Because vacation homes are only occupied while on vacation, they go a large part of the year without being used. This means that they need some sort of protection while you are not there. This protection can deter break-ins, vandalism, and theft. The ideal solution for this is a surveillance installation of IP camera products. An IP camera is a security camera that can be remotely accessed from over the Internet, hence the letters "IP," which stands for "Internet Protocol." You can sit at home and keep an eye on your vacation home. You can even pan, zoom, and tilt the camera from your home computer so that you can see what is going on. All video is in real-time and is accessible via most popular web browsers. This is a great way to keep your vacation home safe.



Benefits of Vacation Home IP Camera Surveillance

- Easy installation - Installation is very easy. You don't have to use power tools and there is no need for technicians. All you have to do is hook up the cameras and access them through your computer by logging into the network.

- Monitor from anywhere - The camera has its own network that enables it to transmit the footage over the Internet. The connection is secure and allows you to check up on your vacation home whenever you want to and from anywhere in the world. You can even invest in IP surveillance cameras that detect motion without the need of additional software or hardware. You can receive an email or SMS message if motion is detected. This allows you to be monitoring the home 24/7 without the need to always be watching the recorded video.

- Prevent theft and vandalism - If your security cameras are seen, there should be no problem preventing theft. If someone robs or vandalizes your property, the security cameras can identify they culprit. They also work well to deter intruders. The decision to have the cameras hidden or visible should be decided before installing the system.

Configuration of Your Vacation Home Surveillance System

No two vacation homes are alike, which means the configuration is not going to be the same for two homes. Here are some things to consider when it comes to the configuration of your system:

- What is your biggest security threat?

- Does the neighborhood contribute any type of security?

- Have others in your neighborhood been robbed?

- Is your vacation home susceptible to break-ins?

Setting Up Your Cameras

- Make sure you place your cameras near doors so that you can see if anyone enters your home.

- Monitor any valuables.

- If there are any valuables in the garage or storage building, make sure those areas are watched as well.

- Decide if you want the cameras to be seen. This may stop some thieves from breaking in. The other option is hiding the cameras where they have a good chance of getting a clear shot of the intruders face.

Copyright (c) 2009 Wes Fernley