Home security is more important than ever today, particularly during times when it seems like social unrest could arise at any time. Is it just me or do we all have this heightened awareness to protect our homes from intruders?
In light of the situation, have you been thinking about upgrading your home security with smart technology? The good news is the tech is quite user-friendly and many smart devices are now easier to setup. Prices are also becoming more affordable.
I hope this article will help you if you’ve ever wondered how you can protect your home using smart home devices. In this guide, we will look through some of the benefits, costs, and future aspects of smart home security.
Advantages of Smart Technology for Home Security
24/7 Monitoring
Smart security devices let you monitor your home from anywhere, at any time. You can keep an eye on things directly from your smartphone. This does not mean you have to constantly check your smartphone because you can set the smart devices to only alert you if something out of the ordinary happens.
Real-Time Alerts
You can set your smart device to send out an instant alert to your phone if anything suspicious happens. For instance, you would want to be immediately alerted audibly if a door opens unexpectedly. You can achieve this level of security because even a basic security camera is equipped with a motion detector. The improved technology also helps to reduce the occurrence of triggering false alarms, which is prone with traditional alarm systems.
Remote Control Home Security
Forgot to lock the door or not sure if you had locked it? No problem. With smart locks, you can lock and unlock doors remotely or check the status with a smartphone. Some advanced models even come with useful features such as facial recognition and fingerprint sensor.
As computer vision technology improve, it will be virtually impossible to cheat the software by showing the camera a photo of the home owner.
Deterrence To Intruders
Just having visible security cameras and sensors can deter potential intruders. Just knowing a home is protected by advanced smart technology makes your home a much less appealing target. The potential intruder may wonder how extensive your security system is.
Customized Home Security
Smart security systems are flexible and covers a range of budget. You can start small and gradually add more devices depending on your needs and budget.
Let’s say you live in a two-story house, you can start with just a couple of security cameras. You can a indoor camera that covers the main entrance and a outdoor unit for the porch or garage. For clearer camera footage, you should ensure it comes with good quality night vision.
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Essential Home Security Smart Devices
If you are looking to extend the security to the whole house, you will need a combination of smart gadgets to cover entry points, outdoor spaces and interior areas. Here a list of smart devices that you might need along with its estimated prices:
Smart Doorbell Camera ($100 – $250)
Your doorbell camera will be your first line of defense if your house is not fenced. Therefore you should not hesitate to splurge a bit to get a high quality device. A good camera lets you clearly see who’s at the door before you answer, even when you’re not home. These devices often come with two-way audio, night vision, and motion detection.
Indoor and Outdoor Smart Security Cameras ($50 – $300 each)
Outdoor cameras are usually strategically placed around entry points and key areas like the front yard, backyard, and garage. For indoor cameras, you should position them near doors and common areas. Depending on the requirements of your setup, you should make sure your cameras come with features such as motion detection, night vision, and cloud storage for video footage.
Smart Sensors ($30 – $100 each)
Motion sensors can be set to trigger lights, alarms, or alert your phone when unexpected movement is detected. They are also useful safety devices for yourself as you can use them to automatically activate a device such as a light in dark areas of your house.
Smart Locks ($150 – $300)
Smart locks is a very popular device that allow you to do more than just lock and unlock doors remotely. You can also create temporary access codes for visitors, service people, or family members and revoke access when needed. Advanced smart locks may also come with facial recognition and fingerprint identification to give the home owner an extra sense of security.
Smart Alarm Systems ($200 – $400)
A smart alarm system will sound the alarm and flash lights if something out of the ordinary happens. Most modern systems can be controlled from your smartphone, and they can send alerts directly to you.
Smart Door and Window Sensors ($20 – $40 each)
These small devices notify you through your alarm system if any doors or windows are opened unexpectedly when the alarm is armed. Besides typical entry points like doors and windows, you should also try to anticipate other potential entry points that an intruder can breach. This could be air well holes, chimney, skylight or the door to your attic.
Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors ($100 – $150 each)
These smart detectors do more than just sounding an alarm. They can alert you to fire or gas leaks through your smartphone so you can take immediate action. The advanced models are capable of blaring a loud siren when it is triggered but before the blaring begins, it will first send you a soft warning. The initial warning is meant to give you enough time to deactivate the device if the situation was just a false alarm. You don’t need to inform everybody around you if you are just cooking steaks or baking something in the oven.
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Estimated Cost for Home Security Smart Devices
Here’s a rough cost estimate of purchasing and installing smart security devices for a typical house:
- Smart Doorbell Camera: $150 – $250
- 3 Outdoor Cameras: $150 – $900
- 2 Indoor Cameras: $100 – $200
- 6 Window/Door Sensors: $120 – $240
- 2 Smart Locks: $300 – $600
- 3 Motion Sensors: $90 – $300
- Smart Alarm System: $200 – $400
- Smart Smoke/CO Detectors: $200 – $300
Total Estimate: $1,310 – $3,190
Here are some key points that you should consider when purchasing smart devices for your home:
- Make sure the device is compatible with your existing smart system.
- Consider brands that are known to put priority on data privacy.
- Look for retailers that offer an easy return process and warranty claim.
- Factor in any potential installation costs.
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The Future of Smart Home Security
As technology continues to advance, the future of smart home security looks incredibly promising. Here are a few trends we expect to see in the coming years:
- AI-Driven Surveillance: In the near future, smart security cameras could get even better at recognizing faces, vehicles, and even specific behaviors. This means your system could identify a potential intruder more intelligently.
- Biometric Access Control: Imagine unlocking your door with precise facial recognition, a fingerprint, or even just your voice. These systems will make it much more difficult for intruders and unauthorized people to gain access into your property.
- Smart Drones: Companies are already developing autonomous drones that can navigate without any human intervention. These drones could automatically launch when a security breach is detected, giving you an aerial view of your home’s perimeter in real-time.
- Predictive Security Systems: The next generation of home security will be able to anticipate potential risks. By analyzing patterns in your home’s activities (like the times you leave for work or come back), these systems could alert you if something unusual happens.
- Integration with Wearable Devices: In the future, wearable technology could become an integral part of your home security system. For example, if an emergency occurs, your wearable device could signal your smart home to unlock doors for emergency responders to enter or call for help automatically.
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Conclusion
Smart home security offers a level of protection, convenience, and peace of mind that traditional systems just can’t match. With a range of smart devices available, from doorbell cameras to AI-driven surveillance—home owners are bound to find a solution for every budget and different types of homes.
If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s security, there’s no better time to start than now. Whether you choose to install a basic system or go all out with high-end gadgets, smart security is a wise investment. During these modern times when it seems like social unrest can arise at anytime, this is thus the opportune time to upgrade your home security system to protect your family and belongings from intruders.
