The youngest kid is off to college. No more Saturday morning soccer games or late-night runs to the supermarket for lunch bag supplies. That trip to Italy the two of you have been talking about for the past 15 years may finally become a reality. You now have time to plan vacations, visits to see the grandkids and enjoy some quick getaways.

With more free time on your hands, you’re not chained to your house, but you still want home to be your safe haven. It’s the perfect time to consider a home security system that takes care of your humble abode while you’re away. And with new technology, you can keep tabs on your house no matter where in the world you happen to be.

Tethered by technology
“With most surveillance systems, you can get on the Internet and see how your house is doing,” says Dilip Sarangan, a physical security industry analyst with Frost & Sullivan, a growth partnership company. “It’s easy to remotely access your system using your laptop, your PDA or even your cell phone,” says Sarangan. “No matter which monitoring service you select, they should offer this service

Many companies offer products for on-the-go homeowners who want peace of mind and the ability to check-in. This is a huge plus to parents like me who just happen to be out of town when their college freshman returns home to do laundry.

“Basically, whether you’re at home, across the street or across the country, you can use the Internet, Blackberries, cell phones and other web-enabled devices