Safety Checklist: Preparing Your Home Before Your Trip

The holiday season is the perfect time to relax and create memories. However, going away and leaving your home empty can sometimes leave you with that feeling of unease. Whether it’s just a nearby weekend getaway or an extended vacation, preparing your home in advance helps you enjoy your time away without unnecessary worries.

With the advancements in technology, one can easily manage and monitor their home. Modern digital door locks, like Wi-Fi smart locks, make it relatively easy to manage your home regardless of the miles between you. Here's a practical holiday checklist to help prepare your home for when you go away.

1. Upgrade Your Door Locks for Easy Management

Among the easiest ways to make your house accessible while away is to invest in the best smart door lock in the market but without burning your pocket. Unlike traditional locks, smart locks allow you to manage access remotely. With features such as keyless entry and app control, you can lock or unlock your door anytime, anywhere.

Some smart locks for homes offer temporary access codes for added convenience. This feature is perfect if you need to grant access to a neighbor, your house help, or a maintenance worker while you're away.

2. Set Up Remote Monitoring

Many Wi-Fi smart locks have built-in features enabling you to track activities at your doorstep. For instance, models that have cameras will show you who is at your door through a smartphone application. This is very practical during holidays. You can monitor deliveries or unexpected visitors even when you are not at home.

When you pair your smart lock with other smart home devices, such as doorbell cameras or motion sensors, you will have a complete view of activities happening in your home.

3. Use Smart Lighting to Make Your Home Look Occupied

An empty home can attract unwanted attention. Simple tricks like using smart lighting to mimic your usual routines and setting timers for your lights to turn on and off at specific intervals can make it seem like someone is home.

Combining your lighting system with your digital door lock can be a hassle-free experience. In fact, some smart locks can control connected devices through the same app, making home management more efficient.  

4. Test Your Lock's Battery Backup

Most digital door locks are operated by batteries. You would not want the batteries to drain when you leave. Check the battery levels before you leave home, and replace them if necessary. Many smart locks have a low-battery indicator to warn you of its depletion.

Additionally, most high-security door locks include emergency battery backup options. This means even when the primary batteries have run out, you're still able to access the lock.

5. Audit Your Access History

Some smart locks with Wi-Fi offer an audit trail feature, that lets you see who accessed the lock and when, all through your smartphone. Before leaving home, make sure to update any necessary access permissions and review recent activity for anything that seems unusual.

This feature is particularly useful for families, as you can monitor when children or other household members enter and leave the house.  

6. Secure All Entry Points

While focusing on your main door is essential, don’t forget other entry points, such as windows, side doors, and back doors. Ensure all locks are functional, and consider adding secondary locks or reinforcement where necessary.

For people who want a unified solution, there are smart home locks that can be integrated with other sensors or locks to address different entry points.

7. Enable Auto-locking

Many of the best smart door locks feature auto-locking. This means that your door will lock itself after a set time, so you won't have to worry about forgetting to lock it when you're in a hurry to leave for your trip.

If your smart lock has a passage mode, you can temporarily disable auto-locking to make it easier for trusted individuals to access your home while you are away.

8. Backup Your Keys and Codes

Even the most advanced digital door lock will be no good without a backup plan. Write down access codes or keep a spare key in a safe place. Don't hide them under the doormat or flowerpot, as they are quickly found.

9. Update Your Smart Lock's Firmware

Before leaving, check for any available firmware updates for your Wi-Fi smart lock. You can do this by opening the lock’s mobile app and navigating to the settings section, where manufacturers often release updates to improve functionality and address any issues. Keeping your lock up to date ensures it operates smoothly while you’re away.

10. Consider Affordable Options for Long-term Use

Affordability and convenience are what one looks for when choosing a smart lock for your home. Speedy's range of digital door locks offers practical solutions that fit seamlessly into your routine. With features like app control, remote access, and battery backup, these locks are designed to simplify your daily life.

It doesn’t have to be a stressful thing when preparing for the holidays. Upgrading to a Wi-Fi smart lock or a digital door lock will enable you to manage who can enter, streamlining your home's functionality even while you're away.

Speedy's smart door lock makes embracing modern technology affordable, making your home management faster and more efficient. Explore our range of door locks today and start your stress-free holiday experience.