I never leave for vacation without doing these 7 home security checks first
When I pack for a trip I worry less about the suitcase and more about the house. An unlit porch, a dead camera battery, or a forgotten key can turn time away into a headache. A few minutes of prep and a handful of inexpensive devices cut the biggest risks: burglary, water damage, and small failures that become expensive claims.
Recent insurer and home-security reports (for example, Deep Sentinel and The Zebra) show seasonality and patterns worth noting: most burglaries occur in June to August, about a third happen during the day, nearly 40% don’t involve forcible entry, and almost three-quarters occur when no one is home. The logic is simple: make your home look like a bad choice for burglars, and remove the common single points of failure that turn a small problem into a disaster.
“Make your home look like a bad choice for burglars.”, ZDNET
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Lock and control access with smart locks (not a hidden key)
Give sitters or neighbors time-limited or one-time codes via a smart lock instead of leaving a key under a pot. Examples include Yale, Eufy, and TP‑Link smart locks, so check compatibility with your platform (Alexa, Google, HomeKit) before buying. Create codes only for the needed window, enable activity logs if available, and revoke codes once they’re no longer required. Social engineering still happens. Only give digital access to people you trust.
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Verify cameras and doorbells, battery, network, and alerts
Charge batteries or fit a small solar panel where supported, check motion zones, and confirm alert settings so you get useful notifications (not a flood of false positives). Quick test: open the camera’s live view, then walk through a motion zone to confirm you receive the notification and that video clips upload to the cloud or local storage.
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Protect the network and keep monitoring online with a UPS
If the router goes down, remote monitoring goes with it. Plug your router and a critical camera or hub into an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or a portable power station (examples include an Amazon Basics UPS or a Jackery unit). To size a UPS roughly, add the wattage of the devices you want to protect. Typical examples: router (12-20W), modem (10-15W), single camera (5-10W). Pick a UPS that handles that load and gives the runtime you want. Short outages need only a small UPS. Multi-hour uptime requires larger capacity.
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Stop water damage before it starts
Insurers often report water claims far outnumber theft and fire claims. Place leak sensors where water would first appear: under water heaters, behind washing machines, and near sump pumps. Consumer options include floor-level “little pucks, ” ultrasonic clamps (clamp-on flow sensors that detect unusual flow without cutting pipes), and remote shut-off valves, for example the Moen 900-006, if you want automatic isolation. Ultrasonic clamps and pucks are easy to install. Whole-home shut-off systems may require a professional.
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Simulate occupancy with randomized lighting
Program a few lamps or a smart power strip to different on/off patterns so lighting isn’t predictably timed. Use smart plugs or bulbs (TP‑Link Tapo is one commonly used example) and set an “away” or randomized mode if the app supports it. Practical pattern: evening lamp A on 6-10pm, lamp B on 7-11pm, and a TV or media device scheduled to appear on at irregular intervals, because staggered schedules look more natural than a single fixed timer.
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Harden the router and give guests a separate network
Change the router admin password from the default, disable remote management, turn off WPS, enable WPA3 (or WPA2 if WPA3 isn’t available), and enable automatic firmware updates where possible. Create a guest SSID (a separate Wi‑Fi name that isolates visitors from your main network) for sitters or contractors so they can’t reach your smart devices.
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Thermostat baseline, unplug non-essential gear, and secure openings
Set the thermostat to a safe minimum, around 55°F / 12°C, to reduce frozen-pipe risk without heating the whole house. Pull the plug on chargers, power banks, and tool batteries that don’t need to be live. This reduces fire risk and standby power draw. Do a final walkthrough: lock windows, secure the garage, and leave a trusted neighbor a contact number.
Two bonus things I never skip
- Tracker tags for recoverability: Attach an Apple AirTag or Chipolo Loop to high-value items or bikes when appropriate. They won’t prevent a theft, but they can help recovery, and be mindful of platform anti-stalking protections and local privacy rules.
- A short simulated test: Before you go, simulate a 5-10 minute outage (turn off the router briefly) and confirm your UPS keeps devices online and that alerts, live views, and lock access still work remotely.
Practical checklist you can run in 20 minutes
- Lock & access: Issue temporary smart-lock codes and confirm you can lock/unlock remotely (time: 2-3 minutes; cost: smart locks are a mid-range purchase).
- Cameras: Charge batteries, test motion alerts and live view (time: 3-4 minutes; cost: chargers or small solar panels are inexpensive if supported).
- UPS/network: Plug router and a camera into a UPS and run a short outage test (time: 3-5 minutes; cost: small UPS units are affordable, larger runtimes cost more).
- Water sensors: Drop a couple of “little pucks” under the most vulnerable appliances (water heater, washing machine) and check alerts (time: 5 minutes; cost: inexpensive consumer sensors).
- Lighting: Stagger schedules on two or three smart plugs/bulbs (time: 3-5 minutes; cost: smart plugs commonly range $10-25 each).
- Router hygiene: Change admin password, enable updates, and set a guest SSID (time: 5 minutes).
- Thermostat & unplug: Set minimum temperature to ~55°F / 12°C and unplug non-essential chargers (time: 2 minutes).
Questions you might ask (and honest answers)
- How much will this cost?
It depends on scope. Smart plugs and single leak sensors are inexpensive; a UPS or extra batteries are mid-range; smart locks, whole-home shut-off valves, or professional installations are higher-cost. Start with the highest-risk items for your home, lighting, a couple of leak sensors, and a UPS deliver strong protection for modest spend.
- Are there privacy or security trade-offs with cloud-connected devices?
Yes. Cameras and locks often rely on vendor cloud services. Keep device firmware updated, enable two-factor authentication on accounts, use strong router credentials, and prefer devices with local-control options if vendor trust is a concern. Also check local laws on audio/video recording and privacy.
- Will my insurer reduce the premium if I add sensors or a shut-off valve?
Sometimes. Some insurers offer discounts for monitored water shut-offs or verified leak-detection systems, but policies vary widely. Ask your agent and get any promised discount in writing before buying if a premium reduction is a deciding factor.
- How do I size a UPS or portable power station?
Add the wattage of the devices you want to back up (typical examples: router 12-20W, modem 10-15W, single camera 5-10W) and choose a UPS that can handle that load with your desired runtime. Short outages need modest capacity. Multi-hour uptime requires a larger battery or portable power station.
- Which brands should I buy?
No brand is universally best. Examples mentioned here include TP‑Link Tapo (lighting/plugs), Yale and Eufy (locks/cameras), Apple AirTag and Chipolo Loop (trackers), and Moen 900-006 (remote shut-off). Read up-to-date reviews, confirm compatibility with your smart-home ecosystem, and prioritize devices that offer local control and regular security updates.
- Are tracker tags legal to use on anything?
No. Respect privacy and local laws: don’t covertly track people, and avoid attaching trackers to someone else’s property or vehicles without permission. Use tags for belongings you own or have explicit permission to track.
Make three things non-negotiable before you walk out the door: lock down access (temporary smart codes instead of hidden keys), ensure your monitoring stays online (UPS + camera battery checks), and protect against water (a few well‑placed leak sensors). Do that once and the rest becomes easier, and you’ll spend less time worrying and more time enjoying whatever you went away to see, whether it’s a beach or the 2026 solar eclipse in Spain.