Back-to-school time comes with big changes to schedules and new concerns for parents. Kazar Security uses smart home security from Alarm.com, so your child coming home safely is less likely to be one of them.

If you’re a working parent with older kids, you’re not going to be there every night when the bus drops them off. Traditionally, that would mean a routine of check-in calls and keep tabs on their whereabouts. That can be a hassle for everyone in the family.

Not so with Alarm.com, which easily provides the perfect back to school awareness solution to keep you worry-free. If you’re already a user, here’s how to do it. (If not, here’s why you should be).

1: Add a Smart Lock

Keys are small and easy to lose. Kids can be absent-minded – particularly with all that homework on their minds. Combine the two and there’s a good chance you might be making a few trips to the hardware store for extra keys this fall.

Wait—you hid a spare key under a planter? That’s a solution that a burglar will thank you for. A better way to go is a smart lock for your front door. It’s a permanent solution to lost (and poorly-hidden) keys. They open with easy to remember four-digit codes or from anywhere with our smartphone app.

2: Set Up User Codes

User codes don’t just open doors, though. They provide peace of mind, even when the security system is disarmed.

With your smart lock integrated into your Smart Home Security system, your child’s user code can trigger an instant alert when they use it.

That means you’ll know exactly when they arrive home. There’s no need for them to text, no need for you to call, and no need for you to wonder—it’s completely automatic. For additional awareness, you can create a no-show alert, which lets you know if they’re not home by a certain time. Then you know to follow up.

3: Add an Image Sensor

So who else is home? If you don’t want your home to turn into a neighborhood hangout in the afternoon, then it’s a good idea to keep tabs on who’s there.

An image sensor is a motion sensor with an onboard camera that lets you visually verify who’s coming in and out of your home. Positioned in the hallway overlooking the front door, it can take a snapshot right when your kids arrive home so you can rest assured that they’re following your rules on after-school guests.

4: Program Your Smart Thermostat

Kids have more exciting things to worry about than keeping the energy bill down, so they often overlook closing doors and windows when the AC is running.

You can rest easy about your kids ‘cooling the neighborhood’ with an Alarm.com Smart Thermostat, which can automatically set back to ‘savings mode’ if they leave the door open for any length of time.

You can also keep more control over the temperature settings in your home, even when you’re not there. Set a schedule on your Alarm.com Smart Thermostat and create an alert so you’ll know if anyone makes an adjustment on the thermostat. You can even restrict temperature changes so they can only be made from the mobile app, not the device.

Don’t Have Alarm.com? Get Started Today

To get connected with an Alarm.com system in your home, click here.

Sources:
Alarm.com

Your vacation should be relaxing and worry-free. That’s why it’s a good idea to prepare your home before you leave on any long trip. Then, any problems on the home front are just one less thing to worry about.

Make your house look lived-in

An empty house is like an open invitation to burglars. To keep your house looking occupied:

• Stop the newspaper and mail – or ask a trusted neighbor to pick them up
• Park your car in the garage, if you have one
• Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway occasionally so there’s activity at your house
• Put at least one light in your house on a timer
• Install a motion-activated sensor on an outdoor floodlight. (Burglars hate outdoor lighting – and that’s why we love it)
• Make sure your lawn stays trimmed

Take the necessary plumbing and electrical precautions

Running appliances while you’re away is not only a needless expense, it could also lead to costly problems. To avoid the possibility of an appliance breakdown while you’re away:

• Unplug small appliances and electronic devices
• Put the water heater in “vacation” mode
• Turn off water valves to the dishwasher, washing machine, and all sinks
• Set your thermostat to a temperature close to outside temps (warmer in the summer, cooler in the winter) but which still protects your plants, pets, and furniture

General home preparation
Other things to consider doing before your vacation:

• Notify your credit card company and home security company that you’ll be out of town
• Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly
• Leave your emergency contact information with a neighbor
• Dispose of any food that could go bad before you return from vacation
• Take out the kitchen trash – especially anything that might start to stink
• Run your garbage disposal with a half-cup of vinegar and some water

Following this home preparation checklist before you leave for your vacation could save you a headache later. But don’t forget that the unexpected can follow you on your vacation – which is why it is crucial to stay protected.