Holiday Traveling Is Fun But Let’s Keep Home Safe:

While taking a holiday vacation may be a great way to spend the holidays with family and friends, research says that planning and anticipating your trip can actually make you happier than taking it.

That’s right: late nights researching vacation activities, planning holiday gifts and fun, scrolling on social media for dining options and even shopping for a new wardrobe – are all contributing to that anticipatory happiness.

Looking to extend that blissful, peace of mind? One thing that should be on that trip to-do list is considering the security of your home while you’re away.  

What Burglars Look For:

Burglars look for three things: low risk, ease of entry and opportunity.

For example, if they look through your back sliding door and see an iPad on your kitchen table, they then look for the easiest way to gain entry. If the door is unlocked, it’s a quick grab-and-go by the burglar. If the door is locked, they look for something close to use to break the glass – like a flowerpot, a patio chair or even landscaping pavers.

Here are some tips to consider before your vacation:

1. Never leave valuable items in the line of sight from outside the home.
2. Always lock doors and windows and always close curtains or blinds.
3. Never leave a spare key under a doormat or in a planter.
4. Ensure your yard and landscaping are maintained to help make the home look lived in.
5. Forward your mail for longer trips – or ask a neighbor to bring it in.
6. Arm your security system and alert your Central Monitoring Station of any travel plans because in the event of an actual alarm, they can provide responding authorities with this information. 

What To Consider for a Security System:

Security and home automation are essential for owners who want to stay connected to their investments when traveling. Resideo’s ProSeries Security and Smart Home Platform can help.

For the savvy traveler that wants to enhance home security when they are away, asking yourself these five questions, which can help you select the security system that is right for you.

Does the system’s app allow for easy camera viewing or camera-triggered alerts? 

Not all apps and cameras are created equal. You can look in on your home via cameras using Resideo’s Total Connect App. You can position the cameras in a way that can see the status of your lawn care, the water level of the pool, and any mail accumulating outside the front door. 

Do you want your security system to help save energy? 

Home automation and energy consumption are two key trends emerging in the home security space as the smart home becomes more mainstream. Homeowners want a system that offers the ability to control lighting to ensure the home looks occupied and to also time interior and exterior lights to save energy. Connected thermostats are another way you can keep an eye on your home while managing energy consumption. A Honeywell Home smart thermostat with Resideo Energy Care can learn how your home reacts to changes in weather, and can automatically adjust your temperature to optimize comfort – whether you’re home or away.

Do you want an awareness system or one that takes action for you? 

In an emergency, seconds make a difference. With professional monitoring, dispatchers are trained to manage the alarm process: from receiving the signal, verification of the alarm and when needed, dispatching the authorities. With the new ProSeries Indoor MotionViewer, homeowners can view a video clip to check on an alarm and help prevent false dispatches. The MotionViewers are perfect for those who travel because they provide valuable images and really make a difference in false dispatch reduction.

Does the security system integrate with my existing smart solutions? 

The ProSeries Platform is a game changer because of its ability to connect to other Z-wave solutions – like locks, lights and garage doors.

What is the safety of your home and family worth? 

DIY systems can give you false sense of security. The benefits of professional monitoring are especially important when you are away from home. For example, if you are on a flight traveling to your vacation and your DIY system is triggered, what happens? How are you going to call the police from 40,000 feet?  Do you even know what number you would call once you leave home?

Need Help Protecting Your Home?

Give us a call at 1-434-799-7900, email us at info@securityalliance.net or come by and visit us at 763 Piney Forest Road in Danville, Virgnia!

We would love to help you keep your home safe!

Here Are 9 Thing To Think About:9things to think about:

1. Consider purchasing a whole-home generator.

If power gets knocked out, you may want a backup energy source. A generator can keep a home comfortable when the power is out. It runs on your existing natural gas or LP fuel supply and is connected to your main power line so that if your power shuts off, your generator automatically turns on

2. Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm.

In the event of a power outage, do not use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. These are sources of CO and can lead to a build-up of the deadly gas. Equip your home with CO detectors to help ensure you are alerted to dangerous levels of CO

3. Charge your phone.

Keep your phone charged so you don’t lose contact, and always be prepared by keeping a battery pack

4. Prepare a storm kit

In case of any outages that may leave you vulnerable, you’ll want to have a storm-prep kit. Visit here for a list of items this should contain: https://www.ready.gov/kit

5. Fill your bathtub with water.

If sewage lines become damaged, they can contaminate your drinking or cleaning water. If you fill your bathtub with water, you can use it to flush the toilet or for drinking or cooking.

6. Check downspouts.

Place a water detector in susceptible areas inside your home, and make sure your gutter’s downspouts and extenders are connected and secured so they will not detach during a torrential downpour

7. Clear your property

Ensure that all patio furniture, plants, or anything you do not want to be damaged gets moved indoors.

8. Board up your windows before a hurricane.

With high tropical winds, your glass windows are vulnerable. 1-inch-thick plywood could prevent most indoor damage.

9. Speak to your kids about storm safety

Explain how storms work and while they can be dangerous, there are many ways to prepare. Have a designated place your family can go and make sure your storm-prep kit is in its designated spot.

Don’t be caught off guard by unpredictable weather. Take the right steps to help minimize risks and protect your home and loved ones.

Interested in having carbon monoxide detectors added to your system or interested in getting an alarm system with carbon monoxide detectors?

Give us a call at 1-434-799-7900 or email us info@securityalliance.net

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With the Total Connect Remote Services from Security Alliance, you can not only check on the status of your security system but you can also safely and securely, arm and disarm your alarm, check cameras and videos surveillance and control temperature settings.

Reasons to use Total Connect at home

• Arm and Disarm your security alarm from your smart phone
• Check on status of alarm system
• Monitoring when family comes and goes from home
• Set temperature controls remotely – perfect for when you’re traveling or returning home from work
• View Cameras and Videos from your smartphone
• Get alerts when safe doors are opened and closed
• Lock and Unlock Doors from your smart phone
• See when packages are delivered

Reasons to use Total Connect for your business

• Arm and Disarm your security alarm remotely
• Check on status of alarm system
• View Cameras and Videos from your smartphone
• Get alerts when safe doors are opened and closed
• Know if employees are opening and closing on time

Contact us today to learn more about Total Connect

The Security Alliance of Virginia – Carolina, Inc.
763 Piney Forest Road
Danville, VA 24540

Toll-Free (800) 447-7452
Local: (434) 799-7900

• Furnaces and Heaters are starting to turn on to warm our homes
• Fireplaces are starting to be lit for warmth and festivities
• Holiday gifts are being bought and hidden away
• Unattended Holiday Cooking is one of the leading causes of household fires

Our Pro Series Life Safety and Security System is the perfect gift to purchase this Holiday Season to protect the items and people that you love. 

What does the Pro Series Life Safety and Security System Package include?

• Pro Series Smart Home All-In-One Touchscreen
• Smart Device Remote System Control
• 3 Door/Window Contact Sensors*
• 1 Pet Immune Motion Sensor*
• 1 Smoke/Fire/Heat Detector*
• Door Decals and Yard Sign
• 24/7 Monitoring and Emergency Dispatch Services

* Please ask about Additional Sensors, Smart Home Automation, Cameras and other available options

Call us at 434-799-7900 or email us at dataentry@securityalliance.net 

Or Visit our showroom at 763 Piney Forsest Road, Danville VA 24540