You’ve spent months planning the perfect getaway. Your flights are booked, your itinerary is set, and you’re counting down the days until you can finally relax. But there’s one crucial detail that could make or break your peace of mind: securing your home while you’re away.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals that residential break-ins increase by up to 30% during peak holiday periods, with December and January showing the highest spike in property crimes. What’s even more concerning? Most of these incidents could have been prevented with proper preparation and the right security measures.
Your home doesn’t have to become a target while you’re sipping cocktails on a tropical beach or exploring a new city. With expert planning and the right combination of physical security upgrades, smart technology, and community support, you can enjoy your vacation knowing your property is protected.
The team at North Coast Blinds & Security has helped thousands of homeowners across the region transform their properties into secure fortresses that would-be intruders simply skip over. We’ve seen firsthand which security measures work and which ones fail when it matters most.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover how to conduct a thorough security assessment, upgrade your physical defences, leverage cutting-edge technology like automated blinds and smart security systems, and create an effective support network that keeps watch while you’re away.
Assessing Your Current Security Measures
Before you can protect what matters most, you need to understand where you’re vulnerable. Most homeowners assume their basic locks and maybe a security sticker or two provide adequate protection. The reality is far different.
Conducting a Pre-Vacation Security Audit
Walk around your property with fresh eyes – better yet, ask a trusted friend to help. Start at the street and work your way in, just as a potential intruder would. Look for obvious vulnerabilities: overgrown bushes that provide hiding spots, tools left in the yard that could aid a break-in, or windows that are clearly non-visible from public areas.
Check every entry point, including doors you rarely use. That side gate you haven’t opened in months. Test its lock! The bathroom window you always leave cracked for ventilation. Consider how easily someone could access it. Many break-ins occur through these forgotten access points.
Examine your existing locks carefully. If you can see gaps around the door frame when the door is closed, or if the lock feels loose when you turn it, these are red flags. Standard door locks installed by builders often meet minimum requirements but offer little resistance to determined intruders.
Common security gaps include inadequate lighting around entry points, weak door frames that can be kicked in despite good locks, and windows without proper security hardware. Ground-floor windows are particularly vulnerable, especially those hidden from view by landscaping or fencing.
Identifying High-Risk Areas
Your security audit should pay special attention to areas that offer easy, concealed access. Ground-floor windows facing side yards or backyards are prime targets because intruders can work without being seen by neighbours or passersby. Check whether these windows have quality locks and consider their visibility from neighbouring properties.
Back doors and side entrances often receive less attention from homeowners but are favourite entry points for burglars. These areas typically have less lighting and foot traffic, making them ideal for forced entry attempts. Assess the strength of these doors, the quality of their locks, and the lighting around them.
Don’t forget about your garage and any outbuildings. Garages often contain valuable tools and equipment, but they also frequently provide access to the main house through connecting doors. Check that your garage door is secure and that any connecting doors have quality locks.
Review your property boundaries as well. Fencing can be a deterrent, but it can also provide concealment for intruders once they’re inside your perimeter. Consider whether your fencing helps or hinders your security goals.
Upgrading Physical Security Features
Physical security forms the foundation of any effective home protection strategy. While technology plays an increasingly important role, nothing replaces solid, well-installed hardware that creates real barriers to entry.
Lock Systems and Entry Point Reinforcement
Standard door locks might keep honest people honest, but they won’t stop someone who’s determined to get inside. Upgrading to deadbolts with at least a 25mm throw provides significantly better protection. Look for deadbolts that meet Australian Standard AS 4145, which ensures they’ve been tested against common attack methods.
Multi-point locking systems take security a step further by securing doors at multiple points along the frame. These systems are particularly effective on tall doors or doors with glass panels, as they distribute the stress of an attack across multiple anchor points rather than concentrating it on a single lock.
The strongest lock in the world won’t help if your door frame is weak. Many door frames can be reinforced with longer screws that anchor into the wall studs rather than just the trim. Striker plate reinforcement kits are available that dramatically increase the force required to kick in a door.
Consider the doors themselves as well. Hollow core doors offer minimal security, while solid wood or steel doors provide much better resistance. If you have glass panels near your locks, ensure they’re made of laminated or tempered glass that won’t easily shatter.
Window Security Enhancements
Windows represent a significant vulnerability in most homes, yet they’re often overlooked in security planning. Quality window locks are your first line of defence, but they shouldn’t be your only one.
Security film applied to windows won’t prevent them from breaking, but it will hold the glass together, making it much more difficult and time-consuming to create an opening large enough to climb through. This added time often discourages intruders who prefer quick, quiet entry.
For ground-floor windows or those in secluded areas, consider laminated glass, which consists of two sheets of glass with a plastic interlayer. This construction makes the glass extremely difficult to penetrate and significantly reduces the noise created during break-in attempts.
