Summer is the season for getting away — and, unfortunately, the season when empty homes are easiest to spot. The good news is that a few small steps make your house a far less appealing target. Here's the same checklist we walk our own customers through before they leave.
Make the house look lived-in
An obviously empty home is the green light a burglar is looking for. Put a couple of interior lights on smart plugs or timers so they switch on in the evening. Hold mail and parcel delivery, or have a neighbour collect them — a pile of flyers on the step is a dead giveaway. Keep blinds in their normal daytime position rather than sealing the house up tight.
Don't announce it online
It's tempting to post vacation photos in real time, but a public "we're in Mexico for two weeks!" is an open invitation. Save the photos for when you're home, and check that your posts aren't visible to people you don't know.
Secure the obvious entry points
Most break-ins still happen through a door or a ground-floor window. Lock everything, including the door from the garage into the house — it's the one people forget. If you have a spare key hidden outside, take it with you. And don't leave ladders or tools out that make a second-storey window easy to reach.
Put eyes on it while you're gone
This is where a modern system earns its keep. A video doorbell and an outdoor camera or two let you check on your home from your phone, get an alert the moment something moves, and — with optional monitoring — have someone responding even while you're off the grid. Because you own the equipment, there's no long-term contract to leave running.
A two-minute pre-trip routine
- Lights on timers or smart plugs
- Mail and parcels paused or collected
- All doors and windows locked — including the garage entry
- Spare outdoor key brought inside
- Cameras and alerts tested on your phone
- A neighbour who knows you're away and has a number to call
Heading out this summer and want a second set of eyes on your setup? Book a free, no-pressure assessment or design a system online and see exactly what it would cost — yours to own.