5 Home Security Tips to Protect Your Home While on Vacation
Protecting your home while away is an important concern in today’s day and age. Here are some tips for home security we use to protect our home while away on vacations.
Disclaimer: If you click through one of my affiliate links I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. As always, all opinions are my own and I would not recommend something I don’t personally enjoy.
5. Smile Your’e On Camera
Security Cameras
Security Cameras are great to have and surprisingly affordable.
I didn’t want to pay a company monthly or annually for security cameras, so I found the Reolink 4MP 8CH PoE Video Surveillance System
The video quality is great in both daylight and at night, and the sound quality is good as well.
There are multiple ways to access your footage.
There is a free phone app where you can get notifications of any movement and easily view live and recorded videos that you can export to your phone.
You can also access the cameras from the DVR directly plugged into a monitor and TV from a website on any computer.
I use this exact setup and have for a few years. I love it and have had no issues thus far.
But don’t just take my word for it check out all the reviews and answered questions on amazon.
Doorbell Camera
I installed a Ring doorbell camera.
Ring doorbell cameras are great for security. They can record motion and send alerts to phones from someone walking up or from a press of the door bell.
After getting an alert you can then see and talk to people through the phone app.
I do pay the optional $3.00 a month to be able to save and record videos, but it’s totally worth it.
4. Set up a Security System Alarm or Just get a Sign
A security system is a great way to protect your home. The alarms can notify the security company and the police. You can have a professional install a Security System Alarm or even just purchase stickers and a sign.
Sometimes the stickers and a sign are enough to deter a criminal from breaking in.
3. Make Your Home Appear You Never Left
Criminals are less likely to break in if they think someone is home. You can get light bulbs with sensors that turn off at daylight and turn on at dusk or have bulbs set to timers.
We have light sensors on our exterior lights that turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
You could even set some with timers inside to make it look like you are currently home.
Also, don’t let everyone when your away on vacation. We often wait until we are back to post our adventures online and throughout social media.
2. Rely on Family and Friends to Protect Your Home
Let neighbors or family you trust to house sit, check mail or check on house occasionally. If you are close with your neighbors and you completely trust them let them keep an eye on your house and call you if there is anything suspicious.
Having someone get your mail for you can save your mail from getting stolen and make criminals think you are still home.
If they check a mailbox that is very full they may believe the homeowners are away and make the house an easy target.
Having someone house sit can also be a deterrent to criminals .
1. Hide Your Valuables
Even with all the security measures you still might want to move some valuables to a P.O. box, a friend or relatives house, or hide them within your house.
There are all kinds of tricky ways to hide your valuables within a home. A wall safe behind a painting or picture is a good way to hide larger valuables. But there are also a variety of options and creative ways to hide your belongings.
Bonus. Set up Traps
Anything to slow down criminals could be helpful. Some people take inspiration from “Home Alone” movies and set up booby traps.
You could move chairs and tables in front of doors and windows preventing outside access.
Even though they could push through the furniture and climb over it, It just might slow them down enough for the police to arrive.
Pin this on Pinterest and/or Share on Social Media
What do you think? What security measures do you take while away on a vacation? We’d love to hear your thoughts, please comment below.
Need some trip ideas? Check out our Mexico Articles and Costa Rica Articles!
Great suggestions. Like the hide your valuables option.
These are great tips! It’s scary to leave your home and valuables while traveling but these tips would help give me more peace of mind! Thank you for sharing! xo – Kam
Security systems can often pay for themselves with reduced home insurance. We kept having stuff stolen when we lived on the beach in San Diego. We even had a couple of fake cameras set up but, obviously, the thieves didn’t take them seriously. A good security system can really give you piece of mind.
I wish I had read this blog post a few months ago when we were looking for added security for our condo. We have an ok camera setup but your DVR-based system looks good. I like your idea of setting a trap for potential burglars. It is all about sending them to an easier target.
Oh yes, one of these topics that are so important, yet nobody wants to think about. However, I’m living in an apartment building so I’m pretty safe, plus I have a good relationship with my neighbors. I think they are the best alarm system 😉
We have the Ring camera and LOVE it! We also pay the extra fee to be able to save the videos. I don’t know what we would do without it!
I’m in a condo and not allowed to put up camera. Love the idea of purchasing stickers and using light buld stickers!
I never thought about Protecting your home while away before. This is really good and great to know there are so many options that are affordable.
I’m always glad when I return home from a trip and everything’s okay! I really don’t have that much of value in my home, so other than the creepy feeling of knowing someone might have broken in and ransacked through your stuff, I don’t have much to lose. But I do like the idea of having a way to see who is at your door and even talking to them so they think you’re actually at home. That would be nice.
I like these security tips. We always keep a light on a timer to come on at night while we’re away. And we stop our mail if we’re gone for 2+ weeks. It’s not that expensive at all.
I never thought about Protecting your home while away before neither. But these are great tips that I will definitely consider!
I really appreciate this tips. this really helpful for me