Skip the Gimmicks
Most smart home "security" automations are theater: lights that change color when the doorbell rings, announcements on every Echo, cameras that record everything but alert on nothing useful. The routines that actually improve security are boring, invisible, and run without you thinking about them.
Routine 1: Simulated Occupancy When Away
When your alarm is set to Away mode, smart plugs turn on lamps in different rooms on staggered schedules — living room at dusk, bedroom at 9pm, bathroom briefly at 10pm, all off at 11:30pm. A TV simulator or smart TV plays audio. This makes your home look occupied to anyone watching from outside. Set it once, forget it runs.
Routine 2: Lock Verification at Bedtime
At 11pm (or when you say "goodnight" to your assistant), check all smart locks and report any that are unlocked. If any door is unlocked, auto-lock it and send you a notification. This catches the door you forgot after taking out the trash. Works with August, Schlage Encode, and Yale Assure locks.
Routine 3: Garage Door Auto-Close
If the garage door has been open for more than 15 minutes after 9pm, close it automatically and notify you. Open garage doors are the number one entry point that homeowners overlook. A smart garage controller (MyQ, Meross) costs $30–$50 and eliminates this entirely.
Routine 4: Motion-Triggered Exterior Recording
When outdoor motion sensors detect activity between midnight and 5am, all exterior cameras switch to continuous recording mode (not just clip-based). This captures the full approach and exit, not just the motion event. Most cameras default to 10–30 second clips that miss context.
Routine 5: Water Leak Instant Alert
Place water leak sensors under sinks, near water heaters, and by washing machines. When triggered, immediately send a push notification, turn off the smart water valve (if installed), and flash interior lights. Water damage causes more insurance claims than burglary — and it escalates faster.
What You Need
All five routines work with any major smart home platform — Alexa Routines, Google Home automations, Apple HomeKit scenes, or SmartThings. Total hardware cost for all five: $150–$300 depending on what you already own. Setup time: about 10 minutes per routine.