Home security isn’t usually part of the summertime checklist. Even as you prep for summer vacations and camps for the kids, however, don’t neglect your safety at home. Take a few minutes to run through this summer home security checklist to feel safe in your home this season.
1. Secure your doors
Keeping a key under the mat is a common way to avoid getting locked out. It’s also an easy way to give house- and petsitters access to your home while you’re on summer vacation.
Unfortunately, this practice is so common that everyone knows about it, including burglars. Keys under the mat or in a flower pot allow intruders to walk right in, even if your doors are locked.
Instead, find a safer way to grant authorized access to your home, such as a smart door lock.
These devices feature alternatives to keys, including passcodes, voice commands, and app control. Create unique passcodes for all of your loved ones so they can enter the home when you’re away. Temporary codes grant access to service teams, sitters, and others you may not fully trust.
Best of all, you can see every time a passcode is used in the activity log. Use this feature to keep an eye on your kids’ comings and goings during the summer.
Plus, as long as you have your phone, you can control the lock anywhere and at any time. Check the app to make sure you locked the door when you left. Let unexpected guests inside while you’re away so they don’t have to wait in the heat.
Your home will be more secure and offer greater convenience.
2. Prep for power outages
Thunderstorms are common during the summer. During a nasty storm, you may lose power for minutes, hours, or even longer.
Losing power is inconvenient, but it can also leave you vulnerable to security threats. You won’t have lights at night, which may attract thieves who prefer to work under the cover of darkness. If your phone dies, you won’t be able to call the police if someone does break in.
Stock up on flashlights, batteries, and portable phone chargers in case of an outage to prevent these problems.
Even a home security system can be limited by a power outage. Wireless systems depend on a Wi-Fi connection, so you may lose access to some devices until the power is back.
Thankfully, many solutions include a battery backup and a secondary cellular connection to help maintain security during a power outage. Your battery-powered sensors will stay connected to the control panel, alerting you to unwanted entries. The system will use the cellular connection to alert the monitoring team to the threat, ensuring a quick response from emergency services if anything happens.
3. Don’t leave your home unoccupied
Many families use summer break to take vacations away from home. If you’re planning to leave for an extended period of time, take precautions to protect your house while you’re gone.
First, consider hiring a housesitter. Anyone watching the house will see that it is occupied. The sitter can watch for suspicious activity and call the police if anyone tries to break in.
Even if you don’t want to hire a full-time housesitter, ask a neighbor or friend to stop by the house a few times during your trip. They can collect your mail, packages, and newspapers to keep your home from looking unoccupied. If your home is robbed, they can let you and the police know about the incident as soon as possible.
Putting your lights on a schedule is another way to protect your home during the summer. Leaving the lights on constantly suggests that no one is home to turn them on and off, encouraging thieves to target your home. Similarly, leaving your home unlit is another sign that burglars look for.
Use smart lights or a timer to put your lights on a regular schedule. Alternatively, you can use your app to turn your smart lights on and off at the right times, no matter where you are in the world.
4. Don’t sleep with the windows open
The summer months bring intense and often unbearably hot temperatures, especially in homes without air conditioning. When hot air is trapped inside, it can become stuffy and stagnant. The best way to bring relief from the heat is to open the windows and doors to improve the airflow.
Unfortunately, leaving your doors and windows open can bring more than just air inside.
An open door can tempt passers-by with bad intentions to test your security. You are particularly vulnerable at night when intruders can approach your home without being seen. In just a few minutes, they can easily get inside where you, your family, and your valuables are at risk.
When the heat is too much to handle, find less dangerous ways to cool off, such as adding fans to each room. It might not be ideal, but your safety is worth the discomfort.
5. Keep your location private
Your pictures from Tahiti show that you’re having a great time, far away from home. Should the wrong person see your posts, they’ll know that your home is empty and an easy target for robbery.
Protect your belongings by saving your pictures and updates for after you get home. Don’t share information about your schedule or even pictures from events that you’re currently attending. If a thief can’t confirm that your home is empty, they’ll be less likely to try to break in.
6. Install a smart home security system
A home security system ensures that you will know about any attempted robbery. A smart system gives you access and control to your devices, creating a window into your home from your phone.
For the strongest home security this summer, use a solution that will guard your home when you can’t. Whether you’re at home or on vacation, you can enjoy your fun in the sun with full confidence in your safety.
