Home ownership can be a nightmare factory that intensifies when you’re away doing your best to make your vacation actually relaxing. On the one hand, there’s the fear of visits from petty thieves, robbers, vandals, and other boogeymen. On the other, there’s the paranoia over hidden leaks, crossed wires, and frozen pipes, not to mention weather-borne havoc wrought by Mother Nature.Homeowners may find salvation with a judiciously selected and potent collection of smart-home gear. Some devices (like a smart water valve) directly protect your home, while others (indoor and outdoor cameras, motion sensors) act as always-alert sentries that quickly notify you if problems crop up. From just about anywhere in the world, you can use an app to instantly connect with a team of smart devices at home and confirm all is well—and even can take action if those devices have caught something awry.Here are several effective and easy-to-install devices that help keep tabs on your home whenever you’re away. Pick and choose ones that solve the problems you worry about most, and enjoy your vacation the way you're meant to.