Remember that scene in Home Alone where Kevin’s parents feel like they’ve forgotten something. They wonder if the lights were left on, or the garage unlocked. Later to realize, they’ve forgotten Kevin. With everything that plays out in that movie afterward, wouldn’t it be great to know your home was safe even if you’re not there? Well, thankfully, you can protect your home while you’re away with new technology as well as some common sense.
GET A SMART HOME CAMERA OR DOORBELL
One effective way to check on your home is a smart home camera or video doorbell. Smart home cameras have come down in price in the last year, to affordable prices. They can be installed almost anywhere indoor or outside, enabling you to access the camera anytime. All you need a smartphone and a WiFi connection and you can stream live to see what’s going on at home. A video doorbell works in much the same way, but blends in at the front door – so you’ll spot and be alerted if anything is amiss.
CONSIDER SMART LIGHTS OR OUTLETS
If you want to make it look like someone is home, consider investing in some smart lights or outlets. Smart lights, much like a home camera can be accessed remotely or set on timers. Most even come with a ‘pretend I’m home’ setting that has them switch on and off periodically during the evening, but not after when people go to bed. A smart outlet can do much the same thing with lamps, but also with a radio or other device. You could turn on your TV for an hour, then turn it off. Or have a radio. It will give the sense that someone is home.
GET A HOUSE SITTER
If you’re concerned about having the home empty or the mail not being brought in, get a house sitter! It could be a neighbour, a family member or a local babysitter. Every other day, have them stop by to check on the house. Turn on or off some lights, and take in the mail. Maybe even have them move the cars around to make it look like someone is there.
UNDERSHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
When you go away, make sure you avoid sharing that you’re away. In recent years, criminals have started using Instagram and Twitter to track potential robbery targets. They look for tweets about families being on vacation, then look for GPS data. If they know you’re away, and you’ve also shared an image from home – it can give them a target. So, take full advantage of Latergrams and Throwback Thursdays to share your vacations AFTER the fact.
PROTECT YOUR HOME BY TURNING OFF THE WATER
One of the most common reasons for damage to your home, while you’re away, is water damage. With no one home during cold months, pipes can freeze and burst. In warmer months, it can happen for other reasons. One of the best ways to protect your home from water damage is to turn off the water! It’s a simple process and easily undone when you get back home!
