Going Away for the Holidays? Keep Your Home Secure with Home Automation.
By Crystal Watts | Posted December 2, 2014If you’re braving holiday travel this year to visit relatives, good luck to you. Seeing family and loved ones is what Christmas is all about, but the getting-there-and-back part is always a bit stressful (and sometimes headache-inducing).
Imagine being stuck in the airport, or grounded by a blizzard, and worry begins to enter your mind; Did I remember to arm the house’s security system? Did I leave the garage door open? What if I come home next week to discover that the heater has been blaring the entire time?
With Control4, these worries are quickly transformed to peace of mind. That’s because with the Control4 App it’s easy to:
- Check which lights are on at the house
- Check the status of your security system (and even view live security video)
- Make adjustments to your smart thermostat
- Set up temporary security codes if anyone needs to get in your house (and receieve notifications when they do)
- Much more
All of this can be done on your smartphone from anywhere in the world where you have access to an internet connection. So while you can’t take all the stress out of holiday travel, you can at least be sure your home is secure while you’re away.
One-Touch Security As You Walk Out the Door
Even as you’re walking out the door, loading up the car, and pulling out the driveway, Control4 home automation is securing your home. In fact, with a single touch of a button, you can initiate an “Away” scene: simultaneously all the lights in your home turn off, your doors lock, your security system arms itself, and the climate control is adjusted. Goodbye home, hello peace of mind!
Keep an Eye on Your Home While You’re Away
Not everyone can be “home for Christmas,” but while you’re spending the holidays in a different city, state, or country, you can still be “home” with Control4 home automation. That’s because 4Sight with Anywhere Access allows you to check in on your home—view live security video feeds, adjust your home’s climate settings, and much more, all from your smart phone. In fact, you can access your entire home automation system. You are essentially taking a big piece of “home” with you for the holidays, that you get to carry around in your pocket.
“Mockupancy” Scenes
A home that looks “lived in” is less likely to be a target for thieves. With Control4, you can set up a “mockupancy” scene that turns on lights, opens shades, and can even turn on and off your entertainment at randomized times. That way it will look like there’s someone in the house (even if you’re in a different time zone).
Security Alerts
If something were to happen to your house while you are away (like a break-in or water leak), you’d probably want to be notified immediately. With Control4, you can set up automatic alerts that send you a push notification when anything goes awry.
Automatic alerts are just one piece of the puzzle—once you are given the heads up, you can actually do something to fix it. If it’s just a friend at the front door (best case scenario), then you can let him in by unlocking the door from your smart phone or by providing him with a temporary access code. If it’s something like a busted pipe in the basement, you can turn your water off and take the necessary steps to mitigate the situation, even before you get home. And if there’s an intruder, you’ll be able to notify the authorities immediately.
If Only Your Crazy Relatives Had Home Automation
While your home is sitting nice and secure, there’s no guarantee that your holiday destination will be equipped with the comforts and conveniences of home automation. But sometimes you’ve got to get away in order to appreciate what you’ve got back at home—at least you can look forward to finally returning to your smart home when the holidays are over!
