Many of us were raised in a time where neighbors would keep their front doors and cars unlocked and you could come and go as you please. This was especially true if you lived in a nice neighborhood, in the country, or a gated community. Times have certainly changed and with a financial crisis looming, you need to be vigilant and cautious, no matter what neighborhood you call home. In fact, in 2018, according to the FBI, a burglar strikes every 25.7 seconds in the US. That adds up to more than two burglaries every minute and over 3,300 burglaries per day. Shockingly enough, that statistic does not even include motor vehicle thefts. When it comes to protecting your family, the possessions that you have worked tirelessly for, and oftentimes, your neighbors, there are several ways to protect your home and community. That security starts with a smart home front door.
Smart Lock
Starting off with smart home front door options is the smart lock. A smart lock is a smart home device that works through WiFi and Bluetooth. This device replaces the standard key with a lock option and leaves you with a keyless entry. The keyless entry design gives you the option to come and go from your house without having to bring a set of bulky keys with you.
Instead of using a traditional key system, smart locks work through a variety of different ways. Smart locks like the Yale smart locks use a touchpad with a designated code. Other systems can unlock with a voice command or remote access from their smartphones. The remote access allows users to lock and unlock their front door from anywhere through their phone. So, if you need to allow guests in while you’re gone you can do so.
Each brand of smart locks comes with different customization options. Some companies allow you to change the code immediately and without limits. Therefore, if you have a pet sitter for a vacation you can change the code after they leave for the last time. This way, when you get home you know that nobody else has entered your home and nobody else has the correct combination to get in. Long gone are the days of paying for a locksmith to change your lock, instead you can change it for free and in less than five minutes.
Helpful Tricks With Smart Home Locks On Your Front Door
The front door should be secure, and a smart lock can do just that. However, there are some common concerns when it comes to safety, because these products are relatively new and not everyone has seen the benefits of them first hand. There are some who fear that because it is an electronic lock that it can be easily hacked. However, it’s important to remember that it’s easier to pick a lock or break down a door than it is to hack a wifi service. To make you feel safer, there are some practices you can take to make sure your locks stay as private as possible.
- Avoid making your passcode something obvious. This includes numbers that are in order, either ascending or descending. For example, don’t use the passcode 1, 2, 3, 4 or 4, 3, 2, 1.
- Don’t use the street numbers as your passcode. For example, if you live on 5250 Main Street, don’t make your passcode 5, 2, 5, 0. Or 0, 5, 2, 5. These are easy to guess for the common burglar.
- The longer the passcode, the better. Statistically speaking, it’s easier to guess a four digit passcode than a six digit passcode.
- Keep an eye out for new and improved updates. The newer the update, the harder it is for someone to hack in.
- Buy extra smart home front door equipment to keep an eye on everything that happens on your patio.
Doorbell Cameras To Create a Smart Home Front Door
Security at your front door is essential, and a doorbell camera allows you the ability to see exactly who is at your front door at all times. Having a doorbell camera, also called a video doorbell, also gives you the freedom to access footage, no matter what time of the day or where you are. Whether you’re waiting for your package to arrive or making sure your kids get home safely, the doorbell camera is a great security system investment.
How Does a Doorbell Camera Work For Smart Home Front Door Capabilities?
This device connects to your existing doorbell wiring and chime noise. It works through the home’s WiFi connection to alert you when there is someone at your door. Think of it like a regular doorbell, but with advanced technology. When someone rings the doorbell, your house has the regular doorbell chime, but an alert is sent to your cell phone. Additionally, there are doorbells with the capability to record once someone has entered the notification zone. This way, if someone steals a package off of your doorstep, you’ll have video evidence of it.
Common features to look for in a doorbell camera include the following:
- High quality and high definition video and recording
- Wide field of view
- Two way, real time conversation
- Connects to a community safety application
- Both wired and wireless options
- Reasonably priced
Doorbell Camera Options
There are different options when it comes down to which doorbell camera works best for your household needs. Below, you’ll find a list of top doorbell cameras to choose from.
Nest Hello
This doorbell camera costs $229 and records in a 4:3 ratio, giving you the full head to toe. The Nest Hello records video in 1080 HD. You can purchase storage for $6 a month, or for free for 30 days total. Additionally, this doorbell camera has night vision capabilities, keeping your home safe day or night. This camera functions with pre-existing doorbell wiring, so make sure that your home is already equipped with that.
The Ring Doorbell (2020 Release)
This one is a cheaper option at $99.99, but don’t let the cheaper price fool you. The Ring Doorbell is an excellent choice for a doorbell! Like the Nest, it offers 1080 HD and night vision recording. Additionally, it has two way audio with noise cancellation and custom motion zones. This way, you will only be notified if someone enters the 155 degree field of vision.
The Ring Peephole Camera
Looking for a renter-friendly option? The Ring Peephole Camera is a great option. That’s because this does not require hardwiring, it can be installed over a doors peephole! This camera comes in at $149.99 and comes with a chime to make sure you never miss a delivery. Like the Ring Doorbell, this also comes with two way audio and noise cancellation! It’s Alexa and Fire TV compatible, giving you real time notifications. It is powered through a rechargeable battery.
Smart Home Front Door Option #3: Outdoor Security Cameras
It goes without saying that having security cameras is a great way to protect your home. There’s no way to keep eyes on every corner of your home at all times! Whether you’re wanting to keep an eye on the neighborhood, who is coming and going from your house, or keeping theft at bay, having a camera helps you achieve that.
Here are some great options for security cameras to help enhance your front door with smart home equipment.
Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
This camera comes in at $399 and records in 1080 HD. The Nest Cam IQ comes equipped with state of the art features to help protect your household. The camera has the ability to detect someone within 50 feet, sending you an alert to your phone with a picture of the person. This feature becomes smarter the longer you have the camera through Nest Aware! This feature recognizes common faces to decrease the amount of notifications sent directly to you.
If that wasn’t enough to grab your attention, the 4k vision and tracking capabilities will. The daytime camera has HDR abilities to reduce shadows and increase image quality. The nighttime camera is effective as well, coming in with 850 nanometer infrared vision. This camera has a rechargeable battery with the ability of adding a solar panel to recharge it through the sun’s rays.
Ring Spotlight Camera
The Ring Spotlight Camera comes in at $199.99 for one, or there are deals for bundle packs to secure the rest of your exterior. This camera records in 1080 HD and can withstand temperatures between negative 5 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The battery powered camera comes with a motion-activated LED spotlight with infrared night vision. The motion activated spotlight helps ward off nighttime prowlers and discourages anyone from getting too close to your household. This camera is remote activated with a 110 decibel alarm and two-way audio with noise cancellation.
Where to Place a Security Camera
Some believe that you should hide your security camera so people don’t know they’re being recorded. However, there are places you can hide your security camera and places where you should keep it seen. Your front door should have a visible camera, because if you’re using it to deter any burglaries, you want to make sure that the burglar realizes that they’re being recorded and leaves your property.
Call ONIT For All Your Smart Home Security Needs
When it comes to home security, ONIT has you covered. We’ve been securing homes and families for over a decade. To find out how we can make your home safer, visit us online or give us a call at 1-833-433-0331.
ONIT Home is offering bundling deals you can’t resist. We’re offering bundled purchases with a $1,500 voucher to use on water filtration, solar panels, or security systems. Or, you can receive a $2,000 security system for only $1,000 with the purchase of a water filtration system. If you’re ready to get rid of your electric bill and go solar, we have a two week installation with a free home security and water filtration system. Whatever your needs are, we’re ONIT. Visit us online or call us at 1-833-433-0331.