Gadget Girl Tips

Are you looking for creative ways to make your home more secure?  Would you like to do it without the commitment that comes with a large home security company?  Here are 10 popular home security gadgets that could make it to your DIY list.

1. DIY Alarm System - Do-it-yourself home alarm systems are widely available, come in kit form and can be expanded. Wireless systems are the easiest to install and can be moved when you do. Be sure to look for a system that will alert you by phone or email if the alarm is activated.

2. Lighting Control - Motion sensor lighting deters criminal activity around your home. Since burglars prefer to do their business in darker settings, anything you can do to add illumination will help. Affordable DIY lighting control systems can be hardwired in with the help of an electrician or by plug-in modules. Indoor and outdoor motion detectors help save electricity and are convenient.

3. Surveillance Systems - DIY surveillance systems, like DIY alarm systems, often come in “kit” form. Wireless IP cameras are popular and easy to install. You can also create a home surveillance system using webcams and affordable downloadable software. Surveillance cameras deter criminal activity and are great for looking in on animals, kids and home service providers.

4. GPS Devices - From personal GPS to kid GPS, these gadgets can help keep tabs on your teen or your toddler should she wander off in a crowded store or hide in racks of clothes. Put one in the car and track its location, attach one to high value property or take it with you while hiking.

5. Video Front Door Intercom - Also known as video door phones, these systems add a layer of protection between you and a visitor at the front door. Instead of opening the door to speak to a visitor, or relying on a peep hole or window to see who is there, front door video intercoms let you see and speak with the person at the front door without even going near the door. You’ll want to look for a product that includes a camera that works in dark or very low light. An Infrared (IR) camera works best in darkness since it produces its own light. 

6. Magnetic Door/Window Alarms - These devices are cheap, easy to install and alert you, with a shrill sound, when a door or window has been opened. The noise alone is enough to scare away amateur burglars. They are also good for families of small children and the elderly who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

7. Baby Monitors: Night Vision and iPhone Access - Baby monitor technology has come a long way over the years. No longer do you just have to settle with hearing your baby, now you can watch him in the dark and see images on your iPhone or iPad. With such a wide variety of monitors available, you’re bound to find one that meets a new parent’s criteria. Be sure to look for a digital monitor that won’t interfere with other wireless devices in your home.

8. Perimeter Alarms - Driveway motion and IR sensors, electric fences and laser trip sensors, these gadgets can be monitored and connected to a camera surveillance system for viewing intruders. If you want a less complicated system, choose a device that simply notifies you via a chime when someone or something has breached the barrier.

9. Keyless Entry - Gaining in popularity, keyless entry door locks for the home can be connected to many whole-house alarm or home automation systems. Choose between coded or biometric door locks and even lock or unlock the door remotely via a smartphone application. Goodbye hide-a-key rocks and lost house keys.

10. Personal Emergency Response - With an aging population, personal emergency response systems ensure elderly family members can maintain independent lives longer. Emergency panic buttons can be placed throughout the home like in the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. Wearable panic buttons are ideal in the event of a fall or medical emergency. You’ll want to be sure any system you choose has a 2-way communicator between the monitoring center and house, so Dad can tell the center where he is and what happened.

Be sure to research security gadgets before you buy. Not all products are easy to install, and may require add-on devices or services to get the features you want. You can find security gadgets at your local big-box hardware store or through online specialty retailers.

Madison Parker is a home security expert whose passion for helping protect others led to the creation of HomeSecuritySystems.net. Pay a visit to her blog to get many more tips and advice!