Summer in Colorado is nearly here and it’s important to ensure your security measures are up-to-date as everyone is becoming more social again. You want to minimize the chance of issues that could happen when you’re away from home and monitor your home at any time for peace of mind. Here are three ways Xssentials can make sure you have a safe summer.
Geofencing Enables Smart Locks
Summer is a time of relaxation and fun in the sun. You’ll likely have far more people coming and going through your doors, whether you decide to host a backyard BBQ, or your kids dart off to yet another pool party. With so much coming and going, someone is almost certainly going to forget to lock the door. One of our favorite methods is using geofencing, which is a virtual, dynamic fence that creates a perimeter around your home and can track your family’s movement within its boundaries in real-time by using mobile data or Wi-Fi.
This means that you’ll be able to see when your family members are close to home so you can ensure they arrive inside safely, all through an app on your phone. When you integrate a smart security system with geofencing technology, your phones can also automatically enable your smart locks once the last one has left the perimeter of your home. Having location tracking is helpful in case someone has misplaced their mobile device within your property as well. There’s no limit to the size of your geofenced area; you can have a small area around a cozy home, or if you have a larger property, you can even connect several points to cover miles of land.
Take some time to familiarize yourself and your family members with your smart home security system so everyone can make sure they leave the house safe and sound. You’ll be able to get the most out of your system this way. You can even automate your lights to switch on and garage door to open when someone enters the driveway to make life a little more streamlined. Now you’ll be able to enjoy plenty of summer adventures while knowing your home is always secure.
Mockupancy Prevents Burglaries
Did you know the burglaries tend to increase during the summer? Don’t let this be a cause of alarm; there are several ways your automated system can deter intruders from targeting your home. If you’re leaving your home unattended for a weekend or even a month for a family vacation, you don’t want to return to a ransacked house. “Mockupancy” is becoming one of the most effective ways to prevent break-ins by giving the illusion that your home is occupied. You can set automated scenes that occur at particular times of the day to open and close sets of blinds, switch lights on and off in specific rooms, and even play music or turn on the television. Even your neighbors will be confused when you say you’ve been gone for a week.
However, break-ins can happen even when you and your family are in town! Setting up alerts on your phone will help you remember to keep your home armed and prepared. If your son forgot to arm the system before leaving home, your smart home system can send you a notification so you can arm it remotely through your mobile app. Alerts are most effective when scheduled at particular times of the day, say 10 am when you know everyone is out of the house. Now you know you can arm the system from anywhere, whether someone forgot to close the garage doors or shut off the kitchen lights.
CCTV Cameras Keep an Eye on your Home
With so many people coming in and out of your home in the summertime, home automation can help you check on everything even when you can’t be there. By placing CCTV cameras at your front door and subscribing to alerts when motion is detected, you’ll be able to view visitors, solicitors, and delivery workers through an app on your mobile device. Two-way voice operations grant you the ability to chat with people at your doorbell even if you’re far off on vacation in the mountains. You can take it one step further with indoor cameras to make sure your kids don’t try to throw any summer bashes if you decide to spend a weekend away with your spouse. It’s possible to limit access to parts of your home, such as the master bedroom or attic, and equip them with motion detectors and smart cameras to send you alerts if someone has entered the room. You’ll be able to ensure that your kids and house sitters follow the rules and immediately know if someone has broken into these rooms in case of an emergency.
No matter what plans you have for the summer, you and your family can be prepared to have fun and keep everyone safe. If you’re feeling ready to incorporate smart home security solutions this season, give our team at Xssentials a call today to get started!
