Security is Necessary
Equip Your Vacation Home
By Robert Hessel
Enjoy having a vacation property without the worry with one of the new Smart Home systems.
Many people own vacation homes. According to
the National Association of Realtors, there are
now more than eight million vacation homes
across the country, and sales are rising by 20 to 30
percent each year.
Since you don’t live at your vacation property year-round,
you can’t always be there to maintain or secure it. However,
by using a home automation system, you can keep tabs on
your property, even when you’re miles away. It all starts with
a home security system. Glass break sensors can let you know
whether or not you’ll need to repair a broken window when
you get there or before you arrive. There are video and security
systems that will keep an eye on your home and alert you if
any type of issue occurs. Water leak sensors can send you a text
if a leak is detected. You can even have a system that will cut
the water supply off using your phone.
Once installed, these systems communicate wirelessly, so
you can access them at any time using your mobile device. This
makes it easy to check on your property to see if there are any
problems.
If your vacation home does need attention, your home
automation system can be set to allow access to cleaners,
landscapers or repairmen with digital door locks. You can also
create a unique code, which can be set to work only at the times
when you have work scheduled. You can even watch while
the work is being done, then lock up and turn on the alarm
remotely when the workers leave.
Home automation is necessary, even while you’re relaxing at
your vacation property, as these systems can lock your doors or
turn on the alarm when you leave for the day, or after you have
left for other activities. With home automation, you simply
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bring up your mobile app, and with a few quick taps, the doors
are locked and the alarm is set.
You can also expand your home automation system to
include thermostat controls, which let you set the temperature
anytime, anywhere. If you’re just leaving your home on a hot
day, you can adjust the air conditioning so that you won’t waste
energy. Then, on your way home, you can lower the cooling
setting, so you’re not stuck in the heat when you arrive there.
These systems are particularly important if you rent your
property to others, as renters may not treat your property
with the same respect that you do. Home automation and
security will help you to determine if agreed-upon rules are
being followed and if your vacation home is left in reasonable
condition after your renters or guests depart.
Once the property is vacant, you can let a cleaning service
in with the push of a button. You can also set up scheduled
vacation door lock codes for guests, which you can then delete
after their stay. You can even create a “vacation program” in
your smart home app, such as Honeywell’s Total Connect,
which links multiple actions at the tap of a button. For example,
when a rental period ends, your program can simultaneously
lock all the doors, turn on the alarm, activate the video cameras
and turn down the thermostat. This helps avoid security issues
caused by well-meaning renters who forget to secure the
property when they leave.
If you have purchased a vacation home, you need an
automation and security system to protect your investment.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Robert Hessel at Source 1 Solutions can be
contacted at (727) 538-4114 or www.source1security.com.
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