Video Surveillance in Vacation Homes and Second Houses
Video surveillance is the perfect tool for protecting vacation homes. Because they are unoccupied most of the time, vacation homes are more susceptible to break-ins, theft and vandalism. A security camera system at your beach house or cabin can keep it safe when you’re not around.
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Benefits of Second Home Surveillance
- Easy to Install – Modern IP cameras are easy to install. Unlike analog CCTV cameras, you don’t need power tools or technicians – all you do is place the cameras and hook them up to your computer or recorder.
- Remote Monitoring – NVRs (network video recorders) as well as many software programs allow you to transmit your security camera footage over the internet. This allows you to check up on your property anytime you’d like, from anywhere in the world. You can also customize the software to film when a camera detects someone entering the room or during certain times of the day. This new feature makes it easy to secure your home no matter how far away you are.
- Prevent Theft – Prominent security cameras have shown to help prevent theft from occurring. Should your home be burglarized, security footage is one of the key ways to identify the thieves.
Risk Factors for Beach House Security Cameras
- Damage – Cameras may be damaged due to storms or other causes, whether they be indoors or outdoors.
- Vandalism/Theft – Cameras are sometimes seen by thieves as easy targets – they don’t think the cameras can record them or store their faces if they steal the cameras. Although this is rare, have a backup security system in place if your cameras are stolen or damaged by thieves or vandals.
- Outages – Electrical surges or outages can damage your surveillance system or cause interruptions in your recording. Your vacation house may be at risk if your system resets and you are unable to start recording again. Make sure you have an alternative system in place to secure your house. For example, a trusted neighbor or local police officer may be able to enter your home and start the camera.
Configuration Questions for Second House Security Cameras
Vacation homes vary widely in type, size and location, and thusly have different security needs. Consider each of the following when choosing and configuring your surveillance system:
- What do you consider to be your biggest security threat?
- Do you feel that your neighborhood contributes to the overall security of your vacation home?
- Have you or your neighbors had problems with robbery or vandalism in the past?
- Is there anything about your vacation home that makes it susceptible to break-ins?
Setup Advice for Vacation Home CCTV Systems
- Place security cameras near doors in order to record everyone who enters and exits your home.
- If you have any valuables displayed (electronics, rugs, paintings, etc), consider monitoring them at all times with a fixed camera placed nearby.
- If you have valuables (boats and other watercraft, golf clubs, skis, etc) stored in your garage or another storage area, install a camera to monitor them. Make sure you can record the entrance and exit of any potential thief, as recreational equipment can be an alluring target for a thief.