(StatePoint) If you're planning to travel this summer, you're in luck. According to The Vacationer's summer travel and trends survey, 82% of U.S. adults, or more than 212 million people, are planning to do the same. As you pack your bags, it's also important to prepare your home for when you'll be away. Use the following tools and strategies to protect your home and possessions while you soak up the summer sun.
Leverage technology: Modern technology can help you streamline your home security and stay in the know about what’s going on in your home. Philips Hue, known for premium smart lighting, recently introduced Philips Hue Secure to integrate smart home security into their smart home technology suite. The brand’s latest Secure cameras keep an eye on your home at all times. With a crisp and clear 1080p HD live stream, night vision, and speakers for two-way talk and sound alarms, these cameras are your eyes and ears when you’re not at home. Plus, the system’s sensors will send you an alert and turn on the lights as soon as someone opens a window, door, cabinet, or safe. Alerts are sent directly to your phone, and you can easily manage the system from your mobile device using the app, putting smart home security in the palm of your hand, including activating lights and sound alarms. Manage your lighting: Speaking of smart home lighting, this technology can help give the impression that your home is lived in and deter intruders from setting foot on your premises. Use your smart home lighting system to strategically manage your settings from your device while you’re away. Hold your mail: Depending on the length of your trip, it may be a good idea to contact the U.S. Postal Service and ask them to hold your mail while you are away. Similarly, if you subscribe to a newspaper, you don’t want a growing pile of papers in your driveway or yard that announce your absence. Contact your publisher and ask them to hold delivery until you return. Enlist your neighbors’ help: Combine high-tech surveillance with old-fashioned neighborhood watch. Ask trusted friends and neighbors to keep an eye on things and contact you if they notice any suspicious activity. Tidy up: While not related to home security, you can take a few extra steps to make your vacation more comfortable when it’s over. To avoid unpleasant odors in the summer heat, put out your trash and recycling as close to where you are as possible before you leave. Tidy up. Sweep, wash dishes, and wipe down surfaces so you return to a clean space when you return. When you get home and get closer to home, use your HVAC app to reset the temperature to its standard setting.
By making a few important preparations, you can rest easy and make the most of your summer vacation.