The post: is brought to you by http://ift.tt/2aDrxEu

 

With summer in full swing, many of us abandon our homes in lieu of summer getaways and adventures. Whether this is for a week or a weekend, ensuring your home is safe and energy efficient is crucial to ensure you can fully relax while on vacation.

There are many ways to make your home safe and efficient while you’re on holiday. With recent technological advancements in home automation, the opportunities to save energy costs are almost endless. We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks that make traveling worry-free, and help your home stay perfectly in tact while you’re away.

 

Make Your Home Look Lived In

When you occupy your home on a daily basis, it is common to see activity such as the lights going on and off or cars leaving the driveway. To create the illusion that your home is occupied, consider purchasing timers to turn your lights on for a few hours at specific times. You could also ask a trusted neighbour to take out the garbage, to make it appear as though nothing is out of the ordinary.

Many homeowners have pets that unfortunately aren’t able to travel with them, and will need looking after while their owners are on holiday. Most of the time, we can ask friends and neighbours to stop by and fill up the food bowls, but leaving a key under the doormat may not be the safest  idea. Garage door openers allow you to set a unique code to open the garage from the outside, and so if you’re comfortable leaving this code with your neighbour (or a friend or family member), this is an easy way to grant access to the inside of your home.

Tip: Limit who you announce your vacation plans to, as you never know if the information is reaching the wrong ears.

 

Save on Energy

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to make sure that your home is actually saving energy while no one is home. There are certain tips you’ve probably heard before, like turning down your thermostat a few degrees or turning off all household lights. There are several home automation tools that can control lights, temperature, and alarms from your smartphone. Many of these devices are relatively inexpensive, and can be controlled on Android, iOS, Windows, and Blackberry phones and tablets. These applications make it easy to control your home from anywhere in the world.

You can add a timer to specific indoor and outdoor lights, or you can set your thermostat to rise in temperature an hour before you arrive home so that you won’t come home to a chilly house. In fact, many energy companies (like Hydro One) offer incentives for homeowners that use specific energy efficient home appliances. Automated thermostats can not only save money on your monthly energy bill, but can also make your home more efficient while you’re out enjoying the beach.     

 

And before you head out, don’t forget to:

• Ensure all windows and doors are closed and locked.

• Make sure all small appliances are unplugged, such as coffee makers and televisions.

• Dispose of any food that may expire before your return.

We believe in creating a home that’s tailored exactly to you and your family’s comfort level. There are so many ways to make your house a home, even when you’re on holiday! While vacations are certainly a fun escape for the family, we know that there’s nothing like coming home to the comfort of your own home. Do you have any special ways to keep your home comfortable while you’re away? Share with us in the comments or on our Facebook page.

 

from Devonleigh Homes http://ift.tt/2ard5fB