So, you’ve been thinking about the security and safety of your home and loved ones. Maybe you’ve heard of burglaries, property theft, or car break-ins in and around your neighborhood. Now you’ve reached the point of considering purchasing a home security system, and rightly so. But before you click that purchase now button, there are some options to consider. This Home Security Camera – Buying Guide looks at these options and will help you decide which home security cameras best fits your needs.
So, let’s start looking at the options you want to consider.
Inside or Outside or Both?
When considering how many home security cameras to purchase, consider what areas of your property you want to monitor.
Do you want a system with both inside and outside home security cameras, or are you interested in just the outside? Maybe you want to monitor inside pets when you’re away from home. Perhaps you have a young child or children and want to monitor their bedroom at naptime or during the night hours.
However, others of you might want just to monitor the outside of your home. Maybe you want to start with monitoring outside but want to have the option of adding on an indoor camera in the future. Will the system you’re looking at allow you to add on?
How Many Cameras?
When planning the placement of home security cameras inside the home – think like a burglar – what are the vulnerable spots in your home? Looking at statistics, most break-ins are done through the first floor.
You’ll probably want to monitor all entries into your home – both doors and windows. Don’t forget your garage, especially if there is a door where someone can gain access to your home.
The first floor is probably the best place to start if you have multiple stories. Do you need cameras monitoring second-story windows? It’s probably not the first place someone will break into – most likely, they would need a ladder to gain entrance, which would be visible to someone driving by or living close to your property. Burglars don’t want to draw attention.
If you have an outdoor stairway to the second story, consider an outdoor security camera there.
Do you park your car on the street or driveway? Then you may want to monitor those spots as well. What about a shed or an out-building that houses valuable tools or work equipment?
Also, something to consider is monitoring your children’s play in the yard to keep an eye on them.
Don’t forget the pool area – you can monitor those swimming (there should be someone always watching children in a pool), but what about a child that has somehow wandered away from their home and made their way to your pool – it’s always possible.
Before outdoor cameras were readily available, I had a house with a backyard pool—a landscaper left without shutting the gate. I didn’t have children in the home, but a neighbor’s child could have wandered in, and something tragic may have happened; luckily, nothing did.
You can call your local law enforcement department to see what advice they can give you regarding your particular neighborhood – maybe there are patterns of break-ins they can share with you. With that information, you can tailor your monitoring to include those patterns.
Wired or Wireless
Do you want a simple installation, or do you prefer not to worry about battery life?
If you don’t want to worry about replacing and recharging batteries, you might want to look at the wired version. Unless you’re an electrician, you will need help with the installation, but after that, you won’t have to worry about recharging the batteries.
Another possibility is getting a camera that can run off optional solar panels.
But what if you move and want to take your security camera system with you, and if battery life doesn’t concern you, then the wireless option might be great for you.
Installation is pretty simple with the wireless option, and you may be able to do it yourself. Being that you’ll want to install your cameras high enough that they won’t be tampered with, you will more than likely need to climb a ladder.
If you’re not comfortable climbing a ladder or don’t have the ability to do so, then, by all means, have someone else install your cameras for you.
Monitoring Service
Do you want someone else to be monitoring your cameras? Maybe you can’t monitor the cameras yourself. Most cameras will alert you when they detect movement, but perhaps you’re not able to connect to your phone all the time.
Maybe you want the added security of having help if you should need it – maybe if a fire breaks out. Would you like to have access to a panic button? If any of these pertain to you, then look for this option when purchasing your camera. Some do require additional sensors and fees.
Be sure to research what professional monitoring includes. Also, most local municipalities need to be notified about the monitoring service and possibly pay them a registration fee.
Alarm/Spotlight
Do you want to be able to sound an alarm when suspicious activity is detected? Sounding an alarm or triggering a spotlight or floodlight camera may not always stop the crime, but it can help in deterring one from happening – most intruders want an easy target and will move on to another home.
Night Vision – Infrared
The ability of the camera to record and detect activity at night is essential. You may want your security camera to function effectively even in low lighting, such as in nighttime conditions. For this, you want to be sure your camera is equipped with something called night vision or infrared ability.
Video Storage
Security camera video storage preserves a record of events occurring around your home. Depending on your budget and personal preferences, you may choose between cloud and local storage.
Local storage is usually done on your personal computer. Cloud storage refers to an accessible on-demand space where you can upload and download data housed in the cloud.
It is important to consider each security camera’s cloud storage fees and storage limits. This way, you don’t unexpectedly owe a lot of money on cloud storage or have insufficient storage space for saving and viewing your video footage.
Two-Way Talk
Two-way audio, or two-way talk, allows you to talk to whoever you see – maybe someone rings your doorbell, and you want to talk to them first before opening your door.
Perhaps you can scare someone off by talking to them and them realizing they can be seen.
Price
How much do you want to spend? As in all commerce, home security cameras come at different price points.
Consider what options are available and which you want. You might have to prioritize those options to fit your budget. Price is always something most of us want to consider.
Warranty/Guarantee
What is the product’s warranty/guarantee? Is it 30 days, a year, or even a lifetime? Though you might not think you will need it – it is something to be aware of if any issues arise in the future.
It’s best to register your product, save packaging if required, and save your receipt.
Other Features To Consider When Purchasing a Home Security Camera
Home security cameras are a great way to keep an eye on your property and family while you’re not home. There are a variety of features that should be included in a good security system, and the following are some of the most important:
– High-quality video resolution: The video resolution should be high enough so that you can clearly see what is happening on the camera screen.
– Wide field of view: A camera that has a wide field of view will capture more of the surrounding area, which is helpful in case of a burglary or other incident.
– Long battery life: Most cameras have a battery life of around two hours, which is long enough to keep an eye on your property for several days.
– Motion Detection: Security cameras will not be able to pick up on potential criminal activity without the use of motion detection. Some security cameras include features that help determine whether or not there is movement in a certain area, and others automatically send alerts when they detect motion.
– Also, some security systems are compatible with smart home devices such as Google Assistant and Alexa.
Related Articles:
You Might Also Be Interested In Reading: Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus Review
Some Final Words
Buying a home security system for your home can add peace of mind and a sense of security. However, you still want to stay vigilant and use all the safety precautions you can – some of these are locking your doors and windows. Cutting bushes that someone could use for hiding. Keep ladders locked away. Of course, arming your security system.
I hope that reading the Home Security Camera – Buying Guide, you discovered some options available with security cameras, helping you decide which camera is right for you, and has given you some things to think about when considering a home security system.
Have you had any experience(s) with a security system or any experience where in hindsight, you wish you would have had security cameras? I would love to hear about them – please comment below.
