The use of CCTV cameras dates right back to 1940s Europe. Nowadays, there are approximately 350 million cameras around the world! And you won’t just find these cameras on street corners or on commercial properties.

In recent years, we’ve seen a huge rise in the use of home CCTV systems. These play a vital role in most home security systems, but security isn’t the only thing that CCTV cameras have to offer.

If you’re undecided about whether or not to install a domestic CCTV system, it might help to look at some of the benefits that come with one. In that case, you’re in the right place!

Read on to find out the ten benefits of installing a home security system in your home and for our top tips on what to look for in one when you’re shopping.

1. HOME CCTV DETERS THIEVES

Burglaries are a huge concern for home security. They can cost you thousands of dollars in damages and stolen property and be traumatic. That’s why a lot of people invest in home security, such as smart locks or mortise locks.

While these solutions might make it harder to get into your home, they won’t always stop a thief from trying to break in. This is where installing CCTV cameras can help.

A 2017 interview with ex-burglars revealed they CCTV cameras are one of the biggest deterrents for potential burglars. This is because CCTV cameras make them more likely to get caught by the police. They also indicate that a home has more extensive security measures in place.

In contrast, these thieves said that things like burglar alarms were less likely to put them off breaking into a property. This is because burglar alarms often rely on passers-by responding to them and very few people actually do this. In fact, most people assume that the alarm is going off by accident or don’t want to put themselves in danger by investigating.

If you have CCTV in place, you can monitor your home remotely and alert the police to a break-in straight away. Thieves know this, which makes them more likely to avoid houses with CCTV altogether.

2. IT CAN HELP YOU RECOVER FROM A THEFT

Despite great advancements in home security, burglaries do happen. In 2018 alone, there were more than 1.2 million thefts reported across the country.

Getting burgled can be a devastating day both financially and emotionally. Some thieves target items of high value that may also have significant sentimental value as well. When this happens all you want is to get the stolen item back.

With CCTV recordings you are much more likely to track down the thief and reclaim your property. Police will be able to run images from the CCTV through their facial recognition software. If your CCTV records audio, you may also be able to get clues of the thieves’ identity from that.

3. IT LETS YOU MONITOR YOUR HOME REMOTELY

Home security isn’t just about protecting your property from intruders. Things like fires or flooding can cause extensive damage throughout your home. The sooner you detect a threat like this, the easier it is to limit the damage.

Being able to check in on your property from wherever you are means you’re able to detect a problem before it escalates. With most CCTV you can do this from a smartphone app or via your web browser.

Some CCTV companies even offer professional monitoring packages. This means their monitoring agents will keep an eye on your CCTV for any unexpected activity. They’ll then alert you to the problem so you can get onto fixing it as soon as possible.

4. HOME CCTV SYSTEMS LOWER YOUR HOME INSURANCE

Installing certified CCTV in your home can also help you lower your home insurance premiums. This is because you are less likely to experience expensive issues that the insurance company has to pay out on.

In particular, home insurance companies love it when you sign up for professional monitoring services. They feel like they’re also protected by this service, so they will often offer you better deals. This means it’s a win-win for everyone.

It’s definitely worth checking out the brand of house CCTV you want to use in order to qualify for an insurance discount.

5. INSTALLING CCTV WILL REDUCE YOUR STRESS

Your home is a very precious thing.

For most people, it is the most expensive thing they own and contains hundreds of valued and irreplaceable possessions. It is also the place you seek refuge in, so you want to know that it’s safe and secure at all times.

Installing CCTV for your home can help you relieve the tension you might feel when worrying about your home. This is especially true if you have to be away for a long period of time.

If you’re going on holiday, the last thing you want to be worrying about is if your home is safe and secure. Thanks to remote monitoring, you can check in on your home from wherever you are in the world. And you’ll know that you’ve taken the necessary safety precautions to deter thieves in the first place.

6. CCTV CAN PROTECT YOUR KIDS

Any parent knows that kids are accident-prone and keeping your kids safe around the house can feel like an impossible task. There are several ways that installing CCTV in your home can do that.

If your kids know that your home has CCTV they’re more likely to play nicely because they know you could be watching even when you’re not in the room. This means they’re less likely to mess around or behave recklessly and end up having accidents.

If your child does have an accident, then knowing what happened could be vital to getting them the medical attention they need.

Finding your child unconscious without explanation is a horrific moment for any parent. But checking the CCTV footage could tell you about why your child is unconscious and how long they’ve been passed out for. This type of information could be vital for ensuring that they get the right treatment as quickly as possible.

