Preparing Your Home for Holidays Using Smart Tech

Smart Security Solutions for a Safer Home While You’re Away

Smart Locks and Keyless Entry

With smart locks, you can remotely control your doors and windows. So, if you’re worried you haven’t locked your backdoor when you’re on the way to the airport, there’s no need to turn around. Simply load up your app and check that everything’s as it should be.

Smart locks can also provide keyless entry. With remote control, you can grant temporary access to guests such as family, house sitters or cleaners. Perfect if you want a friend to take in your parcels.

Smart Security Cameras and Video Doorbells

With smart security, you can monitor your home via an app. It’s easy to check that your property is secure wherever you are. Plus, you can still see whoever calls round thanks to a video doorbell.

You can also combine AI-powered motion detection with alert systems so that you’ll receive a notification if something doesn’t seem right. You can then check your cameras to see if there is an issue or if it’s a false alarm.

Smart Alarms and Sensors

Installing door and window sensors will increase security. With these sensors, you can check whether a door or window is open or locked (even without a smart lock). If anything is tampered with (i.e. broken into), you’ll receive an alert. 

By integrating sensors with other smart tech and alarm systems, you can automate sequences to protect your home. For example, if the sensors detect that someone has opened a window while you’re away, it can automatically trigger lighting to flash and activate a siren sound.

Smart Lighting to Deter Intruders

While alarms and locks are typical security tactics, you can also deter intruders with smart lighting. Automated lights can create the illusion of occupancy. If you’re preparing your house for an extended vacation, consider scheduling your lighting.

In addition, you can deploy motion-activated lighting. If anyone walks up your path or enters your garden, your outdoor lighting will turn on – increasing the likelihood that your neighbours will notice a disturbance.

You can control scheduled smart lighting and motion-activated lights remotely through a connected device (i.e. an app on your phone).

Managing Energy and Utilities While Away

Smart Devices for Energy Efficiency

You can also use smart technology to reduce energy usage.

Many smart devices have energy-saving holiday modes. For example, you can program your smart thermostat to only heat your home if it drops below a safe temperature (i.e. when there is a risk of pipes freezing).

Smart Plugs and Power Strips

Another way to save energy is to turn off unnecessary electronics. Smart plugs and power strips make it easy to switch off devices remotely.

Ensuring plugged-in devices are off also reduces fire hazards.

Smart Water Leak Detectors

You can set up leak detectors to alert you to any leaks or plumbing issues. That way, you won’t return to any nasty surprises when you get back.

While leaks can happen at any time, it’s particularly worthwhile in winter due to the increased risk of burst pipes due to frozen water.

Smart Home Automation for Pet and Plant Care

Smart Pet Feeders and Cameras

If you’re going away for a brief period, you might leave your pets at home and ask somebody to check in on them. Smart pet feeders ensure your animals get water and food when nobody’s there. This automation is great for when your pet sitter’s schedule doesn’t suit your pet’s mealtimes.

By combining smart pet feeders with cameras, you can monitor your furry friends wherever you are.

Two-way audio and video communication is also a great option – meaning your pets can still see and hear your familiar presence. 

For more information on how smart technology can improve your pets’ quality of life, visit our smart home for pets guide.

Smart Irrigation Systems

Home automation includes the outdoors too.

Smart irrigation systems help your plants thrive without a human present. However, if you do automate your plant watering schedule, check in on local weather to see if you need to adjust watering levels. As systems evolve, you’ll likely be able to automate systems to water when dry and skip the scheduled watering when it’s rained. However, for now, most systems use time-based automation.

Preparing Smart Home Routines Before You Leave

You probably already have a smart home routine for leaving your house or apartment. However, when you’re going on holiday, it’s even more important to make sure your home will be safe when empty.

Some of the things to do before you go on holiday include:

• Setting up vacation modes for smart devices
• Turning off unnecessary devices with smart plugs and smart strips
• Automating daily routines like blinds opening and closing or lights turning on and off to imitate occupancy
• Setting up a smart security system
• Putting protections in place to look after your pets (like cameras and automated feeders)
• Installing smart irrigation systems to care for your plants

In addition to setting up new routines, you need to review existing automation. You want your home to know you’re away to minimise energy wastage. For example, you don’t need your usual ‘wake up’ routine of lights gradually turning on when you’re not there.

Testing and Troubleshooting Your Smart Tech Before Leaving

Before you go, check that your devices are connected and updated. It's worth taking a moment to back up any settings and confirm remote access. Testing everything before you leave will save you from worrying while on your break.

If you find any issues, contact a CEDIA-certified professional. As experts in smart home technology, they’ll provide the assistance you need to make sure your home will function as intended while you’re on holiday.

Final Checklist: Smart Tech Essentials Before Your Trip

To check you’ve done everything you need to do to prepare your home for your vacation, run through a final checklist. 

Is every smart device connected as it should be? Have you turned off your day-to-day automation and programmed your holiday routines? Have you performed a practice run before you head off?

The right automation and smart home security preparation means you can relax and enjoy your holiday.

If you need help expanding your smart home set-up or establishing new routines, use our search tool to find a Smart Home Professional near you.