Home Security for Snowbirds: Protecting Your Arizona Home While You Are Away

Seasonal living is part of what makes Arizona special. Many families spend the cooler months here and leave when summer arrives, while others keep a winter home and spend the rest of the year somewhere else. Either way, the house sits empty for weeks or months at a time, and an empty house has different needs than one with people coming and going every day.

The good news is that modern security and smart home tools make it far easier to manage a seasonal home from a distance. Here is a practical checklist for snowbirds, whether you are packing up for the summer or opening the house back up for winter.

Arm and Check Your System From Anywhere

A security system with a mobile app lets you confirm the house is armed after you leave, see whether any door or window has been opened, and get an alert the moment something happens. That peace of mind is hard to overstate when you are a few states away.

• Confirm remote arming works before you leave. Practice arming and disarming from your phone while you are still home, so you are comfortable with the app.
• Turn on the notifications you care about. Alarm events, arming changes and doors opening are the most useful alerts for an empty house.
• Choose a system with a cellular connection. If the power or internet drops while you are gone, a cellular communicator can still send alarm signals to the monitoring center.

You can learn more about how monitored home security systems work, including professional monitoring that contacts you and the authorities if an alarm goes off.

Use Cameras for Quick Check-Ins

Outdoor, doorbell and indoor cameras turn your phone into a window back home. A quick look each morning can tell you whether a package was left on the porch, whether the landscaper came as scheduled, or whether a monsoon storm blew the patio furniture into the pool.

• Cover the entry points. A doorbell camera at the front door and an outdoor camera on the driveway or side yard give you a good picture of who comes and goes.
• Use motion-triggered clips. Clips let you review activity without watching hours of footage.
• Talk through the doorbell. Two-way voice lets you speak to a delivery driver or service worker as if you were standing inside.

For more ideas on camera placement, see our guide to video surveillance in Arizona.

Give Service Workers Their Own Smart Lock Codes

Many seasonal homes have a pool service, landscaper, house sitter or neighbor who needs access while you are away. Handing out physical keys makes it hard to know who has one and when they used it. A smart lock solves both problems.

• Create a separate code for each person. Your app can show which code was used and when, so you know the house sitter actually stopped by.
• Limit codes to certain days or hours if your lock supports scheduled access.
• Delete codes when the work ends. When you change pool companies or a sitter's job is done, remove their code in seconds.

Protect the House From Summer Heat

An empty Arizona house in July still needs some cooling. Shutting the air conditioning off completely can let indoor temperatures climb high enough to stress electronics, damage some finishes and furnishings, and encourage humidity problems during monsoon season. Rather than guessing, ask your HVAC professional what set point makes sense for your home and contents.

A smart thermostat makes this easy to manage. You can raise the temperature to an energy-saving level while you are gone, check the indoor temperature from your phone, and get an alert if something seems off, such as a reading that keeps climbing. Before you return, lower the set point a day ahead so the house is comfortable when you walk in. Our page on home automation covers how thermostats, locks and lights can all work from one app.

Make the House Look Lived In

An obviously empty home stands out. Small touches help it look occupied:

• Put lights on schedules. Smart lights or plugs can turn lamps on in the evening and off at bedtime, with a little variation from night to night.
• Hold the mail and packages. Use the postal service's mail hold, and pause or redirect deliveries so boxes do not pile up at the door.
• Keep the yard tidy. Keep landscaping on its normal schedule so the house looks cared for.
• Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out. A trusted neighbor can move a stray flyer or let you know if something looks wrong.

Update Your Contacts Before You Go

If your alarm is professionally monitored, the monitoring center relies on your contact list when an alarm goes off. When you are out of state, that list matters even more.

1. Confirm your current mobile number and email with your security provider.
2. Add a local contact, such as a neighbor or house sitter, who can check on the home in person.
3. Remove anyone who no longer has access or has moved away.
4. Let your provider know the dates you will be gone if they offer a vacation note.
5. Test the system with your provider before you leave so you know signals are reaching the monitoring center.

When you return, walk the house before settling in. Check that every sensor and camera is online, replace any low batteries the app has flagged, review your lock codes, and reset your thermostat and lighting schedules for full-time living.

Adapt Home works with seasonal residents in communities across the state, from Scottsdale to Surprise and Tucson. If you would like help setting up a system you can manage from anywhere, get a free quote or call (833) 902-5036 to talk with a security specialist.

Frequently asked questions