10 Tips to Keep Your Home Safe This Memorial Day Weekend
Learn some smart tips for keeping your home safe and sound while you’re away.
Smart home security cameras have become the best solution for homeowners wanting peace of mind, especially during holiday travel. Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer trips, barbecues, and beach getaways. But while you're out making memories, your home shouldn't be left unprotected.
Using smart home security cameras, particularly wireless floodlight cameras, is one of the easiest ways to keep tabs on your property when you're away. This guide will walk you through practical tips and lesser-known tricks to secure your home while enjoying your long weekend.
#1 Install a Floodlight Camera Before You Travel
A well-placed security camera is great. A floodlight camera? Even better. Devices like the Toucan Security Floodlight Camera combine HD video, bright motion-activated lights, a siren, and two-way audio into one compact setup. That means you can see, talk, and even scare off someone from anywhere in the world straight from your phone.
This camera offers a 180-degree wide-angle view and 1080p full HD video. That’s sharp enough to catch license plates and facial details, even at night. Plus, with the motion-detection floodlight, it records and reacts. That’s a strong deterrent for anyone snooping around after dark.
#2 Use Real-Time Alerts to Stay In the Loop
Thanks to motion-triggered notifications, your phone becomes your front door watchdog. The moment the camera senses something, it sends you a real-time alert. It doesn’t matter if you’re hiking upstate or sunbathing in Florida, because you’ll know if someone’s near your house.
You can then open the app, view a live feed, and decide what to do. Maybe it’s just your neighbor’s cat (again), or maybe it’s time to hit the siren. Either way, you're in control, even when you're not at home.
#3 Schedule the Lights to Make It Look Like You’re Home
A dark, quiet house for three straight nights? That’s a giveaway. But with smart lighting features, your home doesn’t have to "look" empty.
The Toucan Floodlight Camera, through its companion app, the Toucan Smart Home app, allows you to set custom light schedules. For example, turn on the floodlight around 7:30 PM and off around midnight. Add in a few smart bulbs inside your home on timers, and you’ve got yourself a convincing “someone’s home” vibe.
#4 Set Up Custom Activity Zones
No one wants their phone buzzing every time a squirrel dances in the yard. This is where custom activity zones save the day. You can draw specific areas within the camera’s view to monitor, like your front porch or driveway, while ignoring less important zones like the tree in your front yard.
This cuts down on false alerts and helps the camera focus on the places that matter most. That means better battery performance, sharper notifications, and less digital noise while you’re away.
#5 Use Two-Way Audio to Check In or Call Out
Your delivery guy is knocking. You’re 200 miles away. No problem. The built-in microphone and speaker let you talk directly through the floodlight camera. You can ask them to leave the package behind the gate, or tell someone wandering too close that they’re on camera. Just that simple “Hey, can I help you?” can make a stranger rethink what they’re doing.
Plus, it's handy for checking in on the kids, your dog walker, or anyone else stopping by while you're out of town.
#6 Don’t Forget the Cloud Storage
Footage is only useful if you can see it later. Smart cameras like Toucan’s offer encrypted cloud storage, which means your clips are safely saved online, away from the risk of being deleted if the camera is damaged or stolen.
Subscription plans include up to seven days of rolling video history for free, with upgrade options if you need more. This is especially helpful for reviewing any odd activity while you were away or sharing clips with neighbors or the police if needed.
#7 Check Local Crime Maps Before Leaving
Here's a tip most people skip: take five minutes to check your local crime map or community watch app before you leave. Websites like CrimeMapping.com give you an idea of what’s been happening nearby – break-ins, suspicious behavior, etc.
If you see a trend, you can take extra precautions like moving valuables out of sight, locking gates, or letting a trusted neighbor know to keep an eye out.
#8 Keep Your Security App Updated
It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many people ignore this. An outdated app can miss motion events or lag in sending alerts. Before you hit the road, check that your Toucan app is up to date.
This ensures the camera runs smoothly, notifications are fast, and all the latest features work as expected.
#9 Use Multiple Cameras for Full Coverage
While the floodlight camera is a powerhouse for driveways and entrances, adding a second camera in the backyard or side yard can fill in the gaps. This layered approach covers your property’s most vulnerable spots.
Toucan’s wireless design means you won’t need to drill through walls or deal with complicated wiring. Just mount, sync with the app, and you're good to go.
#10 Let a Neighbor or Friend Know
Technology is awesome, but a trusted neighbor? Still unbeatable. Before leaving, give someone you trust a heads-up. If an alert pops up or something seems off, they can check in faster than you can drive back.
You can even share limited access to your camera feed with a family member or friend through the Toucan app. That way, you're not the only one on security duty this weekend.
Final Thoughts
This Memorial Day, enjoy your trip without constantly worrying about what’s happening back home. Smart home security cameras like the Toucan Security Floodlight Camera take the stress out of travel by letting you monitor, protect, and control your space, right from your phone. With features like motion alerts, bright floodlights, real-time audio, and cloud storage, your home stays one step ahead, even when you're far away.
So pack up the car, double-check your sunscreen, and hit the road knowing your home has backup. Because peace of mind? That’s what smart security is all about.
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Invest in your home’s security this Memorial Weekend with smart home security cameras from Toucan Solutions!