If you’re facing the same dilemma this back-to-school season, you’re probably planning on leaving a spare key under the mat, right? If that’s the plan, you might as well leave the front door unlocked! If someone wants to get inside, that’s surely the first place they’ll look. Sure, you could try and come up with a hiding place that’s a little more inconspicuous like one of these. But, either way it’ll always be an added stress when you could instead have peace of mind. When it comes to hiding that spare key, the ultimate solution is to ditch it altogether for connected locks.

See Also: Questions You Should Ask Before Investing in Smart Home Automation

What is a Connected Door Lock?

Connected locks eliminate the need for a spare key. These locks can be placed on your door handle, used as a deadbolt, or both. Rather than needing a key to get inside, you simply enter your 4-digit passcode to unlock the door. So, what makes it connected? Also known as smart door locks, connected locks sync up with your home, security system, and can be controlled right from your phone. This helps you stay connected to your home and family whether you’re working late or out running errands!

How Do Smart Locks Help You Stay Connected to Family?

Each member of your family can use their own unique passcode to lock and unlock the door. As a parent, this helps you stay connected to who’s coming and going from your home — and when. This is also something that can be updated and changed as needed. So if your relatives are coming to visit for the weekend, you can quickly give them their own passcode right from the mobile app! That’s one of the reasons that these types of locks are so commonly used with Airbnb rentals.

The unique passcodes don’t stop at family and friends. You can also create time-based passcodes for dog walkers, babysitters, or other services. These temporary passcodes only work during the dates and times that you set. So you no longer have to worry about changing locks after giving out a key.

For All of Those Times You Forgot to Lock the Door

Have you ever left for work in the morning only to turn around because you couldn’t remember if you locked the front door? Imagine if you could just pull your phone out to check. Better yet, just lock the door from your phone and then move on with your day. That’s the connected lock. It gives you complete control over your home’s entryways right from your phone. Lock the door from the bed, sofa, or the office.

Use This Tip to Never Forget to Lock the Door Again

You could open the app and lock the doors when you leave home, or, you could skip that step altogether. Connected door locks use location services, also known as geofencing, to lock your doors when you leave home. You can create your own geofences that will activate as you get a certain distance away from home. Now, your home will lock itself every time you drive away, keeping it safe until you return!

Keeping Your Family Safe is What’s Most Important

When connected locks are an option, you never need a spare key. The bottom line is that spare keys just aren’t safe — and safe is what’s most important to us. Ditch the spare key for the connected lock and take control of who comes and goes from your home. When school starts in just a few weeks, and your kids are coming home alone, now you have the perfect solution.

Want to learn more about how you can use connected locks to keep your home protected and connected? Contact us today to talk to a Safe Home Security Specialist about how easy it is to switch to connected locks.

The post The “Smartest” Hiding Place for Your Spare Key appeared first on Safehome Security.

Plenty has changed since the first round thermostats were introduced 60 years ago, especially when it comes to saving energy. If you’re still manually turning the dial on your thermostat throughout the day, one simple upgrade could make all the difference for your summer electric bill.

The Energy-Saving Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats are designed to help you maximize comfort and energy savings by staying in sync with your lifestyle. Since smart thermostats learn your schedule, they ensure your home is comfortable when you’re there, while saving energy when you’re away. Even during the hottest months of the year, we found that many of our customers can save between $10.00 and $20.00 a month in energy costs just by having one installed. It’s probably the best thing to happen to home thermostats since home thermostats.

Smart Schedules

If you’re like 90% of homeowners, you probably adjust the thermostat throughout the day to save energy. Smart schedules help you find the perfect balance between staying cool and saving energy by creating schedules for you. These schedules help your thermostat know when to move up or down a few degrees to maximize comfort and savings. It’s an effortless way to save energy.

Mobile Control

If you have pets at home, sometimes you might want to adjust the temperature when you’re away to make sure they’re okay on an unusually hot day. Smart thermostats can be controlled right from you phone, making it easy to make quick changes as needed throughout the day. Plus, if your kids are constantly turning it up and down, you can lock it from your phone as well so that only you can make the changes.

Extreme Temperatures

One of the biggest struggles that comes with the summer heat is overpaying for energy on extremely hot or cold days. Even if you set your thermostat to 74 degrees, it’s 90+ degrees outside, A/C systems will often have to run all day to try and get your home down to that temperature. Smart thermostats use real-time local weather data to adjust your temperature settings to save energy and money if outdoor temperatures spike.

