Before leaving town, Las Vegas homeowners should review more than doors and windows. A practical home security plan should also account for deliveries, garage access, side gates, camera views, and who receives alerts while the property is unoccupied.
A useful vacation home security checklist covers the full property and the people who may need access. Before leaving a home in Summerlin, Henderson, North Las Vegas, or another Clark County community, walk the same route each time and confirm who will receive alerts while you are away.
Secure every door, garage, and gate
Start at the front door and move around the home in one direction. Physically test each latch and deadbolt instead of relying only on memory or an app status.
A smart lock can report whether it is locked, but the door still needs to be fully closed for the lock to secure it correctly. The same principle applies to the garage door, side gate, and backyard gate.
Before you leave:
- Lock every exterior door and accessible window.
- Confirm the status of each connected smart lock.
- Close the garage door and verify that it reaches the floor.
- Check the latch on side-yard and backyard gates.
- Remove hidden spare keys from predictable exterior locations.
- Bring garage door remotes inside if a vehicle will remain outdoors.
If a relative, pet sitter, or house sitter needs entry, use an individual access code when the equipment supports it. A code can be limited to the dates of the trip and removed after you return, which gives you more control than leaving a shared key outside.
Prepare deliveries and the visible exterior
Scheduled deliveries can continue after you leave unless you pause or redirect them. Review recurring orders, grocery deliveries, and other shipments several days before departure so you have time to change the delivery instructions.
Use a carrier hold, pickup location, or a trusted local contact when those options are available. Make a separate plan for an unexpected package because a camera alert can show a delivery, but it cannot move the item out of view.
Complete this exterior check:
- Remove existing packages, shoes, tools, and other visible items from the porch.
- Confirm that decorations and plants do not block the doorbell camera.
- Move luggage into the vehicle without leaving the front entry unattended for an extended period.
- Arrange for trash and recycling bins to be returned from the curb.
- Ask a trusted person to collect unexpected packages promptly.
Avoid posting real-time trip details on public social accounts. Sharing photos after you return limits the amount of information available about when the home is unoccupied.
Check outdoor areas for heat and monsoon conditions
July travel overlaps with extreme heat and Southern Nevada’s June through September monsoon season. A daylight perimeter walk can identify loose items, blocked views, and equipment areas that need attention before the property is unattended.
Keep the area around the outdoor AC unit clear according to the manufacturer’s or installer’s guidance. Store tools, ladders, boxes, and loose yard items so they do not block equipment access, shift into a camera view, or interfere with a gate.
Then review each camera from the same direction a person or vehicle would approach:
- Confirm that the driveway camera shows the drive path instead of mostly sky, wall, or landscaping.
- Check that the doorbell camera has a clear view of the route to the front door.
- Review side-yard and gate visibility during daylight and after dark.
- Test exterior lights and connected floodlights.
- Trim or reposition plants that move into the field of view.
Sting Alarm can configure smart cameras, compatible locks, garage controls, and connected alerts through the Alarm.com app, depending on the equipment selected. The app can provide one place to review key device status, view camera feeds, and act on supported alerts while you are away.
Test cameras, alerts, and contact information
Run a complete test before the final bags go into the vehicle. Open the app, select each camera, and confirm that the live view loads and shows the correct area.
Walk through the motion zones you expect the cameras or floodlights to cover. Confirm that the intended phone receives the alert, then adjust notification settings if an old device or household member is still listed.
Use this final system check:
- Confirm that each camera appears online.
- Review the live view and current time shown for each camera.
- Test motion alerts and connected floodlights.
- Confirm who receives security, door, garage, and camera notifications.
- Arm the security system in its normal away mode.
- Confirm current contact information when you choose 24/7 Alarm Monitoring.
24/7 Alarm Monitoring can support eligible alarm events, but the household still needs a plan for routine issues such as package collection, property access, or an AC service visit. Make sure the local contact understands what they are authorized to do and how to reach you.
Leave with a clear response plan
Assign one primary contact and one backup before departure. Confirm who can enter the home, who will respond to a non-emergency alert, and who can meet a service provider if maintenance is needed.
Write down the plan in a shared note that includes:
- The names and phone numbers of both contacts.
- The dates when an access code should work.
- Instructions for packages and scheduled visitors.
- The alerts each person is expected to receive.
- The location of water shutoffs or other information a trusted contact may need.
After leaving, complete one brief check from the app. Confirm the armed status, connected lock status, garage position, camera availability, and alert recipients, based on the devices installed in your system.
If this checklist reveals a blocked camera view, an unmonitored entry, or alerts that no longer match your routine, Sting Alarm can review the property and recommend a practical setup. Sting Alarm has served Las Vegas homeowners since 2003. Request a free home security consultation at Sting Alarm before your next trip.
