When planning a vacation, homeowners, particularly older adults on a fixed income, should consider tech tools in their strategy to safeguard their property from theft or damage. 

Has this happened to you before? You’ve packed your suitcase, snagged the best hotel deal, and secured your flight for your getaway. Your vacation adventure is all mapped out. Everything seems to be falling into place, but are you sure? You start to second-guess yourself about unlocked doors and potential water leaks.

It’s not your imagination. The Journal of Consumer Research recently reported that water damage accounted for almost 24% of all U.S. homeowner insurance claims, with the average residential water damage claim being $12,500! Moreover, recent FBI crime statistics show a five percent increase in burglaries and a 12% increase in property crimes. Just 12.1% of property crimes in the U.S. were resolved in 2022.

And more concerning…there are now a rising tide of squatters breaking into homes while the owners are away.

The good news is that no matter when or where you travel – from local to international – smart home security devices and apps make monitoring and protecting your “home sweet home” uncomplicated.

Bye Bye, Wires and Clutter

There are two options for home security while you’re away – systems installed by a professional, or Do It Yourself.  Here are the pros and cons of each.

Professional home security systems require a specialized company to install cameras and sensors and drill through walls to run wires to every door and window, and offer professional monitoring for a monthly fee – an expensive investment.  However thanks to smartphones and the Internet of Things, we have the option of  do-it-yourself (DIY) home protection devices that are effective and affordable, ensuring your financial security.

Home Security Made Simple

DIY home security systems are cost effective and easy to install because they are wireless.

The big players in DIY security are Ring (owned by Amazon), SimpliSafe, and Arlo. Their starter packages won’t break the bank and start at about $199.99.  These companies sell systems as a package or a la carte, allowing homeowners to purchase only what they need.  Ring, the inventor of the doorbell camera, took the 2024 honors as Consumer Reports’ highest-rated DIY home security system. In addition to doorbell cameras, all three companies offer a variety of interior and exterior cameras for monitoring.

All three have highly-rated (by consumers and critics) apps that enable smartphone monitoring and function as home hubs, centralizing control of exterior locks, thermostats, environmental sensors (leaks, breaking glass, smoke, and CO2), and more.

Most DIY starter packages include the following:

• A hub or base computer system or control panel
• Sensors for doors, windows, and walls
• A video doorbell camera – which users can answer at home or away
• Optional video or professional monitoring

Remember – DIY systems require you, the homeowner, to place the sensors and cameras in the most effective places and make sure the devices are paired properly to the control panel. Testing and maintenance are also the responsibility of the homeowner.  (Some experts suggest that DIY systems are trickier to install in multilevel homes as well.)

How Home Security Works

In the event of a door or window breach or surprise motion detection, the respective sensor transmits a signal to the control panel, activating the alarm system and issuing an alert (by sound and app) to the homeowner. In systems with professional monitoring, this signal is concurrently relayed to the monitoring center, prompting immediate action. Don’t forget that airplane mode turns off wireless and cellular capabilities.

Other Vacation Tips

1. The most important tip is the simplest: do not announce on social media that you will be out of town and don’t post vacation pix until you are back home. Criminals use social media to learn your vacation plans and dates, target your home, case your home for valuables and spot vulnerable entry and exit points. This article explains how they do it.
2. Use smart light bulbs and smart plugs to simulate that someone is home. They work with smartphones and are easy to schedule.
3. Lock all windows and doors and add deadbolts to all entry doors. A variety of deadbolt locks include digital keyless entry. The most popular ways burglars break into homes are through the front door, back door, or first-floor windows.
4. Keep curtains and blinds drawn.
5. Tell your trusted neighbors you’ll be out of town.
6. Either stop mail delivery or package delivery or have a neighbor collect them.
7. Shut off the water main and unplug unneeded electronics.
8. Hide valuables or store in a safe deposit box.
9. Leave your car – or a friend’s car – in your driveway while you’re away.
10. Review your homeowner’s insurance policy. Some home insurers will deny theft coverage if the homeowner posts anything about the trip on social media.

YOUR TURN

What’s your tip for securing your home when you travel? Leave a comment; we’d love for you to share your experience. Have a safe journey!

Deborah Reale is a digital marketing and communications consultant specializing in social media, analytics, content writing, and editing. Ms. Reale has written for Business Development Magazine, Construction Industry Today, and quoted in Investor’s Business Daily and the book Social Media in Action. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a graduate degree in business administration.