Security screens offer another layer of protection while maintaining ventilation and visibility. Modern security screens are nearly invisible but provide substantial resistance to cutting and prying. They’re particularly valuable for windows you might want to leave open for airflow while you’re away.
Smart Technology Solutions
Technology has revolutionised home security, offering solutions that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Smart security systems don’t just detect intrusions – they can actively deter them and provide real-time monitoring from anywhere in the world.
Smart Blinds and Automated Window Coverings
One of the most effective ways to make your home appear occupied is through automated window coverings. Smart blinds from North Coast Blinds & Security can be programmed to open and close throughout the day, mimicking your normal routine even when your thousands of kilometres away.
The key to effective automation is creating realistic patterns. Don’t just set your blinds to open at 7 AM and close at 6 PM every day. Instead, program them to follow more natural patterns – bedroom blinds might open later on weekends, lounge room blinds might close when the afternoon sun gets strong, and kitchen blinds might stay open longer during dinner preparation times.
Modern smart blind systems can integrate with your home’s automation hub, allowing them to respond to other triggers. They might close automatically when your security system detects motion outside, or open gradually as sunset approaches to simulate someone preparing for the evening.
The psychological impact of automated blinds shouldn’t be underestimated. Potential intruders often watch properties for days before attempting entry, looking for signs of vacancy. Blinds that move naturally throughout the day send a strong signal that someone is home and active.
Comprehensive Security System Integration
Today’s security systems go far beyond simple door and window alarms. Integrated systems can include motion sensors, glass break detectors, smoke alarms, and even water leak sensors, all monitored from a central hub.
Smart cameras have become increasingly sophisticated and affordable. Modern systems offer high-definition video, night vision, and two-way audio communication. More importantly, they can send real-time alerts to your phone and allow you to monitor your property from anywhere with internet access.
Smart locks represent another significant advancement. These devices allow you to monitor and control access to your home remotely. You can provide temporary codes to neighbours or service providers, receive notifications when doors are opened, and even unlock doors remotely in case of emergencies.
The real power of smart security comes from integration. A comprehensive system might detect motion in your backyard, automatically turn on lights, start recording video, and send an alert to your phone, all within seconds of the initial detection.
Creating the Illusion of Occupancy
The most effective security strategy is often the simplest: making your home look like someone’s there even when it’s empty. Burglars prefer unoccupied properties because they reduce the risk of confrontation and increase the time available to search for valuables.
Lighting and Electrical Strategies
Lighting automation has evolved far beyond basic timers. Modern smart switches and plugs can create sophisticated lighting patterns that closely mimic human behaviour. Program different rooms to light up at various times, creating the impression that someone is moving through the house.
Vary your lighting patterns throughout your absence. Monday’s schedule shouldn’t look identical to Tuesday’s. Some smart systems can even create random variations automatically, ensuring your home never falls into predictable patterns that might tip off observant criminals.
Don’t forget about background noise. Televisions and radios left on timers can create the audio signature of an occupied home. Modern smart plugs can control these devices with the same sophistication as your lighting, creating realistic patterns of use.
Consider outdoor lighting as well. Motion-activated lights serve dual purposes: they startle potential intruders and create the appearance that someone inside has turned on lights in response to activity outside.
Mail, Deliveries, and Outdoor Maintenance
Nothing screams “nobody’s home” like an overflowing mailbox or a pile of packages on the doorstep. Australia Post offers mail holding services that can redirect your mail to a post office for collection when you return. Set this up well before your departure date, as processing can take several business days.
Coordinate with regular delivery services as well. If you receive regular packages or have subscriptions that deliver, contact these companies to arrange holds or redirections. Many services can temporarily redirect deliveries to neighbours or secure pickup locations.
Outdoor maintenance might seem like a minor detail, but it’s often what gives away an empty home. Arrange for someone to maintain your lawn, water plants, and generally keep your property looking lived-in. Dead plants and overgrown grass are clear indicators of an absent homeowner.
Don’t forget about bin collection days. Bins that sit empty at the curb for days after collection, or full bins that never get put out, both signal vacancy. Ask a neighbour to help manage your bins according to your normal routine.
Neighbourhood Watch and Community Support
Your neighbours are your most valuable security asset. They know what normal activity looks like around your property, and they’re able to respond quickly if something seems wrong. Building strong relationships with neighbours creates a network of eyes and ears that no security system can match.
Building Your Support Network
Start building your security network well before your departure. Identify neighbours you trust and who are likely to be home during your absence. Provide them with your contact details, your travel dates, and information about any legitimate activity they might expect to see around your property.
Create detailed instruction sheets for your neighbours. Include information about your normal routines, descriptions of your vehicles, details about any service providers who might visit, and clear instructions about what constitutes suspicious activity. The more specific you can be, the more effective their monitoring will be.