It’s Time Switch to the Smart Thermostat!

The best part is that you don’t have to be a very tech savvy person to set it up! Most of the setup is done right from the app on your phone. So if you can work an app, you can update your thermostat! If you need some help or want someone to come out and install it for you, we’re always standing by.

Now that you know how a smart thermostat can help you save energy, it’s time for an update. Stay cool and save this summer with the smart thermostat!

The post The Smartest Way to Stay Cool and Save This Summer appeared first on Safehome Security.

Install a Sensor on the Pool Gate

If it’s surrounded by a gate, you’ve already taken the first step to childproofing your swimming pool. However, kids as young as two years old can start learning how to open and close doors. That’s why they call them the terrible twos! We recommend installing an outdoor sensor on the gate leading in and out of your pool area.

Now, if the gate is opened, you can receive a notification right to your phone. And if you’re really concerned, you can even have your security system announce that it was the pool gate and sound the alarm. It’s a simple piece of equipment that can be lifesaving.

Use Open Tones

An open tone is the sound that your security system makes when a door is opened. You can have it set up to make a unique sound that you recognize, or the system can actually speak which door has been opened. If you have a back door that leads to your pool area, you might want to set up an open tone that announces “back door open” so that you can quickly investigate. You can tie this concept into any doors in your home, including liquor and medicine cabinets, gun safes, and more.

Set Up Outdoor Cameras

Sometimes the best way to childproof your swimming pool is to see it with your own eyes. Outdoor cameras can be controlled right from your smartphone and will send you a live feed of what’s happening in real time. Plus, since outdoor cameras are motion activated, you can receive a notification when someone walks by.

These cameras are compatible with your favorite devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home Hub, which makes watching them a snap from anywhere in your home.

Bring it all Together and Childproof Your Swimming Pool

You don’t have to settle for just one thing when they work so well together. Home security systems do more than just keep your home safe from burglars. They help you stay aware and connected to the things in your life that matter most — your family.

Now that your pool area is childproofed and protected, go enjoy the rest of your summer with your family!

The post 3 Ways to Childproof Your Swimming Pool with Your Security System appeared first on Safehome Security.

Beware of the Fire Hazards

The fire department is always on high alert during this time of year. Every year, there are thousands of holiday-related fires on the 4th of July. The biggest hazards are the same things that make the 4th of July so special — grilling and fireworks!

Outdoor grilling is a big summer tradition, but there are more grill fires in July than any other month in the year! So before hosting your party on the 4th, inspect your grill for potential leaks, and never leave it unattended even if the lid is closed!

Fireworks and sparklers are also a fun 4th of July festivity that can quickly turn into a potential hazard. Make sure to use any fireworks in a clear, outdoor area that is at least 10 feet from anything that could potentially catch fire. When you’re finished, soak them in water before throwing them away to prevent any fuses from catching fire.

Keep an Eye on the Pool Area

Will your summer 4th of July party involve any water activities? While tons of fun, pools can be a potential risk, especially to small children. So keeping an eye on the pool area is crucial for a safe and fun holiday.

If your pool area is surrounded by a gate, we recommend installing an outdoor sensor on the pool gate so that you can be notified if it’s opened during your party. You can even use open tones to set up announcements from your home security system when the gate is opened so that you can keep an ear on the area as well.

Stay Connected If You Go Out

If you’re headed away for the evening to go see the public showing of your town’s fireworks, you’re not alone. Many people go out to watch the fireworks. A street filled with empty homes could seem like an open invitation for property theft!

We recommend staying connected to home with a security system that has mobile notifications. If something happens when you’re away, you’ll see it right on your phone. If you have home cameras installed as well, you’ll be able to view a live feed from your phone too! So regardless of what’s happening when you’re away, you’ll know home is safe and within arms reach.

Have a Safe and Fun 4th of July!

Now that you have these safety tips in mind, it’s time to make this 4th of July one to remember. We hope that you have a safe and enjoyable holiday with your family with lots of fireworks and grilling!

The post 3 Home Tips to Have a Safe and Fun 4th of July appeared first on Safehome Security.

