Are you planning to go over the river and through the woods this holiday season to visit family and friends? While you’re away from your house, how are you planning to make sure everything inside is safe and secure?
In the past, you might have needed a professionally installed security system — and they do work — but you can put together your own ad hoc system by choosing the smart home devices that best fit your needs and budget. Below are five essential devices that can help keep your home safe while you travel.
Security camera
This one is pretty obvious, but installing one of the best outdoor security cameras can let you see who’s approaching your house from any angle. Some models also have built in floodlights and spotlights, which not only deters intruders, but can also help you if you’re pulling into your driveway or walking up to your front door at night.
Inside, one of the best home security cameras not only can warn you if someone gets into your house, but can also be used to keep tabs on your pets while you’re away. Since all cameras have built-in speakers, you could even shoo them off the couch if they’re not supposed to sleep there.
Video doorbell
The best video doorbells of course let you know who’s knocking, but the models we like the most also have features such as package detection, so you know when UPS or FedEx has delivered something to your door. Thanks to AI, some video doorbells will even alert you if they see someone stealing a package, which is especially helpful around the holidays.
Smart lock
If you’re heading out of town for the holidays and have a dog walker or sitter coming over, a smart lock is a super-helpful device. You can create custom codes for guests, and even create schedules for when they’re allowed to get into your house — and when they’re not. Plus, you’ll get a notification on your phone any time someone unlocks your door.
Some of the more advanced smart locks also have fingerprint and palm readers, as well as the ability to be opened with an Apple Watch.
Smart smoke detector
Is the turkey burning in the oven? A smart smoke detector will alert you to any smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide events in your home, so you can quickly act on any potential problems. Should you not want to replace all the alarms currently in your house, some of the best smart speakers can also listen for alarms and send you an alert, too.
Water leak detector
As we head into the winter months, the threat of freezing pipes becomes even more real. The last thing you want is to return home to a flooded basement. The best smart water leak detectors can alert you not just to when a leak is occurring, but also to temperature dips or rises in humidity levels, so you can act on a problem before it happens.
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