It has never been easier to harness the power of smart technology to protect your home. As technology has moved onwards and upwards, the price, comparable to installing a web-connected personal security a few years ago, has not and the cost of these systems is very reasonable. Nowadays, you can have alerts sent to you via your smartphone. There are many options to choose from but to help you narrow down the best one for protecting your property, let’s have a look at the 6 most common features.

  1. High resolution video/camera technology

Camera technology has moved on a lot and now, a CCTV security system can offer up a much better quality image. Smartphones and webcams have mobile miniature pixels so that instead of the old blurred and grainy images of the past, smart home security systems include full colour HD camera feeds. Not only is the picture high quality but the cameras themselves can move and zoom in, record and playback footage while being small enough to blend into the background.

  1. Wireless or home automation technology

No need for a lot of hard wiring and installation time with wireless alarm systems being one of the most common features in today’s home security. This is reliable technology that also allows remote access and monitoring from anywhere using a smartphone or tablet and is not dependent anymore on telephone lines. The combination of mobile app development along with a two-way wireless communication allows the monitoring of real-time information both in and outside the home. This frees us up to keep an eye on the property when at work, on holiday or even out walking the dog. It also allows us to turn on and off lighting, control our heating from the smartphone as well as receive messages and alerts if something out of the ordinary happens.

  1. Detection devices

Motion sensors are a lot more sophisticated and are commonly featured in any smart home security system. They have moved on from simply detecting motion to having technology that can detect body heat and infrared energy and also distinguish between a pet and a human being. Sensors work in with smart lighting, doorbells and alarms both outside and inside the property and can trigger camera recordings or allow you to “speak” to someone at the front door when you are miles away. (Smart lighting can also be controlled from a smartphone app, as well as linked to detection devices and can be turned on and off manually or on a schedule).

  1. Updates to the basic technology

Some of the simple and basic home security features have now been updated so they share features in common. Take home smoke alarms, for example, a couple of years ago these alarms would be triggered if there was something that was slightly overcooked in the kitchen. Nowadays, security has inbuilt temperature sensors that will incorporate heat thresholds. Plus, with smart smoke alarms, they can also send an alert to your mobile phone, so you are aware of any problems when not on site.

  1. Smart locks

If you are someone who is forever losing keys, then this will be your favourite feature of a smart home security system. Not only is it very good for security but really convenient because these locks communicate through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth so you can lock or unlock doors from anywhere (particularly good if halfway across town and you cannot remember locking the front door). A number of smart locks can open automatically when the system detects your smartphone approaching. There are variances with smart lock systems as some will incorporate the traditional keypad entrance, therefore, doing away with keys entirely. For other systems, you will need to download an app onto your phone which enables open and closing of the lock and there are no screens and keypads to use. Not all smart locks do provide a traditional key slot and this may be something that, if you prefer to have this option, you will need to check.

  1. Quick and easy installation

There is no need to drill holes in the walls to run a telephone line, so these home security systems, often sold in kits that allow you to add on as and when required, can be fitted by the homeowner in most cases. The control panels are simple to get connected and online and these systems come with help on where and how to fit door sensors for example and what to do if you do run into a problem.

A professional home safety system specialist will also provide detailed information on their website and be more than happy to discuss all the features with you.