Vacation Mode: An Example Home Monitoring Plan

Define what vacation mode should do

This illustrative design groups selected automations under a vacation-mode setting. Start by deciding which lights should run, who should receive notifications, and how someone you trust can access the property. Monitoring cannot guarantee that an incident will be detected or prevented.

Coordinate lighting and alerts

A lighting schedule can activate a few chosen rooms at appropriate times. Test the schedule while you are home and give it a clear end condition. Home Assistant automations support the triggers, conditions, and actions used for this kind of coordination.

For compatible local cameras, Frigate provides events that can feed notifications. Its notification documentation explains the supported approach. Adjust the areas and events you care about, then test the results. Detection accuracy depends on the camera view, configuration, and conditions.

Plan access and outages

Use explicit guest-access rules and keep a practical manual way into the property. Check what continues to work locally if the internet fails and which remote features need connectivity. A local recording system and an offsite phone alert have different requirements.

Scope the equipment

You may need compatible lights, a controller, cameras, storage, and a supported lock. Recording retention and any additional detection hardware affect the design. Request a quote that separates hardware, configuration, installation, and optional support; no specific avoided loss or insurance saving is assumed here.

Read about our local-recording cameras, smart locks, and home networking.