indicates that your house is empty is the full mailbox. To be a little less noticeable, follow these steps:
- - Stop Mail Delivery: Utilize the USPS mail hold service to prevent deliveries while you are away.
- - Ask a Neighbor: Get a reliable neighbor to collect mail and packages for you regularly when you are on vacation.
- - Set Up Notifications: Send delivery alerts to your mobile device so you can observe the arrival of parcels.
Making Provisions for Pets
The safety of your pets is at the top of the list when you travel, so make sure that it is guaranteed.
Hire a House Sitter
A reliable sitter can be a good friend to your pets and make sure they have food and take care of them in a place familiar to them.
Pet Boarding
If you prefer, rent a well-known pet resort or boarding house as an alternative. This would enable him/her to socialize and have expert care at the same time.
Secure Pet Area
Is there a way to turn the area of your home where you will be keeping your pets into a safe environment? I would think so. Make that part of your home so comfortable that your pets would want to be there by themselves, without you around.
Emergency Contact
Inform your pet caregiver of the contact person who can help in case of an emergency during your trip.
Preparing for Emergencies
Before you travel, it is extremely important to be aware of potential risks and take measures to prevent such situations by being responsible for the safety of your home. Here are some essential steps:
- - Turn Off Water Supply: Replace the water so that there are no leaks or problems with the plumbing. Also, you may try to use a smart water valve for another layer of water control.
- - Check Smoke Detectors. You should ensure that all smoke detectors have new batteries and gait properly for fire safety.
- - Emergency Contacts Make a list of emergency contacts that include the given situation and ask a well-trusted neighbor or friend to share it with you.
- - Home Emergency Kit: Get ready with a kit that includes first aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries.
Implementing these methods has been proven to be effective in terms of asset protection and safety from possible risks in your home while you are away.
Setting Alarms and Timers
Timers and alarms are great ways to make your house look unoccupied when you are not home. Use timers to automatically turn on and off lights inside and outside your house, although you are not at home. You do not have to be tech-savvy to set up these technologies.
Yet, it does provide an added layer of security. Moreover, make sure to arm your home alarm system and check that it works. Do not forget to check on your motion sensors and surveillance cameras smart home devices can add a layer of security. There is enough for you to enjoy your vacation without your things being stolen. Also, you might take the lead in securing your things and thus be secure and contented during your holiday.
Engaging Neighbors for Support
Collaborating with reputable people from the community is the right approach to enhance home security when planning for your vacation. First, let them know when you will leave and tell them the date of your return, so they can take care of your house during your absence.
Neighborly Asset Protection
- - Watchful Eyes: Among other things, they also promise to observe your home and make sure that no unauthorized visitors are going in.
- - Collecting Deliveries: They can take mail or packages that have been delivered and therefore leave only a minimal object that can suggest nobody is at home.
- - Establish a Check-In Routine. You can, at an agreed time with neighbors, come and check to see if everything is in the way it should be before you leave for the holiday.
Such a reciprocal devotion leads to a spirit of togetherness, not to mention the whole community is safer. The truth is our relationship with them is so tight that we are almost family. By keeping them informed, you not only make them feel a part of the family but also believe you will not have to worry about your home one second.
Conclusion: Traveling with Peace of Mind
Installing reliable security systems before leaving on a vacation provides peace of mind as well as protection of your possessions. Rest assured, let us do the house protection for you while you are on your trip. Mention involving trusted neighbors to add security to your household as well as prepare yourself for the unpredictable time ahead. Only then will you be able to enjoy this time without thoughts about your apartment? Go ahead, relax, and count on the fact you have taken the best precautions before you leave to know your house is as safe as possible. Have a wonderful journey!
FAQs
How do I prepare my home for an extended vacation?
First things first, you have to ensure that everything is safe before you can leave your home for two weeks or longer. Starting with proper lock installation on both windows and doors at home is a must for one's extended trip. Another thing is that you might want to think about setting up home security and deciding which area you want to protect. Outdoor lighting should be installed in the right place and the zones covered and visible to police.
Make the smart decision to add a home alarm system for extra security. If there is any fault with the system, the alarm monitoring company will call you to find out if you are okay or if it is a false alarm. This is a way for you to be connected and protected at any time by the company. With those lights on, your favorite people in the world will know everything's going well with you or may even keep your house from being an easy target.
What smart devices are best for home security?
Smart locks make the home easily accessible to trustworthy people who you want to let in simultaneously protecting the property and making it unreachable to intruders. One of the main benefits of a smart lock is the ability to keep track of an assigned user's arrival and departure time. Auxiliaries like facial recognition and fingerprints on a door lock make the latter excellent secure. Besides, there are also voice-controlled and invisible locks that will increase security levels and permit convenience. The smart alarms are enabled by the motion sensors, which feature the settings for each zone and the environmental type.
Even the smart lights can turn on automatically following the detected presence of a person on the porch at night. Voluminous inventories, including the smart sensors, will tune in to our every condition. The smart city is the future we live in where information is available everywhere to IoT and other neuro-technologies of a different tally.