Travel should be a time to relax and recharge — not to worry about whether your home is safe. Yet empty homes are prime targets for burglars who watch for signs that residents are away. With the right preparation and smart security technology, you can leave home confident that your property is protected around the clock.
This guide covers the essential steps to take before your next trip, from basic precautions to advanced smart security automations that work while you are gone.
Before You Leave: The Pre-Trip Checklist
Preparation starts well before you lock the front door. Work through this checklist a few days before departure so you have time to address anything that needs attention.
- Arm your security system and confirm monitoring is active
- Test all door and window sensors, cameras, and motion detectors
- Set up smart lighting schedules to simulate normal occupancy
- Hold or redirect mail and package deliveries
- Ask a trusted neighbor to watch for unexpected activity
- Trim landscaping that could conceal an intruder near entry points
- Secure valuables in a safe or remove them from plain sight
- Turn off garage door openers or enable vacation lock mode
Make Your Home Look Occupied
An obviously empty home attracts attention. Smart lighting schedules are one of the most effective tools for creating the appearance of normal activity. Program interior lights to turn on and off at realistic times — not on a rigid timer that repeats the same pattern every night.
Smart plugs can control radios or televisions for ambient sound. Motorized blinds that adjust throughout the day add another layer of realism. The goal is to make your home look lived-in from the street without wasting energy on lights blazing 24 hours a day.
Avoid Advertising Your Absence
Resist the urge to post travel plans on social media before or during your trip. Burglars monitor public posts for vacation announcements. Save the photos for after you return, and ask family members to do the same.
Leverage Your Security System Remotely
Modern security apps put your entire system in your pocket. While traveling, you can check live camera feeds, review recorded events, arm or disarm zones, and receive instant push notifications if anything triggers an alert.
Enable vacation mode if your system supports it. This feature adjusts notification sensitivity, activates enhanced recording schedules, and may notify your monitoring center that you are away so they can prioritize alerts from your property.
Environmental Monitoring While Away
Break-ins are not the only threat to an unoccupied home. Water leaks, freezing pipes, and fire can cause catastrophic damage when no one is there to respond. Smart sensors connected to your security system provide an extra layer of protection:
- Water leak sensors near appliances, water heaters, and sump pumps
- Temperature sensors that alert you to freezing conditions
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with professional monitoring
- Smart thermostat alerts for HVAC failures or extreme temperature swings
With professional monitoring, these sensors trigger emergency dispatch even when you are in a different time zone and cannot respond to a phone alert yourself.
Package and Delivery Management
Accumulating packages on your doorstep is a clear signal that nobody is home. Before traveling, pause recurring deliveries and redirect online orders to a pickup location or a neighbor's address.
If a delivery does arrive while you are away, your video doorbell captures the event and lets you communicate with the driver remotely. You can ask them to place packages out of sight or hold them for pickup.
When You Return Home
Before entering, do a quick exterior check for signs of forced entry or tampering. Review any alerts or recorded events that occurred during your trip so you are aware of everything that happened while you were gone.
Disarm vacation mode, restore normal lighting schedules, and resume regular delivery services. If your system logged any concerns — repeated motion events, attempted door access, or environmental alerts — address them promptly and consider whether additional security measures are warranted.
Travel with Confidence
The best travel security plan combines physical precautions with smart technology and professional monitoring. You should not have to choose between an enjoyable trip and a secure home — with the right system in place, you can have both.
If you are planning an extended trip and want to review your current security setup, our team can help you configure vacation automations and confirm your monitoring coverage before you depart.