I never leave for vacation without doing these 7 home safety checks first

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Highlights taken by ZDNET

• Make your home look like a bad choice for burglars.
• Smart locks and leak sensors give you peace of mind.
• Simple steps have a big impact on preparation.

I love to travel, and I want to travel as much as possible. Later this summer I’m going to Spain to see the 2026 solar eclipse, a trip I’m already excited about.

But I have also watched Home aloneand I know that an empty home can attract the wrong attention. I saw it again Money Pitso I know things at home can go wrong. If a pipe fails or something catches fire while I’m away, a small matter can become a big problem.

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With this in mind, I like to have my technology and smart home ducks in a row so that there is the best possible chance that my home will still be there when I get back.

While everyone’s home setup is different, I’ll share my top practices. I’ve generalized these tips a bit and customized them to suit my US-based learning (I’m in the UK), making them even more useful for you.

Here’s what I do and why I suggest you do it, too.

1. Smart plugs/smart light bulbs on random schedules

Despite Home Alone’s winter setting, most burglaries occur in June, July, and August; a third occur during the day, and about 4 in 10 do not involve forced entry.

In addition, nearly three-quarters of burglaries occur when no one is home.

In my experience, there is nothing better for making a home look busy than having smart plugs connected to the lights and TV, and smart light bulbs that are set to turn on at different times of the day.

Also: I set up a solar panel security camera in my yard – and the picture quality beats my Ring

Try your best to create a slightly random schedule. You can just turn everything on at 7pm and leave at 11pm because that setup looks obvious to anyone installing the site.

My choice of devices includes TP-Link Tapo smart plugs again smart energy leaflets.

2. Check the camera/doorbell

If your camera or doorbell has a built-in battery, be sure to charge it before you go on vacation so it won’t be connected to the Internet while you’re away.

Also, check that video doorbells and outdoor cameras are connected to Wi-Fi and set to send alerts to your phone, rather than recording locally on the device.

You can do what I did again install the solar panel to your devices, and stop charging forever.

3. Smart lock tip

If you have a smart lock, you can set a temporary key or one-time code for any neighbors, house sitters, or cat and dog sitters you have, instead of leaving a hidden key. This way, there is no key to lose, and you can revoke access to your home when you return.

Also: I put a $17 solar panel on an outdoor camera, and it’s already paying off

If you haven’t purchased smart locks yet, Yale, Euphyagain TP-Link make some great ones.

4. Install leak sensors

Water damage is absorbed. Repairs are expensive, and water damage insurance claims are about three times more common than theft and fire combined. Insurers will do their best to deny your claim if there is any suggestion that you did something wrong (like turning off the heat in the winter or ignoring a small leak).

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There are several types of leak sensors. You can find out small pucks that hears the water on the ground and sends you a notification, ultrasonic instruments that you put them in the pipes to detect leaks, too remote shut-off valves that can cut off the water in your home.

Pucks or clamps alone work, and it’s a good idea to have a few in potential problem areas such as water heaters, washing machines, and behind toilets (anywhere moisture or small leaks can be ignored). But remember that all they’ll do is send you a notification that there’s a problem, so it’s a good idea to have a remote shut-off valve — and sometimes installing one can get you a discount on your insurance.

5. Do a quick router survey

Make sure your router is password protected (not the one printed on the router), and set up guest Wi-Fi for any neighbors, house sitters, or cat/dog sitters to use, so they can’t access your main network.

Also: Your Tenda router may have a hidden firmware backdoor – disable this setting ASAP

And, since your digital empire depends on uninterrupted Internet access, connecting it to a battery backup makes sense if you have UPS or Portable power station well.

6. Set your thermostat to ‘off’

Remember when I said that insurers like to deny water damage claims? However, one common reason that claims are denied is that the damage was caused by frost and the thermostat was turned off.

To avoid this problem, set your thermostat to a minimum temperature of 55°F/12°C rather than off.

7. Attach the tracker to high value items

A car, a lawnmower, that expensive e-bike, and your dog or cat. A tracker tag like Apple AirTag or The Chipolo Loop Attachments to these things or animals can give you peace of mind while you’re away.

Also: I compared Apple AirTags to competing Bluetooth trackers — including this $2 one

Also, if you use old-school locks, remember to put a tracker tag on the key you give to your neighbors, house sitters, or cat/dog sitters so it doesn’t get lost.

Bonus: Remove unnecessary standby devices

Pull the plug on things that don’t need to be plugged in, like chargers, power banks, and power tool batteries.

Also: Why leaving extension cords plugged in permanently is more dangerous than you realize

Also, make sure any extension cords are unplugged and all electrical appliances are turned off. This not only saves you a little energy, but also reduces the risk of an electrical fault causing a fire.

Added bonus: Lock windows, doors, and garage doors

Remember what I said about four out of ten burglaries not involving a burglary? Well, don’t be a statistic and check that all your windows, doors, and garage doors are closed and locked.

While you’re at it, make sure any sheds and outbuildings are closed as well.