How to keep your home safe while traveling

Traveling to a vacation spot can be a stressful experience. You must book your flights, hotel, activities and travel insurance. Make sure your pet is cared for, pack, talk to the family and then really go to the airport to start the journey.

The COVID-19 epidemic has further complicated travel, work or leisure due to the resurgence of respiratory disease, the shortage of airport and hospital staff, and the cancellation of flights.

Also, your home may be locked when you leave, but that does not mean it is safe. However, with technology in place, it reduces the hassle of traveling – and modern IoT and connected devices now allow you to check the security of your home anywhere in the world.

Below are ZDNet’s top tips to keep your home safe while traveling.

How to make your home look planned

Making sure your home is a normal business is the key to preventing potential criminals from realizing they have not been caught.

Before you leave, consider the following: What makes a house empty?

One of the leading indicators is when the lights are off and they stay that way for a long time. However, thanks to the connected technologies, it is very easy to fix:

• Smart lightsLike smart lights Philips Hue RegionThey are more energy efficient and offer a variety of colors and settings for your home and office. In terms of security, smart lighting zones can also play a role because they are connected to the Internet and can be remotely monitored and programmed to turn on and off at certain times.
• Voice Assistants and Smart CentersVoice assistants and smart centers are great remote devices to control your home devices while traveling. You can set specific habits for playing playlists, turning on indoor and outdoor lighting, controlling the TV set, and more.
• Modern timersIt is a budget-friendly option to replace existing lighting fixtures. Smart timer plugs. These transmitters can be programmed to turn the device on and off at different times according to your preferences; For example, you can choose to turn on the lights in your lounge at 5:30 pm and 10:30 pm.
• TV simulation: You can buy it as a TV simulator False TVThis will make the TV look like it is in the lounge or upstairs when properly placed in your home. These gadgets use colorful LED lights in random patterns to look like a TV and can be set on a timer – ideal for non-night or longer periods.

If you want to save money and do not want to turn on the headlights, you can consider cheap, timer-based LED lights. For example I have LED flashlight hanging curtain Set a timer in my living room to turn it on automatically when it is dark for a few hours at night.

watch out 3 Best Smart Resources | Best Smart Plugins

Silence online

It is natural to look forward to travel. However, we tend to over-share online – especially on social networks – and the promotions you go for do not help your home security.

The best practice is to wait, at least after your trip, to share about it online. But if you can’t wait, make sure your social media accounts are closed (temporarily) before you share those cloud photos on the fly, images from the airport bar, or destination screenshots, so only your friends and family can see them. Your updates.

It’s amazing how much information is available about us online, and it doesn’t take much effort to put the pieces together. If you post far away and your address has already been released online, for example, you are turning on a home invasion signal.

A.D. A 2018 study of holiday makers in the United Kingdom found that in one of 12 theft cases, the victims had previously shared information about their holiday on social media.

Consider buying a video door bell

For the first time a Ring the video door bell Years ago, I wondered if a smart video doorbell rang too much. Need a doorbell with camera and sound feeds?

However, I am now on my third-generation device, and I find it very useful both at home and abroad.

Video door bell, for example provided by Ring, Google Nest, NetatmoAnd ArloIt allows you to connect with your friends, family or supply staff while you are away from home.

In addition, slightly sweeter individuals can prevent them from visiting your home, and when movement alerts are sent to your phone, they can take instant copies (which can serve as evidence), and can scare them. Talk to them directly.

That way, they are never at home.

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Smart security cameras

You do not always need a completely fraudulent smart security system to protect your home while traveling. A few key pieces may be enough to keep your home safe when you are away – such as a window motion sensor, a video doorbell and a camera, or two for indoor and outdoor use.

These devices can connect to a centralized center, connect to your Wi-Fi, or work independently. Such as home security cameras Hut, Flashing, ArloAnd Wise Regions contain motion sensors on your phone when activity is available, so that you can log in and make sure everything is safe at home. Home motion sensors can also alert you if there is activity in a weak spot such as a window or door.

watch out 5 Best Security Cameras

Complete modern home security system

If you have a large home and office, you may want to consider investing in a full-fledged security system to prevent or combat attacks while on the go. While expensive as a starting point, indoor systems can monitor doors and windows, detect Co2 or smoke, and may be programmed to automatically alert emergency services when you are not at home.

With video doorbells, smart security cameras and full security systems, you often receive stickers for free. You can post them on windows or door panels, and the warning still remains, even if your video doorbell goes off or your camera loses connection while traveling.

watch out Best Security Systems | The best self-contained home security systems

Invest in security

If you can’t move your valuables for a while, consider investing in a safe place. You can use a safe to store valuable documents, jewelry, laptops, and more – and their weight and difficulty opening (unless passcode 12345) can be a problem for thieves.

Background sound

You can use your voice assistants, including Google Home and Amazon Econ, to automatically play music, as you can schedule to turn your lights on and off according to your needs. By setting up daily tasks, you can schedule your device to playlists or radio stations based on a specific time or a specific task.

For example, you can turn on your lights at 6 ፡ 30 p.m., launch playlists, and schedule everything at 10 ፡ 30 ፡. You can also change these times into days by adding some variations that make someone look at home.

watch out Daily task How to customize Alexa responses

Check your router

If they are relying on connected technologies, apps and cameras, they need their centers and hardware to have a stable connection to the Internet. Occasionally, routers – especially if they are traditional models and not mesh options – become a hindrance, affecting these connections, and cutting them off completely.

All you need to do before you leave is to turn off your router and restore existing connections and reduce the chances of your IoT devices being disconnected when you are not there.

watch out Best Routers | 5 Best Interlocking Wi-Fi Systems

Appearance is important

As we said at the beginning of our guide, external features are more important than you think when it comes to keeping your home safe. Property that looks naked or abandoned may attract the wrong attention, so if you have time before you leave, walk around and clean it.

If you are using gadgets or accessories for self-watering plants, hide them because their use indicates that no one is home. Make sure you have access to the porch and delete it or make other arrangements and make sure you have the final locks on your doors and windows.

Consider hiring a pet or pet keeper

If you have pets that need care, you will need to decide between hiring someone to come home or boarding your pet (s). The first option may be a little more expensive, but your home will also be protected by regular inspections.

No pets? Housekeepers can still help you by caring for any plants, bringing in envelopes, and warning of potential dangers in and around your property when you are not living.

Ask a neighbor

If you are lucky enough to live near good neighbors, give them your phone number so they can track your belongings and any problems.

Driveway

A driveway in service, if you have one, is a major indication that someone is at home. If you are traveling for long periods of time, you must allow someone to show you your driveway or earn some money by renting.

Services like JustPark and Spacer will connect you with people who need to rent parking spaces and driveways on short and long term deals.

As a last resort, make sure you check your home insurance regularly. If the worst happens and they are robbed, they want to make sure that the rest of the valuables – including electronics and jewelry – are covered and that you can claim them.

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