Four ways to get smart [home] about summer vacation.
Labor Day will be here before you know it and with it, one last chance to get away before summer is completely over. Hopefully, you’ve taken the appropriate steps to ensure that your home, and your belongings, are safe and secure while you’re away. What steps, you say? Why, making your home smarter, that’s what. And here are a few suggestions. Remember, there’s nothing worse than spending your vacation worrying about what’s going on at your house while you’re gone. Well, there is something worse; and that’s to come home to a house that’s been burglarized or damaged. Put a pet into the mix and that could mean a very worrisome vacation. So, what to do?
- Make your home look like you’re home.
Do lights deter burglars? Not always. In fact, studies have shown that lights, both inside and out, that are constantly on, often serve as a vacation break-in invitation. The key is to make your home look occupied. With a hub, smart plugs, and a couple of outdoor lighting modules, you can automate both your interior and exterior lights to reflect your normal, at-home routine. Set them to come on in the kitchen, living area, and bedrooms as it gets dark, then to shut off one by one throughout the night. As for outdoor lights, make sure they’re off during the day. Anyone watching your home will think you’re there. And that’s just what you want them to think.
- Leave your camera at home.
Not the kind you take pictures with; the other kind, the VistaCam kind. Did you know that homes without a security system are 300% more likely to be burglarized? Security cameras can provide you with peace of mind AND give you the ability to keep in touch with what’s going on at home when you’re away. Depending on the model, you can set your VistaCam outdoor camera to record, too, and to send you an alert — with a video clip — as soon as motion is detected. This way you’ll be able to monitor your home and property 24/7 and be notified whenever something unusual occurs. Plus, putting outdoor cameras around your house in visible areas not only gives you additional sets of eyes on your property, but they also act as a deterrent for anyone who might be thinking about entering without an invitation.
Speaking of uninvited guests inside your home, VistaCam indoor cameras are also useful when you’re away, monitoring all that’s going on. And while an indoor camera can be on the lookout for, say, uninvited visitors, it can also perform other critical functions… like helping you make sure that your pet’s not chewing the legs off your coffee table!
And with any VistaCam camera, you can keep an eye on things from even the most remote vacation spots on the planet. All you need is the easy-to-use app on your phone. You can check out our selection of indoor and outdoor cameras at getvera.com
Then there’s the front door and for that, you need the VistaCam 1200, one of the best values in doorbell cameras. For starters, with it you can answer the door from anywhere. Featuring in-app ringing, two-way talk, and a live video feed, the VistaCam lets you see who’s there… and to talk with them, too. More importantly, in today’s home shopping world, it’s a great way to make sure that the very expensive Amazon package you’re expecting doesn’t simply “walk away” from your front porch while you’re not at home. Plus, with infrared night vision, you’ll be able to know what’s happening outside in crystal clear HD any time of day. Order your VistaCam 1200 now.
- Make sure that if your house springs a leak, you’re the first to know.
Water damage repair and restoration can be extremely expensive and sadly, not always covered by insurance. Costs can reach into the high four figures when you’re bringing in a restoration team to come in and dry a basement or first floor. Then there’s the replacement costs associated with damaged floors, walls, ceilings, and furnishings. The good news is that you can prevent or minimize all of this; simply by getting a water leak sensor and a hub, then placing the sensors in those areas of your home that are susceptible to leaking water.
And get this. Your smart leak sensor can also be connected with other smart devices, like a water shut-off valve that automatically shuts off the water to the whole home—potentially saving you thousands of dollars. A good place to start is with an affordable hub like the Ezlo Atom or Ezlo PlubHub2 and add one or more Z-Wave leak sensors, like our Flood Sensor for each room you want to monitor for leaks. Want the ability to shut off your home’s water entirely, with just a tap of an app? You can do that, too, simply by setting by using the Ezlo Vera app dashboard to program your system for water leak notifications with “water valve automation.” Doing so is quick and easy and now you’ll not only receive a notification if a leak is detected, but you’ll also have the ability to shut off your home’s water supply until you can address the problem. Check out our selection of hubs and water leak sensors.
- Make sure your pet is well cared for
The same smart home technology that makes your life easier, can make your pet’s life better, too. For instance…
If you have sensors on your doors, windows, and in the hallway, think how you might repurpose one for your pets. We’ve talked before about how a sensor on a doggy door lets you keep track of their comings and goings. What about a water sensor probe in their bowl? You’ll know as soon as they need more water. While you’re at it, if you had a smart thermostat, you could regulate the temperature throughout the day, making sure that the inside of your home is not too hot and not too cold… that it’s just always right.
Being home alone can get boring quickly, and most dogs appreciate hearing your voice. Want to give them some love? Use the two-way talk feature on a VistaCam to say hi to your pets while you’re away. Just the sound of your voice can make their day. Congratulations, you’re now ready for summer vacation. Now you can go on vacation for as long as you like, with the peace of mind of knowing that your home, your belongings, and your pet, are safe and secure. For additional devices, services and home automation ideas, visit our Vera Shop.
