Tips for choosing the right home security system

4 Tips for Choosing the Right Home Security Camera System

August 2, 2021 by Anas Mustafa

There’s a reason professional security services exist. It’s because they offer a sense of protection and utility that can be very hard to find elsewhere.

The best systems that protect you are those that are capable of recording video and capturing exactly what is happening in and around your home at all times.

You’ll likely find yourself considering a home security camera system pretty quickly after you begin looking into this topic.

But, you’ll also find that there are tons of home security systems in Toronto and it can be hard to pick through the masses and choose the one that’s just right for you. This article hopes to answer those questions and give you the insights needed to choose the right set-up for you.

Check Your Needs

This brings us to the very first thing to consider: What exactly are your needs?.

You need to choose something that is exactly suited to the requirements of your home and security level. Then, there are several factors you must evaluate and consider before beginning your search.

This can include at the base level, the characteristics of your home. You need to know the layout and size of your home, and the number of potential entry points.

It’s also vital to understand the exact value of your assets. You need to know how much your personal items are worth when deciding what you need to spend to protect them. Deeply connected to this is an assessment of your budget. Not everyone can afford top-of-the-line products, and that’s okay, as there are many options to suit a wide range of budgets.

Lastly, don’t forget to break down how exactly you’ll use your cameras. Do you want them to detect motion? To turn on and record whoever enters the house? To capture low light conditions? These are all important decisions you should make before going any further.
In fact, building on this point is how the video data will be stored. You might prefer to have it all physically stored in a hard drive or memory card, or it might be better if it’s stored in the cloud so you can catalogue more data video and check it with a few taps on your phone.

Basically, you need to list the features that are must-haves, given your needs and use that to narrow down the search for suitable home cameras.

Bring Questions for Any Organizations You Work With

If you decide to work with a security firm like Canadian Security Professionals, it’s important that you head into planning meetings with a plan.

This means drafting any questions and concerns that you may have beforehand and bringing them with you to the meeting. A good security company will be able to answer these questions and customize its approach to fit your needs. If you come in prepared then your efforts will be rewarded with significant benefits and a perfectly tailored approach.

Another benefit of using a security company is that it can offer pre-built packages and services with guidance or it can take on the whole process of setting up the system which prevents you from doing any technical installation.

Evaluate Your Choices

Look closely at your choices once you’ve done the above two steps. In this particular case, it means comparing the different camera options in detail.

Here are some of the standard choices: One is the box type camera system which is basically large, visible indoor cameras with variable focal lenses, perfect for capturing a wide array of footage, but not as stealthy as some of the other options.

Another choice is the bullet camera, which is typically small and well-hidden. Its quality isn’t quite as good as some of the other choices, but it can be used both indoors and outdoors and provide a subtle bit of security.
Also there is the dome camera system, which is similar to the ones you might see in a retail store. They’re circular ceiling cameras encased in glass that can capture a wide range of angles and can cover a whole room by themselves. Dome cameras are usually used in areas where vandalism of the camera is a concern as the camera is better protected because of the dome.

Next there is the turret camera system, which is similar to a dome camera system but without the glass around the camera. Because there is no dome around a turret camera they have better night vision and better clarity than a dome camera.

Lastly, on the highest end of the scale are pan-tilt-zoom cameras. These are remotely controlled cameras that you can adjust and which have panoramic views that can capture wide angles from a single view. These cameras have excellent zooming capabilities and some have smart tracking features that can follow people or cars that are detected for a short period of time.

There are also more choices to be made, depending on whether the camera is for outdoor or indoor use. Some outdoor cameras will have built-in protection from natural elements while others will be focused on indoor use. Of course, the higher-end products can function as both.

Look at Bonus Features

As a final point, remember to consider the additional features on offer and how they might benefit you.

The main feature is whether the camera is adjustable. Is it mobile and can it tilt around for multiple views? These are factors that might be critical depending on the layout of your house.

Other features to consider include day/night capabilities, the resolution they can offer, colour night vision capabilities, smartphone camera viewing through an app, activity alerts and push notifications to your smartphone, person/vehicle detection capabilities, and whether they work with wireless or wired connections.

The Final Word

There’s a surprising amount to consider even within the niche of camera systems. But the basic steps are all the same, regardless of the security system. You need to have a firm grasp of your needs and how the camera matches these needs, without trying to force a round peg into a square hole. You also want to have questions ready and if working alone, a deep knowledge of the types of cameras and set-ups out there.

So by now, you should be clear about what you need to look for when choosing a solid home security camera system. Hopefully, you also understand the benefits and why you should invest in such a set-up. Now if you want to streamline the process of getting a home security system in Toronto or other parts of Canada, it may make sense to reach out to experts like us at Canadian Security Professionals.
If you want to learn more about home security camera systems, call 1-877-494-9911 or contact us here.

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