By Liz Shemaria
Everyone has been spending more time in the great outdoors during the last two years, and there’s nothing quite like the freedom of getting away from everything. But to truly forget about it all, there’s some advanced planning needed, not only to get a handle on your work but to make sure your home is secure while you are away. Especially if you are going to be completely off the grid, home security is important; you want to know that everything at home is safe and sound, with some pre-planning tips.
Consider a home security system
There’s no doubt that other than having a housesitter come to your house while you are gone, the best insurance for your home while you are away is by installing a home security system. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to have a company come out and install cameras and monitor your home in case an alarm goes off. In today’s era of smart home devices, you might even be able to monitor your home yourself from your phone — that is if you have service on top of that mountain.
Make your home smart
You are probably already familiar with some of the most well-known smart home devices like Alexa from Amazon and Google Home. These devices can control your music, lights, and the temperature of your home — and they can be integrated with smart home security systems, too. With numerous smart home devices out there, you’ll want to research which one works best with your phone and any other smart devices that you might already have If you aren’t sure where to begin, ask friends who have already joined this smart home revolution. Or, you can ask your real estate agent if you recently bought a house.
Go with the professionals
The other type of security system worth considering is a smart home device paired with a home monitoring service. Or, the service can include everything you need like cameras and alarms, and then you’ll pay a monthly fee to have the peace of mind knowing that there is a team on the other end if something does go wrong.
This kind of home security service can be an advantage if you are planning to be in the great outdoors for more than a few days and away from mobile phone service. While home security monitoring can be more expensive than a smart home security system that you are only monitoring yourself, it could be worth it if you really won’t be reachable for several days or even longer, and if you have a lot of valuables.
Put a hold on your mail and newspapers
Keeping your home secure while you are away is all about keeping it from being a target for thieves. That means removing the signals that tell people you aren’t at home and one of those is making sure you don’t have newspapers or mail piling up outside your home.
Putting a hold on mail and your newspaper can take care of that problem if you’ll be gone for a week or longer. You will need to request this service in advance from the postal service and the news organization, so don’t wait until the last minute.
Don’t forget about your yard
Your front yard is another place to give some extra care before you take off on your outdoor adventure, that’s because an overgrown yard is another signal that you aren’t home. You can give your yard some TLC before your trip by weeding, trimming back trees and shrubs, and watering. If you are going to be away for more than a week, you can also consider having a gardener come out to your home for some basic yard maintenance.
Power off
A dark house is one that isn’t lived in and that can make your home a target for home break-ins. One advantage of installing a smart home security system is that you can set your lights and even your TV on a timer so that your house has the appearance of being occupied, even when it isn’t. If you’ll be offline, you can set everything up in advance and your smart home device will do the rest of the work.
Large appliances like refrigerators and small appliances like toasters can even be unplugged to prevent any unwanted consequences from power surges or outages. Just be sure to throw out all perishables from your fridge and do a deep clean before you unplug it.
Consider a house sitter
The best insurance to keep your home safe while you are away is having a friend or trusted housesitter come and look after your home. If you have pets this might already be part of your game plan, but even without pets, and if you have to pay a housesitter, you can see the benefits of not having to worry about your home and also coming back to a house that has been looked after in your absence. You can ask your house sitter to water your plants, check your mail, and keep an eye out for any unusual activities while you are away.
Going completely off-the-grid in the great outdoors can give you freedom and help you see the world from a new perspective. Getting your home ready for your extended time away will make it easier to truly unplug.
What home security measures do you take?
Are there any particular things you do to ensure your home security is not compromised while you are enjoying the outdoors? Let us know your views in the comments below.
