An empty house for two weeks is when most burglaries happen. Yet with the right settings on your connected devices, your home can appear occupied, alert you if anything happens, and save energy at the same time.
Here's what I systematically configure before leaving, after a few years of refining my "vacation mode" routine.
Presence Simulation
This is the most effective feature against opportunistic burglaries. The idea is simple: schedule lights to turn on and off at different times each evening, as if someone is home.
With a smart plug or connected bulbs, you can create a random routine on Alexa or Google Home. Some apps offer a "simulation" mode that automatically varies schedules to avoid too predictable a pattern. A light that turns on at exactly 7 PM every night is less convincing than one that varies between 6:45 and 7:30 PM.
Alerts to Configure
Before leaving, verify your notifications are properly enabled for:
- Door and window sensors: any opening should generate an immediate alert on your phone
- Motion detectors: deactivate them for areas your pets use if you have any, keep them active elsewhere
- Cameras: check the viewing angle, battery status, and that cloud or SD card recording is active
- Smoke and CO detectors: knowing your house is on fire while you're on vacation is precisely the situation where a connected alert makes all the difference
Thermostat Absence Mode
No need to heat an empty house to 70 degrees. Activate your smart thermostat's vacation mode to maintain a minimum temperature, generally between 54 and 59 degrees. That's enough to protect pipes from freezing in winter without wasting energy.
Schedule the return to comfort the day before or a few hours before you're back, from the app. Nothing worse than returning to a freezing house after a long trip.
Exterior Lighting
If you have connected outdoor lights, schedule them to turn on automatically at sunset and off after midnight. A house with active exterior lighting is less attractive to someone looking for a discreet entry.
The Departure Checklist
The night before you leave, take ten minutes for a final check:
- All notifications are enabled
- Cameras are recording correctly
- Thermostat is in absence mode
- Presence simulation is scheduled
- A trusted person has your key in case of emergency
It's not an absolute guarantee, but it's the kind of preparation that means you return from vacation without unpleasant surprises. And it really doesn't take long once it's all set up.
