21-05-2025
9 Home Security Products To Offer Peace Of Mind
When you're looking ahead to plan the itinerary for a trip, pack and make sure you're on the road in time, you should also take a moment to think about the home you're leaving behind. Keeping your place secure — and taking small steps to make outsiders think you're still home — can ward off possible intruders and protect your belongings or any pets that might still be in the house.
From security cameras you can check on your phone to smart lights you can time to turn on at random moments, there are plenty of home security items that are easy to install and operate for peace of mind. Even better, a bunch of these smart devices can also provide major convenience when you do happen to be at home. Below, check out some of our picks so you're not worried about what you might return home to after your trip.
A set of Kasa smart plugs to remotely control lights in the house
Our readers — and editors! — love Kasa smart plugs for the convenience they provide: You can turn appliances and lights on and off remotely using a voice assistant or the Kasa app and you can set schedules so that you're not wasting energy. But they also come in hand for safety. Using the app's "away" feature, you can set the lights to turn on periodically at random times while you're away so it looks like someone is home. The smart plugs come in packs of three or four and are compatible with Alexa and Google review: "These Kasa products are so easy to set up and use. Download Kasa App. Plug them in and wait for the flashing light. Connect to wifi and that's it. I have 9 in my house for lamps upstairs and down and in my kids bedrooms so I can turn off whatever they didn't. Once connected, they can be moved from one outlet to another. I use these when on vacation or away over night to randomly turn on/off lights. I gave some to my mother and mother-in-law for their safety. I would recommend these to everyone. I also bought and wired outlets and light switches. I do not use with Alexa or Google so I cannot report on their ease of use." —taylor brownGet a four-pack from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in two other pack sizes).
A Ring battery doorbell with a video camera
A Ring video doorbell can help you stay informed of what's happening outside your place, from unexpected visitors to packages getting delivered (though if you're away for long, you should probably hold your mail so it doesn't pile up and make it clear to potential intruders that you're gone). The doorbell has a camera with head-to-toe video and lets you hear and speak to anyone who rings the bell from your phone. You'll also get alerts when motion is detected at your door. The Ring comes in two review: "I adore my Ring doorbell! I live alone in an apartment, and I appreciate that it notifies me anytime someone is walking by. This feature can be turned off, but I like it. Also, lots of cute preset "away" messages if someone rings it and you don't answer. The video quality is 10/10, the sound quality is easy to hear, and the motion detectors can be adjusted in terms of sensitivity. So far, I've had it mounted to my door for a month and the battery is still going strong. Lots of features and high quality materials." —Mara McDonaldGet it from Amazon for $54.99.
A smart, keyless lock with a deadbolt
If you don't already have a deadbolt on your front door, the added security it provides over a standard lock is worth it. Make things easier by choosing a smart, keyless deadbolt lock like this one: You can set a different user code for different members of the household (up to 20), create one-time codes for people who do need access while you're away (like maintenance workers) and eliminate the need for a key that an intruder could find and codes are also anti-peeping, meaning if you're wary that someone might be watching you enter the code for later reference, you can type random numbers before and after to throw them off. The lock auto-locks, takes just minutes to install and comes in three it from Amazon for $32.78+ (available in three colors).
A fake rock to hide spare keys where intruders can't find them
If the lock to your front door does require a key, you may keep a spare somewhere outside in case you lose yours. That's fine, but you'll want to get creative with where you hide it (in other words, don't just put it in the mailbox). This fake rock is hollow inside and the bottom slides shut to keep spare keys safe. Like a real rock, it can withstand harsh weather (though you'll probably want to put the key in a resealable bag first), and if your house has lots of other surrounding rocks or landscape, it can blend right review: "Got this to stash my house key for my pet sitters while I was away on a trip. Works great. It's a little obvious if you leave it out in plain sight so make sure you put it somewhere a little more hidden." —DannyGet it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in two styles).
This gadget that can make your old blinds smart for remote control
In addition to turning lights on and off periodically, you can also open and shut your blinds on occasion to add to the illusion that someone's home. Instead of replacing your blinds for smart ones, though, you can simply retrofit this little gadget to make your blinds able to be opened and shut using remote control. It works with most blinds that have a tilt wand — refer to the product images for more specific parameters. The blind tilt is powered by a solar panel that can charge it for up to eight months of continuous use, and reviewers say it's simple to review: "Works perfectly with blinds. This will be my 7th purchase. Have been using them over a year and they're awesome. Excellent for going on vacation and making it look like you're home. Works with Echo Show and responds to voice commands." —JimmyGet it from Amazon for $69.99.
A pair of outdoor security cameras powered by solar energy
While something like the Ring doorbell needs to be at the front of your house or apartment for obvious reasons, these outdoor solar cameras can be placed elsewhere on the outside of the house to give you a fuller view of the surroundings. The cameras are powered by solar panels you can install separately and run on just two hours of daily direct sunlight, so you never need to charge them. With the cameras, you can see live feeds on your phone, receive alerts of detected activity and use the built-in spotlight and alarm system to ward off intruders. Each camera's wide-angle lens has a 166-degree it from Amazon for $179.97+ (available in three styles).
Plus these mini Blink indoor security cameras
You don't just want to see what's happening outside your home while you're away — you'll want to be able to see if anything happens inside, too. These Blink mini cameras have 1080P video so you can get a clear view of your home. They're also equipped with motion detection, night vision and two-way audio so you can talk to pets or any visitors that might be at your place while you're gone. The cameras work with Alexa for remote control and connect via USB cables for easy installation. You can get them in black or two from Amazon for $49.99 (also available in other pack sizes).
This programmable timer with a random "vacation mode"
If having a ton of products that control all the devices in your home feels overwhelming, that's totally understandable. You can use this no-frills programmable timer that allows you to plug in up to two devices — say, a couple lamps you have right by the front window. The timer lets you set and automate programs for up to seven days. Choose the "vacation mode" for the timer to randomly turns connected lights on and off to make it look like someone's review: "This timer works well. The programming instructions seemed a bit overly detailed at first, but once I followed them step by step, the process became easier. I selected the random on/off timing function and plugged two table lamps into the timer, tested it a few nights before my out of town trip, and it worked perfectly. The random function varies the on/off time by 30 minutes. Your lamp(s) will most likely have an on/off switch or on/off pull chain. Remember to turn the lamp's switch (or pull chain) to the "on" position after plugging the lamp's power cord into the timer, so that the timer controls when the light will actually turn on or off." —AndiGet it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in five styles).
The Ring Alarm Pro 8-piece security system
The Ring Alarm Pro includes four contacts sensors for windows and doors, and will alert you through the Ring app if someone tries to open any of them. That's in addition to a motion detector, alarm range extender, base and keypad. The whole system is powered by WiFi and easy to install because the router is built in. The system is also compatible with Alexa for even more review: "I feel so much safer as a single mom with babies knowing when my doors and windows are being opened or when there's motion in my hallway or when I'm away with the kids has brought me such a peace of mind!! I had Maintence men coming into my apartment to complete work orders at 7am while I was in the shower!!!! And they just came right into the house! I had to get special approval to install this in my apartment but once they saw it doesn't prevent them from using their own keys they were okay with it!" —RhiannonGet it from Amazon for $299.99.
