Why You Need a Home Surveillance System
Scare off Intruders
Both security cameras and house alarms can prevent crime from occurring.
Intruders can trip a sensor and be frightened away by alarms, and the very presence of security cameras discourages would-be criminals from committing illegal acts.
Catch Criminals
Worried your prized petunias won’t last long on the front porch? That your kid’s new bike might find itself a new home?
The visual recording and storage capabilities of home surveillance systems are perfect for keeping an eye out for suspicious behaviour.
You’ll have video evidence of any petty crime that occurs.
Protect your Family
Home security systems are watchdogs that never sleep.
You, however, can sleep knowing that your house and property are safeguarded against all things thieving and intrusive.
Choosing the Right Surveillance System for Your Home
Suitability
There are many different systems available for installation – it’s simply a matter of deciding which one is best for your needs.
You may require:
- A larger/smaller system than the usual 4 cameras, depending on the size of your home.
- Extra cloud storage options for video storage.
- Smart-home compatibility.
Purpose
The type of security system you need also depends on what its purpose will be in your home.
If you’re aiming to catch any criminal that might enter your property, a full video surveillance system is a good idea.
If the purpose of your system is to simply ward off intruders, a sensory alarm system and decoy cameras might be a better option for you.
Ease of use
Keep in mind when ordering your home security system that some will be extremely complex. If you’d prefer a simple video surveillance system, ensure the product is described that way.
Different types of tech used
Some tech is designed to be simple, so if you require a no-fuss system, ensure you look for phrases like “user-friendly” in the product descriptions.
Alarm Features
Different alarm systems will produce different results. For example, one alarm might flash red lights around the trip point, whereas another alarm might set off a siren-like noise when tripped.
Your choice will depend on personal preference and whether you want to be notified every time someone trips an alarm, or whether you think it’s enough that they get frightened off.
Different Products Available
The products you might require include:
- Decoy cameras only (simple)
- Sensory alarms only (simple-medium)
- Video surveillance system (medium-complex)
- A full security system involving sensors, alarms, and video surveillance (complex)
Each home may need a different style of security system.
CCTV vs Video Surveillance Systems
Believe it or not, CCTV and video surveillance systems have different purposes.
CCTV is watched in real-time, whereas video surveillance systems are connected to an external storage system or server. Videos are stored and can be accessed later.
CCTV cameras serve as a deterrent against would-be intruders or trespassers. Footage is not recorded or stored for later use.
CCTV is usually found in public places where the active presence of security teams is more common.
Video surveillance systems are used to capture activity around a house or building to provide evidence of crime and clues to identify perpetrators. These cameras are usually more hidden than CCTV cameras, reducing their effectiveness at deterring crime.
Video surveillance is used in areas where there is no one available to constantly be watching live monitors, like in the home.
Residential vs Commercial Systems
The main difference here is that usually, homes use video surveillance systems, while commercial systems use CCTV.
This is because of the increased likelihood of persons being present to monitor the cameras full-time and therefore be able to act on any suspicious behaviour.
House vs Apartment Installations
When living in an apartment, you may not have the same options with home security systems as you would when living in a house.
There is legislation in most Australian states and territories to cover the use of surveillance systems, including:
- Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW)
This allows the installation of security systems as long as the owner of the property permits, so you’ll need permission from the building owner before installing a security system. - Surveillance Act 1999 (VIC)
This makes it illegal to record the activity of anyone without their consent, so you will require signed consent forms from other tenants before installing a security system. - Invasion of Privacy Act 1971 (QLD)
This makes it illegal to record anyone without their permission, but allows video surveillance beyond areas where persons would expect to have privacy, like a bedroom or bathroom. You’ll need to avoid security systems that record audio, or ensure consent is given before recording.
What’s a Decoy Camera?
A decoy camera looks just like a regular video surveillance camera, except it’s fake. The purpose of this is to make intruders believe it’s real, therefore deterring crime without the cost of a real video surveillance system.
However, if crime rates are high in your area and decoy cameras have not worked in the past, a true video surveillance system may be the better option for you.
Indoor vs Outdoor Systems
While most homes go with outdoor surveillance systems to guard the home, some families also include indoor cameras.
People install these to keep an eye on indoor areas where there are small children, the elderly, and high-crime areas where break-ins are common and crime might occur inside the house.
Indoor video surveillance systems don’t need to be weatherproof or as sturdy as outdoor cameras. Often this means outdoor cameras will be slightly more expensive than indoor cameras.
Wired vs Wireless Systems
Wired video surveillance systems are often cheaper than wireless systems because they don’t require a Bluetooth connection.
However, a wired system with cameras outside will need to connect to a device indoors for storing footage. If the wiring isn’t going to work for you, a wireless system might be a better option.
Cloud vs Hard Drive Storage Capacity
While both cloud-based and hard drive storage have capacity limits, your cloud-based storage tier can be upgraded with one click.
Hard drive storage capacity is fixed and cannot be adjusted when it runs out. To get more storage, you’d either have to delete existing footage or begin storing it on a new hard drive.
Installation Time!
DIY vs Professional Installation
When it comes to installing your home security system, you can either do it yourself or hire professionals to do the job for you.
The video surveillance cameras, alarms and sensors of a home security system are usually costly and complex pieces of equipment that you don’t want to accidentally break or install incorrectly.
Choosing the do-it-yourself option might not be a good idea if you’re not an experienced electrician.
How to decide which professional to go with
You don’t want to invite a dodgy company into your home.
Ensure you select an electrician with experience in home security installation. Choosing an inexperienced company could result in a badly set up system that doesn’t function as it should. Likewise, it’s important to check whether the company is familiar with the latest tech in the home security field.
Watch out for electricians who don’t provide a quote upfront. Skipping this step allows them the opportunity to overcharge you down the line.
Look out for their attitude toward customers. Is their mission simply to sell, or to solve your problem? You’ll know this after having conversations with them and checking whether they offer consultation services to understand the best solution for your home specifically.
You should also check with the company to ensure they also provide the service of setting the system up for you. This would involve them connecting the video storage to the cloud and testing the workings of the system after the initial installation is complete.
Check each company’s website for these things before choosing your electrician:
- A full scope of service (this will specify the tech they’re familiar with and the steps of the installation that they perform)
- Any phrases like “Get your consultation today” or “Receive a quote here” (these indicate customer care and openness in talking about pricing before the job is complete)
- A page containing certificates of qualification (you must check that the company is qualified to perform the services they’re offering)
- A healthy amount of reviews (found on Google – shows experience and their true colours)
In essence, you’re looking for a perfect mix of competency and trust.
Budget
Your system will vary in price depending on:
- Quantity – the amount of cameras/alarms/sensors you install is what mostly dictates the overall price of your system.
- Quality – if your system is a budget brand, it’s going to cost less than a brand well-known for its excellent security systems.
- Special extras – upgrades like smart home compatibility and better video resolution will boost the cost of your system.
If you’re looking for a system to fit a tighter budget, consider going with a sensory alarm system and decoy cameras.
This will drop the price of your home security system, as video surveillance cameras are usually a large chunk of the overall cost.
Note: decoy cameras act as a deterrence only, so if the likelihood of crime in your neighbourhood is high, this solution should be upgraded to include real video surveillance cameras.