With an alarm system that allows you to monitor your property remotely, you can secure it 24 hours around the clock, stress-free. You can check for any damage to the building caused by extreme weather or capture an intruder on camera. Due to longer periods of being unattended, a vacation home has a different set of risks from a residential home.
Important Factors When Choosing an Alarm Monitoring System
Smart-Security Systems
Using a remote monitoring app on your smart device will enable you to keep track of any movement at your property at all times. Notifications are sent if there is any unusual activity.
A video doorbell, with an HD security camera, will allow you to view visitors to the front door and interact with them from your device, such as delivery drivers or vacation guests.
Exterior floodlights will provide coverage of the property’s surroundings helping to protect against break-ins and unwanted guests. The instant notifications allow you to alert the authorities. Some services will raise an alarm directly.
Engaging a Professional Monitoring Company
If you can’t always respond to notifications from your system or perhaps in a different time zone or at work, a professional monitoring service is advisable. In an emergency, they can respond at greater speed with 24/7 surveillance.
Environmental Detection Sensors
Environmental sensors that detect unusual situations with the building can prevent costly damage from the elements and natural disasters. A frozen pipe could burst, a leak could cause a flood or a fire could cause extensive damage. Vacation homes need a smart security system that identifies problems and sends immediate alerts.
Home Automation System
Smart home integration works with sensors that control the conditions in the home. A smart thermostat allows heating or air conditioning to be controlled remotely, say if there is a sudden change in temperature when the property is empty.
Lighting sensors, and turning lights on and off at designated times, are beneficial to lowering energy bills and appearing as if the property is occupied.
Physical key boxes are a thing of the past. Smart locks have multiple uses, making guest check-ins much easier by providing individual access codes, whilst allowing the owner to unlock and lock the property remotely.
5 Security System Suggestions
SimpliSafe:
Whilst also offering professional installation, the uncomplicated process ranks SimpliSafe as having one of the best DIY installations, taking an estimated time of 30 minutes to complete.
SimpliSafe’s package offers all the required features for burglary detection and environmental sensors. Live guard protection, using their smart alarm indoor cameras, offers 24/7 surveillance. The mobile app’s simple interface has great ratings through the straightforward process to set-up. Even the contemporary design looks stylish yet inconspicuous. All in all, it is a very effective system for your vacation home.
Vivint:
Vivint’s smart home automation is exceptional. It is a complete system that allows full interaction with your household controls when not at the property.
The extensive catalogue of equipment from Vivant offers more high-level security options including glass-break sensors, flood, freeze and heat sensors and interactive smart hub and touchscreen panel, as well as the standard security package. With a top installation service, getting up and running is easy.
Frontpoint:
A real plus for vacation homeowners is having a good customer service team at the end of the telephone. Frontpoint offers personal one-to-one assistance, which many other services do not.
The package is very adaptable meaning the system can be set up for the home’s exact needs. It is easy and quick to set up Frontline, making it one of the best smart security systems for home installation.
Ring Alarm:
Whilst remaining the most affordable on the market, Amazon’s Ring Alarm System has improved over the past few years. It now hosts additional security features: floodlight sensors, smart water meter and lighting system, and a large number of camera devices.
The mobile app is the control centre of the system, and automatically sends notifications, rating it over other systems.
Ring Alarm works best with Alexa, making it a household favourite.
Abode:
Apple’s smart home security system, Abode, which of course works best for the Apple HomeKit, being able to fully integrate.
One of the highlights of the Abode system are the environmental sensors, particularly if you’re worried about building damage and weather conditions.
Not only is Abode voted by Apple users as the best system on the market, but also by top expert reviewers. Its performance is far superior to most security system brands.
What Else Can You Do to Protect Your Vacation Property?
When you’re not there to secure your vacation home, it is wise to make the property look occupied.
Starting by keeping the garden in good condition and hiring a landscape company. Keeping your garden in check will deter burglars if they think somebody is living there.
Indoor lighting sensors on timers also help make some believe the house is occupied, and exterior light motion detectors will shine a light on any unwanted intruders.
Lock automation is a valuable tool for protecting your vacation home, while video doorbells and outdoor cameras add to your surveillance and interaction with visitors to the door. Anyone entering the premises will be recorded by a smart security system.
Conclusion:
We cannot emphasise enough how essential it is to install a quality alarm monitoring system that will raise the alarm as soon as any unusual activity is detected.
A system designed to meet your specific needs from Casa Security, whether environmental or to check on your Airbnb guests, is worth the investment, financially and for peace of mind. We are specialists in alarm monitoring and can help you secure your vacation home.