I live in an area heavily populated by snowbirds. Snowbirds are people who head to warmer climates for the winter months before turning around and going home for the summer. It is not my cup of tea, but I know a lot of people who do it. My biggest concern for them is home security.
My wife and I moved to Florida more than a decade ago. When we first announced are plans to move, we got endless questions about snowbirding. Were we still going to come north during the summer months, or did we plan to live in Florida full time. Full-time residency was our ultimate choice. Had we decided to snowbird, security would have been my top priority – for both homes.
By definition, snowbirding requires leaving one or more residences unoccupied for long periods of time. The big question is how to keep an unoccupied home safe even when you are not there. It seems to me that snowbirds should employ the following three strategies, at the very least:
1. Electronic Home Security
The most important strategy involves equipping unoccupied homes with monitored home security. To maximize security and safety, a system should be equipped with:
- Sensors for first-floor windows and doors.
- At least one video camera (with a view of the front door)
- Several interior motion sensors.
- Connected smoke and carbon monoxide sensors.
- A water sensor installed near the water heater.
Electronic home security with professional monitoring encourages a much faster response in the event something goes wrong. Let’s say you had a Vivint Home Security system monitored 24/7. The minute an alert comes in, Vivint personnel spring into action.
Professional monitoring can limit losses in the event of a burglary, flood, fire, etc. Best of all, you still get alerts on your smartphone. You aren’t kept out of the loop just because your system is being professionally monitored.
2. Home Automation Tech
The second strategy is to combine home automation tech with an electronic security system. From a security standpoint, I am thinking about automated lighting. A good lighting schedule can simulate movement throughout your house during the nighttime hours. It can confuse burglars questioning whether someone is home.
Along those same lines, you could simulate activity by automatically turning the TV on and off. You could automate irrigation, the blinds on your windows rising and lowering, and so much more. Every bit of simulated activity works in your favor.
3. A Neighbor Willing to Keep an Eye on Things
A willing neighbor is the third strategy. That neighbor ties together electronic home security and home automation tech. Indeed, a neighbor willing to help you out while you are away can prove to be the most invaluable resource of all. A neighbor can:
- Check on Things – Having a neighbor actually go into your house and check on things offers an extra layer of safety and security that electronic devices simply cannot offer.
- Keep a Watchful Eye – Neighbors keeping a watchful eye on the neighborhood are extremely valuable to preventing crime. Criminals do not like neighbors who pay attention.
- Park In Your Driveway – A neighbor could park in your driveway while here away. Combining a car in the driveway with automated activities just about seals the deal in terms of confusing burglars.
Neighbors are fantastic resources if they are willing to help out. By combining a watchful neighbor with electronic surveillance and simulated activity, a snowbird can increase the chances of not becoming a victim during those off months. If I were thinking of snowbirding, I would do all three things.