Back to School, Back to Safety: Home Security Tips for a New Routine in Myrtle Beach

The start of a new school year brings excitement, fresh routines, and, for many families, more time away from home. Whether you’re navigating the morning school drop-off or adjusting to quieter days with older kids out of the house, it’s the perfect time to revisit your home security strategy with these updated home security tips for a new routine!

At Strand Security, we help families across Myrtle Beach, Horry County, and Georgetown County stay safe and secure, especially during transitional times like back-to-school season.

Smart home tech, simple safety checks, and routine updates can help you and your family feel confident and protected this school year.

Back-to-School Season And Home Security Tips

With everyone adjusting to new schedules, homes are often left empty during the day, making them more vulnerable to break-ins or accidents.

Meanwhile, older kids may be arriving home alone or with friends before parents return from work.

Here’s what changes during this time: longer stretches of empty homes during school hours, teenagers entering or leaving the house independently, busy mornings with doors left unlocked or garage doors open, and after-school visitors or service providers arriving at your home.

A proactive approach to home security ensures your family and your property are protected, even when life gets hectic. Here are five home security tips to implement ASAP.

1. Upgrade to Smart Locks and Ditch the Spare Key

Still hiding a key under the mat? Stop it! With kids heading back to school, now’s the time to switch to smart locks.

Smart locks allow you to give each family member their own code, lock or unlock doors remotely from your phone, get notifications when someone enters, and revoke access codes for visitors or service workers instantly.

This is especially useful for households with working parents or latchkey kids. No lost keys. No late-night lockouts. Just smarter control.

2. Set Up Indoor and Outdoor Cameras for Peace of Mind

Want to know when your kids get home or check in while you’re at work? Smart security cameras offer live video access and motion alerts directly to your device.

Use cameras to monitor who’s at the door after school, watch for package deliveries or visitors, deter break-ins with visible surveillance, and capture video if a suspicious incident occurs.

Outdoor cameras are perfect for front doors, garages, and backyards, while indoor cameras near entryways or mudrooms help keep tabs on after-school activity.

3. Automate Your Morning and Afternoon Routines

With home automation, you can create a secure schedule for those busy back-to-school mornings and afternoons. Consider automating lighting (turn on porch lights at sunset or before your kids get home), locks (automatically lock the front door once everyone leaves), thermostats (adjust temps while the house is empty to save energy), and garage doors (send alerts if left open too long).

Automation is especially useful for families managing different drop-off and pick-up times across Horry and Georgetown County.

4. Set Rules and Notifications for Teen Independence

If your teenager is coming home alone after school, you can set up safety features to keep everyone accountable, without hovering.

Try these tips:

• use smart locks and create temporary codes for friends or after-school help
• set up a rule where you get a text or app alert when the front door opens
• use two-way audio cameras to check in (without interrupting their day)
• set system arming reminders in case they forget to lock up.

Your teen gets independence. You get peace of mind. Win – win!

5. Review Your Emergency Plan and Update Your System

Back-to-school season is a great reminder to review your family emergency plan and make sure your security system is up to date.

Things to check:

• Are all your contact numbers current in the system?
• Does everyone know how to use the alarm panel or app? Are your smoke, fire, and CO detectors working and connected?
• Do you have video or photos of your valuables (in case of insurance claims)?

If you haven’t had a system check-up in over a year, now is the time. Strand Security offers professional system reviews to make sure everything is working as it should.

Home Security Tips to Start the School Year

A secure home with locks and cameras gives peace of mind, sure! A secure home also gives your family members the confidence to handle their daily routines safely and independently.

Whether you’re a new homeowner, a growing family, or simply ready to modernize your system, our team at Strand Security is here to help you adjust for the school year and beyond.

Ready to Upgrade Your Home Security?

Call us today to schedule a free consultation or visit our Myrtle Beach showroom. We serve families throughout Myrtle Beach, Horry County, and Georgetown County with smart, customized solutions designed to protect what matters most.