Smart Home Security Tips for a Safer Holiday Season

There’s no sugarcoating it: 2020 has been quite a challenging year. As we look forward to a fresh start in 2021, we hope you’re taking the next few weeks to relax and reflect on the year’s end with the people you love most.

Whether you’re hosting lavish celebrations or enjoying an intimate gathering at home with family this season, you should focus on making memories rather than keeping watch for potential danger. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips that will help strengthen your home security so you can rest peacefully now and through the New Year.

From a smart security camera installation to creating an emergency plan, get our home security tips below to take the next steps toward a safer, happier holiday season in Sandy Springs, GA.

SEE ALSO: What Are the Best Locations to Install Security Cameras?

Get to Know Your Neighbors

One of the best ways to prevent neighborhood crime is to team up with your neighbors. More than half of Americans say they feel safer when they know who lives next door. Connecting with those on your street not only builds trust but makes it easier to keep an eye out for each other.

Let your neighbors know when you’re going out of town or if you detect suspicious activity in the area and ask them to do the same. If you’re uncomfortable meeting up with neighbors in person due to COVID, you can always chat via text or create a Facebook group to keep up with your neighbors digitally. 

Use Smart Security Cameras

If you believe your home is more attractive to criminals during the holidays, you’re not alone. A security camera installation offers proactive protection for your home and loved ones by deterring potential criminals from invading your property. Visible security cameras send a clear message to intruders that you’ve taken proper action to protect your home.

What’s more, smart security cameras with video analytics will send you real-time mobile alerts of moving objects on your property. Video analytics is an intelligent feature that can classify motion as people, animals, or vehicles as well as decipher between non-threatening activity and suspicious activity. For instance, your cameras will trigger an alert to your mobile phone of a nearby lingering person or car but will know to ignore the neighborhood cat that’s trotting across your yard.

Take Advantage of Remote Access Management

When your security cameras and other vital home security devices are integrated with a Control4 smart home control system, you can remotely access and manage everything from cameras and door locks to lights and thermostats using the Control4 mobile app—no matter where you are.

Call up live surveillance footage to keep an eye on family while you’re out running errands, check that you closed the garage before you left (if you didn’t, you can quickly close it from the Control4 app), and manage other devices throughout your home on a dime. Expecting guests while you’re out? Remotely unlock the front door and disarm your alarm system to let them in. Then quickly lock the house back up until you get home.

Create and Communicate an Emergency Plan

Cooking, baking, and lighting fireworks are activities we all look forward to during this time of year, but with them come seasonal fire risks. While we hope you’ll never have to use it, it’s important to have an emergency plan in place should a fire break out or another dangerous incident ensue.

Everyone under your roof should know what the plan is and what their role is in the event of danger. Create a designated place to meet, give everyone a list of emergency phone numbers, and don’t forget about your furry family members. You can also add family to your smart home alerts so that they are notified in real-time of potential fire, gas leaks, intrusion, and more. With a plan in place, you can significantly prevent harm to your property and loved ones.

Enjoy a happier, safer holiday season and prepare for a peaceful 2021 with smart home security. GHT Group installs custom home security and automation systems for properties in Sandy Springs and the metro Atlanta area and would love to help you find the right solutions for your home. To get started, contact us here or use the chat box below to speak with a team member now.