Online shopping has grown in popularity in 2020 and the trend shows no sign of stopping. When you buy online, you can access a wider range of products and budget-friendly prices, and you don’t even have to leave your home!
However, there is one potentially weak link when it comes to online shopping. If you aren’t available to accept your packages when they’re delivered, there’s a chance they could be stolen or damaged. Fortunately, solutions to make your home a smart home can reduce the risk of this happening and make online shopping easier than ever.
To enhance your home security and prevent your packages from being stolen, take a look at these top tips :
Video Doorbells
A doorbell with a built-in video camera allows you to see anyone approaching your property, at any time of the day or night. With Wi-Fi capabilities, you can even hook your video doorbell up to your home internet and view the footage from any location. This means you can keep an eye on what’s happening at home when you’re at work or away, which is particularly useful.
However, there is another advantage associated with having a video doorbell. When you are home, a video doorbell allows you to check who’s at your door before you answer it. You could ask a courier to show their ID or confirm their reason for visiting your property before you put yourself at risk, for example.
Install a Smart Locker
A smart locker is essentially a secure box or outhouse that’s on your property but not within your home. You can set a designated password or security code and share this information with couriers when you place an order. This ensures they’re able to deliver your packages to a safe location but prevents anyone else from accessing them.
By changing the password or security code regularly, you can ensure that only a select few people or companies have the code at any one time, which helps to keep things secure. Furthermore, a smart locker can be hooked up to your home automation system to incorporate CCTV cameras and remote access. This means you could lock and unlock your smart locker from any location, using remote access on your cellphone.
Use Exterior Lighting
Exterior lighting can deter would-be thieves and trespassers from venturing on to your property. When it gets dark early in the winter months, this can be a particularly effective way of dissuading potential thieves from attempting to steal packages.
Whether you choose to set a timer for when exterior lights will come on, use motion-activated lights or control your lighting remotely, illuminating your property can be an easy, yet effective, way to keep it safe.
Creating a Smart Home
Turning your property into a smart home enhances its functionality and can increase security. With so many devices and systems, however, it can be tricky to know what’s right for your home. With professional advice, you can ensure that your new smart home devices are fully compatible with one another and deliver the range of features you need.
