Today’s home security technology has amazing power to help protect our homes, businesses, and other property. Their protection makes them essential as a finishing touch at move-in time or whenever you see a need for enhanced protection.
The difficulty with security features is that they aren’t always as aesthetically pleasing as we would like them to be. This is partly true of equipment like window sensors, motion detectors, and alarm panels, but the main area of concern for most homeowners is improving the appearance of security cameras.
With that in mind, here are five things to know about these critical tools that will help you integrate them into your home in such a way that they don’t ruin its appearance.
Good Looks Don’t Preclude Good Value
For many products, you may find that the better something looks, the more you have to pay. Fortunately, security cameras are not like that. You can get the best ptz camera for the money and still integrate it seamlessly into your home design. Cameras are available in some very compact configurations in subtle colors that won’t distract from the design of the home’s exterior.
That’s without sacrificing functionality, performance, quality, or reliability. Don’t assume that an upgrade in appearance will create a big increase in cost. Great value can be found in a low-visibility camera.
Your System Will Look Better Than Commercial Ones
Many commercial facilities place their cameras in very prominent locations. This is done for two reasons.
First, the idea is to provide as many angles as possible in a busy parking lot, store aisle, or office. With so many vehicles and people in motion at all times, there will always be some cameras that are blocked, so the extra cameras are used to compensate for these obstructions. Second, businesses and offices want people to see the cameras. They place them out in the open to serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals.
Those conditions do not exist in your home. The intruders your cameras will be intended to see will likely be there when no one is at home, inside or out. With a few well-placed cameras, you will be able to see everything you need. Also, criminals assume most homes have cameras now, so the visibility of your system is not a big disincentive to them.
Cables Are No Longer Necessary
One of the biggest improvements in security cameras in recent years has been the development of wireless systems like those found at Property Guard Master. This provides real aesthetic value to any video system.
First, there are no cables to run. That means no holes drilled to create damage to the home and no access for insects or weather. It also means there are no cables to manage–no unsightly wires running down the wall or dangling freely after being knocked loose by a thunderstorm. Second, it gives you greater flexibility. Should you choose to replace, relocate, or upgrade cameras, there will be no holes left behind in the previous location.
Wireless cameras are also a better choice for security because their service cannot be interrupted as easily. A fast-moving intruder can quickly cut cables and prevent the creation of additional footage, making it difficult to get a good look at anything that happened.
Placement is Flexible
Placing your camera in the right location is about three basic things: First, the camera should be safe from the weather. Second, it should capture the footage it needs to do its job. And finally, it should be placed in a location where it does not detract from the home’s appearance.
This is one great advantage of wireless security cameras. With no cables or wires to run during installation, you have the freedom to try different locations. You can temporarily install it with plastic ties or tape, then check the resulting images to see if it gets the views you need while keeping a low profile from sun, rain, and your view. If not, it’s easy to reposition and try again. With a few tries, you’ll easily identify the optimum placement point for your camera, and you can then permanently install it.
Wireless cameras can even be placed away from the house, such as on fences, lawn buildings, or other features without interfering with the beauty of the main house or sacrificing the quality of images. These alternate angles can actually improve footage by capturing the faces of fleeting intruders and getting close enough to the road to capture license plates.
Visibility Can Change
The camera locations that work today may not be as effective tomorrow. You may have plans for an expansion of the home or for larger features in the landscape, such as arbors or gazebos. Another very common obstruction is plants themselves. Shrubs or trees that are planted near the camera’s line of sight may not be in the way at first, but over time their growth can put them right into the frame.
Even if their normal position is not a problem, windy conditions can push them into view and interfere with the camera’s view. Finally, the addition or removal of light fixtures can make it difficult to maintain a normal view.
As you place your cameras, bear in mind that what it sees can change if you don’t give it consideration as other projects are completed and as landscaping gets larger. If not, you will be forced to relocate cameras, placing them in more visible locations and leaving empty screw holes in the previous locations.
A beautiful home is an investment of your time, money, and personality. It is important to protect it from those who would damage or steal it. Home security cameras are very effective as both a deterrent to crime and a tool for law enforcement to investigate crimes. Fortunately, improved technology and good installation choices by you as the homeowner can allow you to get good coverage of your home without impacting its beauty.
