How to Secure Your Home While You’re Away: Travel Security Tips

If you’re on the road a lot, it’s crucial for you to secure your home, both to protect your home and to give you peace of mind. After all, leaving your residence unoccupied can raise the risk of intrusion or other security issues. And besides, while travel can be immensely rewarding, it can also be very stressful. You don’t want to have to worry about whether your home is safe. Here’s how to secure your home while on vacation, a business trip, or something else, especially if you travel frequently.

Tips for Securing Your Home While Away for Extended Periods

When you’re planning a trip, the last thing you want to worry about is whether your home will be burglarized while you’re away. Follow these tips to help prevent that from happening.

Use a Smart Security System 

Installing a smart security system is the best home security for frequent travelers. These systems offer features that can be adjusted remotely for easy system management and peace of mind.

Top systems provide a variety of integration options and features for varying needs and budgets, with advanced detection capabilities, smart device compatibility, and seamless app-based access. Key features of 2026 smart security systems, including those offered at Guardian Protection, include:

Remote Monitoring and Control

The best systems enable users to control connected devices remotely through web portals or mobile apps, livestream camera footage, receive instant alerts, and arm and disarm alarms. 

Professional and Self-Monitoring 

Increasingly, users have both options to protect their homes while traveling. They can subscribe to round-the-clock professional monitoring for emergency response or receive alerts and respond themselves. For example, if flooding is detected by your water & freeze sensor while you’re away, our monitoring center will be notified, and you will receive an instant mobile notification to alert you before potential damage becomes a disaster.

Smart Home Integration 

When it comes to protecting your home while you travel, integrating your security system with other smart home devices makes a major difference. This integration goes beyond simple voice control; it enables automated routines that can lock doors, adjust lighting schedules, regulate temperature, and arm your system all at once. By syncing your security with the rest of your smart home ecosystem, you create a coordinated, responsive environment that keeps your home protected and looking lived-in, even when you’re miles away.

Cloud-Based Storage

With this feature, system data and video footage are stored in the cloud, permitting access from anywhere. Your video footage is stored on remote servers instead of on the camera itself. Many system providers offer cloud storage in their monthly plans.

Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Detection 

Increasingly, security systems use AI to distinguish between people, vehicles, and animals, providing smarter notifications and decreasing the number of false alarms. Our outdoor camera also offers two-way voice communication and instant alerts that keep you connected and informed. 

And our wireless video doorbell uses AI-based detection with secure notifications in addition to customizable alerts and automated deterrents with sirens and lights. It also provides real-time communication, even remotely, via a built-in mic and speaker.

Employ Additional Physical Security Measures

Along with a smart home security system, other steps you can take include:

• Having the proper exterior doors. Doors made of steel or solid wood are best, and consider equipping them with deadbolt locks.
• Making sure all doors and windows are locked. This includes infrequently used windows or those on the second floor. Consider adding another layer of barriers, such as wooden dowels in sliding windows/doors.
• Locking the garage door as well as any fencing. You also may want to disconnect the garage door opener or install a smart garage door. These door openers enable you to use your smartphone to operate your garage door and get real-time alerts when the door opens or closes. If you have basement windows or pet doors, secure them with covers or locks.

Make it Look as Though Your Home’s Occupied

Home security tips for travelers include creating the illusion of occupancy. You can do this by:

• Using interior and exterior light timers. This way, you can maintain the appearance of usual home activity patterns. Leaving the lights on day and night creates suspicion. This can be accomplished through the use of smart plugs.
• Using a fake television light as a deterrent.  It flickers like an actual TV to fool would-be intruders.
• Asking a family member or a trustworthy neighbor to help.  Ask them to visit your home regularly, collect mail, and keep the property maintained. This creates real activity around your property.
• Suspending newspaper and mail delivery. This helps to avoid signs of absence. Or, as mentioned, you can have someone collect the items.

Extra Precautions 

There are other steps you can add to your vacation home security checklist, including:

• Removing any spare keys you have hidden outside. Instead, give select family members or a trusted neighbor a key. Another option is using smart locks with pass codes. Our smart door lock provides keyless entry with the Guardian Protection app or a personalized code. You can control your lock from anywhere using your smartphone.
• Leaving your vacation plans off social media. Rather than broadcast your absence, wait until your return to post vacation photos.
• Unplugging your electronics to save energy and avoid hazards. We at Guardian Protection offer an indoor smart plug that allows you to use your smartphone or tablet to control devices remotely to automate, schedule, and monitor energy use for better efficiency and lower utility costs. 
• Our Z-Wave Plus technology provides enhanced wireless connectivity and improved range. And with our smart thermostat, you can achieve optimal comfort and energy efficiency.
• Alerting your local authorities of your planned absence. Consider providing contact information for emergencies.

Peace of Mind with Guardian 

A smart home security system can provide you with peace of mind while you’re away from home for an extended period. After all, a residential break-in in the U.S. occurs every 26 seconds, and homes with no security system are 300% more likely to be burglarized. The fact is that some 83% of would-be burglars search for the presence of an alarm system before attempting a break-in.

That’s why monitored home security systems from Guardian Protection offer around-the-clock monitoring to give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re covered by professionals who work closely with first responders, every hour of the day.

Guardian Protection has you covered.  Call 1.800.PROTECT (1.800.776.8328) or request a free quote to get protected with a professionally installed home security system.