Consider providing trusted neighbours with keys and alarm codes, but only if you’re comfortable with this level of access. Having someone who can quickly check your property or respond to alarm activations can be invaluable, especially for false alarms that might otherwise result in security company callouts.
Establish clear communication protocols. Decide how and when neighbours should contact you about concerns, and make sure they have multiple ways to reach you, including emergency contacts in case you’re unreachable.
Professional Monitoring Services
Professional security monitoring provides 24/7 oversight of your property’s alarm systems. When an alarm triggers, monitoring stations can verify the emergency and contact police, fire services, or other emergency responders as needed.
Consider the difference between house-sitting services and periodic check-ins. House-sitters provide a physical presence that’s hard to replicate, but they’re not always practical or affordable for shorter trips. Regular check-in services offer a middle ground, with trained professionals visiting your property according to a set schedule.
Local security patrol services can provide an additional layer of protection. These services typically involve unmarked or marked security vehicles making random passes through your neighbourhood, with special attention to your property. The visibility of these patrols can deter criminal activity in your entire area.
Integration is key when working with professional services. Ensure your security company has current contact information, knows your travel dates, and understands any special circumstances about your property or alarm systems.
Travel Preparation and Communication
The digital age has created new security considerations that didn’t exist a generation ago. Your online activity and digital communications can inadvertently advertise your absence to potential criminals.
Social Media and Digital Security
Social media oversharing represents one of the biggest security risks for travellers. Those beautiful beach photos might be perfect for Instagram, but they’re also announcing to hundreds or thousands of people that your home is currently unoccupied. Save the vacation photos for after you return.
Review your social media privacy settings before you travel. Even if you’re not posting vacation content, friends and family might tag you in posts or photos that reveal your location. Make sure your accounts are set to require approval for tagged content.
Be cautious with automatic posting features and location sharing. Many apps and devices can automatically share your location or post content without active input from you. Turn off these features before you travel.
Set up professional-sounding email autoresponders that don’t mention your travel dates or duration. A message like “Thank you for your email. I’m currently away from the office and will respond when I return” is much safer than “I’m in Bali for three weeks and will get back to you when I return on March 15th.”
Documentation and Emergency Planning
Create comprehensive information packets for anyone who might need to access your property or make decisions about your security while you’re away. Include copies of important insurance documents, contact information for your security company, utility providers, and other relevant services.
Maintain detailed emergency contact lists that include local police, your security monitoring company, trusted neighbours, and reliable contractors who could respond to urgent issues. Make sure these lists are accessible to anyone who might need them.
Document your security measures and their operation. If someone needs to disarm your alarm system or access your smart home controls, clear instructions can prevent mistakes that might compromise your security or result in false alarms.
Plan your return protocol carefully. Decide who will reactivate systems, when you’ll notify neighbours of your return, and how you’ll verify that your property remained secure during your absence.
Secure Your Peace of Mind
Protecting your home while you’re on vacation doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require planning and the right combination of strategies. The most effective approach layers multiple security measures: upgraded physical barriers, smart technology that creates the illusion of occupancy, and community support that provides human oversight.
Remember that every property is different, and what works perfectly for your neighbour might not be the best solution for your situation. Factors like your property’s layout, your neighbourhoods characteristics, your travel patterns, and your budget all influence which security measures will be most effective.
The investment you make in home security pays dividends that extend far beyond preventing break-ins. There’s immeasurable value in being able to truly relax during your vacation, knowing that you’ve taken every reasonable precaution to protect your property and possessions.
Don’t wait until the week before your next trip to start thinking about security. The best protection comes from systems and relationships that are established well in advance and tested before you need to rely on them.
Pre-Vacation Security Checklist
Two Weeks Before Departure
- Conduct a comprehensive security audit
- Schedule any necessary security upgrades
- Contact neighbours and establish check-in protocols
- Arrange mail and delivery holds
- Test all security systems and backup power sources
One Week Before Departure
- Programme smart blinds and lighting timers
- Set up automated systems and test functionality
- Confirm neighbour arrangements and emergency contacts
- Review insurance policies and documentation
- Charge all security device batteries
Day of Departure
- Activate all security systems and monitoring
- Set smart blinds to automated schedules
- Secure all entry points and windows
- Remove valuables from view
- Confirm all timers and automation are functioning
- Notify security company of departure (if applicable)
- Double-check mail and delivery arrangements
- Leave emergency contact information with neighbours
Ready to transform your home into a secure fortress that gives you complete peace of mind during your travels? The experts at North Coast Blinds & Security are here to help. We’ll assess your specific needs, recommend the most effective solutions for your property and budget, and ensure everything is properly installed and tested before your next adventure.
Contact North Coast Blinds & Security today for a personalised security consultation. Your perfect vacation awaits – and now you can enjoy every moment of it.