When you invest in any new smart technology for your Los Angeles property, you want to know it will do more than just function the right way. You want it to become a part of your daily life—to the extent that you don’t even think about it throughout your day. It’s true for lights and shades, AV, and especially for your security and home alarm system.

In this blog, we’ll explore how you can get the most out of your alarm system and the surprising reasons you may want to invest in one. Keep reading for more.

See Also: 3 Things Your Home Security Monitoring Service Wants You to Know

Stay Alert

A smart alarm’s primary benefit is that it will alert you to break-ins. When someone enters your home without authorization, a high-pitched sound will start to let the neighborhood know. Smart alarms are a little different than traditional alarm systems. They can integrate with other devices as part of a whole ecosystem of safety. Your alarm can work with your cameras, lighting, and locks to ensure the safety of your household.

Plus, when your alarm goes off, you can receive direct notifications on your smartphone or tablet and watch real-time footage of the event via your integrated security cameras.

Add Home Value

According to a survey by Coldwell Banker, 59 percent of parents with children under 18 say they would spend more money on a new home if it had smart home products already installed. That means, by merely laying the groundwork for your smart alarm system, you can start adding value to your home.

Also, 78 percent of the same respondents said that the smart products in their home helped them achieve peace of mind. That’s an essential factor to consider, especially if you have children in your home.

Start Small

Additionally, many homeowners find that the idea of investing in a total smart home system is daunting. They’re typically concerned with how they’ll use it on a day-to-day basis and skeptical about the amount of value it will add to their lives.  But the beauty of a smart home is that it’s completely scalable, and you can add the components you want over time.

Starting with a smart alarm or another security device will help you get a sense of how you can interact with your technology. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to get the most out of it, even before you invest in a total home solution.

Want to find out more about smart home security? Click here!

The post 3 Reasons You Should Consider Protecting Your Property with a Home Alarm System appeared first on Safehome Security.

Keeping your home safe is one of those things we all know is important but tends to slip into the background of our lives. But keeping your family secure isn’t something to ignore, as doing so can have drastic consequences. That’s why you need a home alarm system from Safe Home Security for your Orlando residence. Our security experts will install a top-of-the-line system in your home, and we’ve put together this list of other steps you can take to ensure nothing happens to your family.

SEE ALSO: How a Smart Security System Makes for Happier Holidays

DON’T HIDE YOUR SPARE KEY OUTSIDE

If you’re away from your home and you know you have someone stopping by, a spare key in an out-of-the-way place sounds like a practical solution. Don’t fall into this trap, however. If your spare key is in a place where your visitors can find it, chances are potential criminals can find it as well. You’re better off giving the key to your guests before you leave.

Better yet, let automation solve the issue; modern security systems can include things like smart locks that can either be unlocked remotely by you or with a code you can give out to trusted friends and family. This option is much preferable than giving potential thieves an easy way to break into your home.

SECURE YOUR GARAGE AND SECOND-FLOOR WINDOWS

Your doors and first-floor windows are the most obvious points of entry for potential criminals, but there are other ways for them to break in as well. Determined burglars will find any number of ways to enter your home, whether that means bringing a ladder to reach a window or forcing their way into your garage and then your home.

The solution here is to install a comprehensive alarm system that encompasses every potential access point. Our expert staff can create an easy-to-use system that envelops your whole home from basement to attic, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.

 MAKE SURE YOUR ALARM SYSTEM IS BEING MONITORED

If you’re on vacation and your home alarm goes off, it’s crucial to have someone respond as fast as possible. If you’re in an area with poor cellphone reception or are tied up with other obligations, it may be hours before you find out what happened, and by that point it’s too late to make any meaningful response.

The answer to this dilemma is 24-hour professional monitoring from a company like Safe Home Security. We’ll let you know the minute something has happened to your home and take appropriate action, ensuring a rapid response to any situation.

While we strongly recommend you have someone else monitoring your alarm system for you at all times, that may not be practical for everyone. If that’s the case, you should at least make sure your system sends alerts to your phone if an incident occurs and that you can check your system’s status whenever you want. These features are vital to ensuring the continued security of your home.

To learn more about Safe Home Security’s home alarm systems and other security services for Orlando residents, give us a call at 800-833-3211 or fill out this form.

The post Simple Tips to Keep Your Home and Family Secure appeared first on Safehome Security.