According to FBI reports, there is always a home that gets broken in to every 13 seconds. This means that your home is at risk of being vandalized by thieves in your absence. That’s why most people are installing security systems in their homes. Since many of these systems come with motion detectors and surveillance cameras, you will be able to know who goes in or out of your property at any given time. However, choosing the best camera can be a huge challenge for someone that has never invested in home security systems before. This is because there are many security systems that are available on the market and they all range in price. Here is a list of the things you should look for in a home security system with cameras so you can make the most informed decision as a consumer.
1. Night Vision Cameras
The majority of cameras that are available in the market today can only record events during the day or when the area is well lit. This means that you can’t unmask burglars if they did their thing at night. Besides that, criminals like to utilize spots that don’t have any lights to ensure they cover their tracks. In some instances, thugs can interfere with the power lines because they know most cameras will not expose them. But when you invest in a system that has night vision cameras, it won’t matter whether the thieves come at night or during a power outage.
2. Weather Resistance
When installing a home security system, some of the surveillance cameras have to be positioned outdoors. This is because you want the system to cover every inch of your property. According to www.safenow.org, some cameras can be easily worn out by weather, meaning they are not economical in the long run. An ideal camera is the one that’s designed to resist rain water and snow. In addition to that, it should be able to resist rusting and corrosion that’s often caused by the scorching sun.
3. Easy to Install and Use
This one goes without saying. A home security system should not be complicated like rocket science. In fact, you should be able to install and use it without having to call in an expert. All you have to do is read the user manual that comes with the package. After reading between the lines of the manual, you will be able to decode the meaning of every beeping sound. For instance, you will be able to change the batteries when they start going down.
4. Camera Resolution
The quality of footage that can be analyzed is normally determined by the resolution of the camera. If the cameras you have picked come with low resolution, you will definitely be getting blurry footages that you can’t use to identify the culprits. This can be a huge obstacle in long range cameras. Besides that, you should narrow down to a camera that has megapixels that are beyond 5 so that you can get fine details of every footage.
5.Video Doorbell
Modern security systems come with multiple sensors that can be installed on windows and doors. Traditional doorbells are actually being faced out of the market. Their predecessors are equipped with a small camera that allows you to see who’s knocking at your door. This guarantees that you will not open the door unless you know exactly who it is. The other advantage is that the doorbell allows you to converse with whoever is knocking. It’s also designed to play programmed phrases for scaring away intruders.
6. Expandable System
When shopping for a security system, your choice should not be guided by the size of your current residence. Choosing a system that is not designed to be expandable is a huge mistake. This is because you will not be able to add extra sensors and cameras when you shift into another bigger home that has more rooms. You should therefore opt for a system that’s easy to expand so that you don’t have to buy additional systems after moving into a bigger home.
7. Ability to Withstand Power Outage
Ordinary cameras are usually powered by electricity. This means that they don’t function during a blackout. To counter this shortcoming, you should select systems that can be powered by batteries or solar. Such surveillance cameras can therefore continue to roll even when they are stationed in off grid areas. If you prefer those that use batteries, it’s important you opt for those with long battery life because they don’t need replacement every now and then.
8. Top rated Systems
For best results, it’s advisable you pick top rated systems. You can tell if a system is top rated or not by checking reviews that are published on a reliable site. This is because they are not biased like those that are found on sites that don’t have any authority in the cyberspace. Combing through the reviews enables you to know the experiences of other people that have invested in the same system that you want to use for securing your home.
