With smart technologies, you are never too far from home, even if you travel to the other side of the globe. All it takes is a glance at your smartphone to monitor and manage your house, which is highly convenient now that the temperatures have risen and we are about to start our well-deserved summer vacations.
Here are five ways in which your smart home will help hold the fort while you bask in the sun and enjoy a relaxed mojito at the beach, knowing that all your belongings are well cared for.
1. Make sure your house is locked
Double-check that all entries are locked and the alarm turned on.
Gone are the days when you were about to board a plane close to a panic attack, suddenly unsure if you remembered to lock the back door before leaving the house. You can check your smart locks from your smartphone, and verify that all of them are locked safely. The app will also allow you to arm the alarm, and even close the shutters, if they are also connected to the smart home ecosystem.
2. Grant access when needed
Remotely open and close the door, and disconnect the alarm at will.
Now you know the house is locked, and you can rest assured. But perhaps you may need to grant access to a technician, or to a neighbor who offered to water your plants while you are away. If so, you will be able to unlock the door and disarm the alarm for them and even watch them while they are in the house, using your camera. No more leaving keys under the doormat and make burglars’ life easier! Also, when they leave you can lock the door and turn the alarm on again yourself of course, instead of worrying whether they remembered to do it. Another option, in case you prefer putting your smartphone aside and fully relax at the beach, is to grant temporary access on your smart home system so people can come and go in a particular time.
3. Simulating presence at home
Set a pattern of automatic lighting, to simulate that the house is occupied.
A connected home allows you to create smart scenarios, in which the trigger of an action activates a set of rules. For example, you can set your connected lights to turn on automatically at specific times, or set them to follow an apparently random pattern during the evening, to simulate that there is people at home, and deter any potential burglars from targeting your empty house.
4. Be alerted on event in real time
Receive actionable notifications if anything happens.
Many things can happen to an unoccupied house. Incidents that, if left unchecked, can lead to a bigger problem, such as a water leakage in the kitchen. Flood and smoke detectors will help you prevent these type of accidents, notifying you on the spot and allowing you to take immediate action. The same is true in case an intruder tries to break in. No matter what the emergency is, real-time notification will allow you to react on the spot, saving precious time.
5. Check on your pets
Don’t forget the best friends you left behind
A smart home will also come in handy if you have to leave your furry friend behind when you go on summer holidays. You can check on your pets at any time thanks to real-time video streaming, and with some systems you can even speak to them- reassuring them, or even scold them if they are ruining your furniture! Also, you can keep track of the times your pet-sitter comes and goes, making sure your pet is well cared for.
Summer is the perfect time to travel, to relax, to go to music festivals, to hike in the mountains or enjoy a peaceful sunset at the beach. But we also know it is the time when our houses are most vulnerable, and burglaries reports increase during these months. A connected home brings you the confidence and the peace of mind of knowing that your house and your possessions are being proactively protected when you are away, so you can fully enjoy the summer and make the most of your holidays.
