Securing your home is a serious business—you want to make sure you feel safe when you are home, but maybe more notably, when you’re not. We live in an age where privacy is of the utmost importance, so putting the right video surveillance system in your home is crucial. Here’s the 411 on how to get started with taking this safety measure.

Smile for the…

Figuring out what type of camera system you want is a big aspect of setting up a security system on your property. There’s different levels of complexity that a camera can have—some with infrared LED lights that show objects clearly at night, and others which have a fixed feature focus for surveying specific areas. To determine which is best for you, you need to first ask yourself how in-depth you want the security system on your property to be. We all want to keep an eye on things, but that means different things to different people. There are also varying ones for indoors and outdoors, and you don’t want to install the wrong kind in the wrong place.

Go smart

One of the best aspects of installing a security system in today’s age is the ability to integrate it with your smart phone. You can set up notifications so you know if there’s any activity occurring on your property when you’re at work or away on vacation. More advanced systems allow you to lock the front door from your phone, as well as turn off the lights, etc. ADT Pulse is a popular option for homeowners, as is Nest. Do the research to figure out which system works best for you and your family.

A pretty penny

Securing your home is going to cost you, depending on which system you’re choosing, as well as the installation and monitoring costs. For continuous monitoring by authorities, there’s usually a monthly fee. You can always go the DIY route for installation, but for a more complex system, it’ll require consulting with a professional. Again, it’s about doing your due diligence to determine the home security system that’ll fit your lifestyle best. Are you traveling a lot? How large is your property? Have the crime rates in your neighborhood gone up? These are some questions to consider before deciding to splurge on a sophisticated, multi-faceted system, or to go with something more standard.

These key components of installing a home security system are something to consider before taking the plunge.