As we enter the holiday season we cannot help but turn our minds towards home and family.  In 2020 travel to your quaint hometown for the holidays might be different.  Perhaps you plan to live stream your dinner with multiple families.  Maybe you’ll share favorite recipes or send treats through the mail.  If you do plan to leave home, be sure to remember the following things:

1. Lock your doors
2. Close your garage
3. Arm your IQ Panel in “Away” mode
4. Turn off all your appliances
5. Set up your lights to automatically turn on throughout the day and evening to give your home that “lived in” feel
6. Ensure your indoor, outdoor, and video doorbell cameras are working
7. Make sure your flood sensors, smoke detectors, and Caron Monoxide detectors are working.  (You may want to test your system!)
8. Ensure your mobile app can connect remotely so you can view and control anything you “forgot”

Isn’t it wonderful to know you can manage any and all of these items remotely?  We are truly grateful for the amazing technology that makes it all possible.  Stay safe this holiday season, and don’t worry about your home while you are gone, we’ll take care of it for you!

You never expect a fire to occur in your home or apartment, but when you do the first thought is, “Is everyone safe?”

The shrill siren of the smoke alarm can be absolutely terrifying, especially if it happens unexpectedly. Sure it’s annoying when you burn the toast or singe the turkey, but you anticipate that triggering as smoke fills the room.  It's completely different when it occurs in the middle of the night.  After the initial wave of terror and shock, several questions might smack you in the brain:

The new Apple Watch Series 6 is amazing, and if you’re like me, you are checking your Blood o2 levels, heart rate, and performing Electro Cardiograms hourly.  But what can you do with the Alarm.com app?

The Alarm.com app for App Watch is elegant and easy to use.  The first screen has easy to touch menu system that shows off all the different aspects of your smart home that you currently have installed. For me scenes is at the top of the list, giving me access to the scenes I’ve created on my phone including home, away, sleep, opening and closing my garage, and my personal favorite: Movie Time.  With a single touch an entire series of actions cascades across my home: doors lock, lights turn off, and the security system arms.

Probably the coolest function of the Alarm.com app on Apple Watch app is the ability to view cameras on your wrist.  Get a live stream anywhere.  See the puppy, check on the kids, peep the driveway, or check for deer in the back yard.  Its easy, fast, and fun.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to check on the cat…

Coming home to a smart apartment is easiest with a smart door lock with either pushbutton or touchscreen interface. Never worry about carrying keys again with code based access that allows only those authorized to enter the apartment.  Codes can be granted for up to 242 unique users, and access can even be limited to specific days of the week or times of the day.

Make coming home even easier with Bluetooth Touchless Disarming. Pair your smartphone with the Qolsys #IQPanel, and when you leave, arm the system in “away mode.”  Your apartment and its contents will be safe and protected while you are gone. When you return, the #IQPanel instantly detects your phone as it gets in range (up to 60 feet away) will disarm the security system and unlock the front door. You simply walk inside!  It’s the easiest and most convenient way to return home without typing your codes, and with the encrypted, individually authenticated connection via Bluetooth it’s safe and secure.