There are many reasons you may decide that you want to set up a home video surveillance system – perhaps you like the keep an eye on things when you are not there, or perhaps you would like to complement your home security system to help to avoid a break in. Once you have decided to go ahead with a surveillance system, there are a number of considerations you will have to make.

Do you want a front door or doorbell camera? Said to be a “high tech peephole”, the doorbell camera adds the ability speak with visitors without opening the door – even when you are not home. Since burglars will often ring a doorbell before deciding whether it is safe to break in or not, you could stop them by responding as if you are home from your smartphone.

Outdoor security camera can come with a variety of fields of view – it is smart to look ahead to map out the areas of your property you want to be able to view. Additionally, decide how high of a resolution you will need on your cameras, and if you want to be able to remotely pan and zoom them. Will you want to monitor during the night? If you need a night vision camera, look for one that has high powered IR-emitters and good IR sensitivity.

Don’t forget to consider how the cameras will be powered. Some cameras will support Power over Ethernet which can be helpful, as a single cable can give you both hardwired power and dependable data transfer capabilities. Battery operated cameras are also an option, but are usually only recommended for motion-activated recording as 24/7 recording would wear the batteries out very quickly.

No matter what your reason is for wanting video surveillance in and around your home, there is an appropriate system that will work for you. Be sure to do some research into what will work best for your home, your budget, and your comfort.