If your children have a nanny or another caregiver, installing CCTV also gives you a way to check in on this person while they’re with your kids. You’ll be able to make sure that your babysitter puts the kids to bed at the right time and that they do their homework. This makes CCTV an invaluable piece of technology for any parent who has to spend time away from their kids.

7. IT CAN SAVE YOU TIME

On a much lighter note, installing CCTV could also save you a lot of time when looking for things around your home.

Hunting for things like keys can be really frustrating, especially if you can remember the last time you had them. If you have smart CCTV, you can simply check your phone and rewind the footage until you saw where you put them.

If you live with family or housemates this can also be an invaluable source when it comes to resolving petty disputes. CCTV will provide hard evidence of who broke the lamp or forgot to lock the back door. It means that you don’t have to waste time arguing with your loved ones and can have peace of mind knowing what actually happened.

8. CCTV STOPS VANDALS

Another threat to your property that people often overlook is vandals.

These people seek to damage your property for fun by disfiguring it. Often they use spray paint although they may use other things to damage your property, such as stones or bricks.

Becoming the victim of vandalism can be very frustrating as this is an act of crime for crime’s sake. And you have to pay the price for it.

Fortunately, vandals often act impulsively and are opportunists. They won’t want to risk being caught on CCTV and having to pay the price for their crimes. In this way, having cameras up outside your home can protect you from such pointless acts.

9. CCTV LETS YOU MONITOR YOUR HOME

Knowing that your home is in danger is all well and good but it doesn’t mean you can necessarily do anything to protect it. In fact, disturbing a burglary while it takes place can be dangerous. Even going downstairs to see what’s happening during a burglary could end badly for you.

This is why a lot of CCTV camera systems give you great options to deter thieves or alert the authorities in a way that is safe.

For example, some CCTV cameras automatically connect to local emergency services. This means if they detect a threat to your home’s security, the right response team will be dispatched quickly to your home.

A lot of cameras also include features to deter thieves during burglaries without you having to be in the house. Two-way communication systems, for example, let you speak to a thief in your home without you actually having to be there. Letting a thief know you’ve seen them could be enough to deter them from entering your property in the first place.

Other popular deterrent features include spotlights on outdoor security cameras and built-in sirens. Sirens can activate automatically or via remote control.

It’s always worth keeping your cool and thinking carefully about how to respond if a thief is in your home. Alerting the police means you’re more likely to catch them in the act and stop them from stealing your property. You don’t want to let them know someone is coming if they’re already in your home because they’ll run for it.

Trying to scare them off is a better option if a thief is still trying to gain access to your property.

10. YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN SYSTEM

By 2022, there are set to be 63 million smart homes across America and smart tech is a great way to make daily life easier. Smart CCTV cameras now mean that you can easily monitor all parts of your home in a home security package.

This lets you link your CCTV with motion sensor detectors and smart keys in your home. You can even hook it up to your smart thermostats or smart lights.

This means that monitoring your entire home remotely has never been easier and you can use this to your advantage when keeping your home safe.

Let’s say, for example, that you are alerted on from your CCTV system that something is going wrong in your home and when you look online you see a leak. In the time it takes you to get home this could cause a lot of damage.

However, you could use your smart water technology to turn off the water in your home. This will reduce the amount of damage to your home and let you monitor what’s happening until you can get back there.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN CCTV SYSTEMS FOR HOMES?

If you’re thinking of installing CCTV in your home, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind when shopping.

If you’re planning on using WiFi to monitor your cameras, make sure that you look for a camera with good connectivity. This will ensure you can always see what’s going on wherever you put it.

Thinking about where you’re camera’s going to go is also important. Some CCTV cameras are specifically designed for outdoor use and are more durable. Putting an indoor camera outdoors will mean it quickly suffers weather damage and stops working.

If you want to put your camera in a hard-to-reach spot then you should look into getting a wireless, battery-powered camera. These are more versatile in terms of where you can position them. However, you do have to remember to recharge them.

Professional monitoring packages are a great idea if you don’t have time to check your CCTV footage. These will give you real peace-of-mind as long as you’ve got the budget for them.

Your budget will also be a big determining factor in what you choose to install in your home. There are now lots of cameras available at a range of prices so you should be able to find something to suit your needs.

Some companies also offer more manageable monthly subscriptions to monitoring packages. These can help if you’re on a tight budget.

TIME TO GET SECURE!

Installing home CCTV is an absolute must-do if you’re serious about making your home secure.

So, what are you waiting for?

Get in touch for help installing your CCTV system today or check out our blog for more brilliant home security ideas. We’re here to help!