We recently thought about installing a CCTV system.
As we were not sure what was suitable we decided to buy a basic camera from the local DIY store, for just under $160.
The Unit
The unit was an Arlo Camera, with the following features:
Rechargeable battery powered;
Wide angle lens;
Spotlight;
Microphone and Speaker allowing you to talk with people close to the camaera
Wireless communication via our internet router;
Linkable to our mobile phones.
In addition to the camera there was the adjustable mounting bracket, and a charging cable allowing the unit to be recharged through a USB charger.
Initial Setting Up
Charge the camera.
Download the app on your mobile phone which gives you access to the instructions;
Connect the camera to your home internet internet and then ‘pair’ with your smart phone;
Find a suitable mounting point and secure the bracket with 3 screws;
Adjust the camera position until you are happy with view
Overall the installation, after the camera was charged, took me around 30 mins.
Monitoring Settings
The camera is designed to start recording from as soon as movement is detected to several seconds after movement is stopped.
The video clips are then stored in the ‘Cloud’ for 30 days. (After a 3 month free period this costs around $5.00/month for a single camera)
You can change the settings to:
Pick the area of main interest. (In our case we are only interested in part of the view)
Exclude animals
Decide if you want to be notified by movement.
Decide when you want to be notified (by setting a schedule)
Initial Impressions
Set up was quite easy;
After 4 weeks I can say we are very pleased with the camera;
If the Internet drops out the camera won’t record anything.
Although the battery looks as though it will last about a month before need recharging we decided to add a solar charger for an additional $90.
Most people spend a lot of time thinking about their front door. . . . . but forget about their back door.
There seems to be a bit of a convention for back doors.
Conventional Doors
Quite often if a conventional door is used usually have a half window and usually only have a single simple lock.
Unfortunately criminals know that an easy way to break in is to break the small window, reach in, and unlock the door.
It’s not as though you really need the window as most back doors are in the laundry which isn’t a room you spend a lot of time in, and it usually has a window.
My preferred approach is a solid back door with two locks fitted at least 300mm apart.
One a deadlock, as I am always a bit suspicious about Construction Locks
Not only is this more secure, and offers better insulation but its likely to be slightly cheaper. Also you can always put a couple of coat hooks on the back of the door to hang your gardening clothes.
As you can see from this photo of a previous back2 door I specified the double locks but didn’t think to specify ‘no window’.
My latest houseI is a plain door!
Full Length Sliding Glass Doors
When looking at a display home you might find the builder uses ‘Patio Doors’ for the laundry.
One of the big signs to potential burglars that there is no one at home is a letter box stuffed with post and junk mail after its gone dark in the evening.
After seeing a couple of larger letter boxes I can see some real advantages in thinking again about you letter box.
For Instance:
Not everybody has neighbors, or nearby relatives that can clear your letter box when you are away.
Why do most houses still have a tube for the newspaper when most newspapers now get wrapped in clingfilm and thrown from a moving car.
A large letter box means that a week or more of post and even junk mail stays hidden and dry
Some boxes have spring loaded flaps can trap the mail half in / half out exposing it to the weather, and the gaze of anyone passing by.
My next mail box is going to be big enough to take several days post and junk mail and have on open slot, with weatherproofing, so the post drops out of sight.
Perhaps something like the one in this photo.
The Settling In Section contains lots more advice on what to do after you have moved in your new house
Once you get the keys for your new house you will probably want to move in straight away.
Here are a few reasons why it’s best to stage your move:
Time to get window fittings such as blinds and curtains installed without furniture in the way.
There may be things that have been missed that need attending to. It was only when I started putting up light fittings I realised one of the light was missing.
Making sure that fences and gates are in place and secure if you have pets. Its not just having the fences in place, but making sure the dog can’t squeeze or dig under them!
Have the television aerials fitted, and if you want cable TV arrange for that to be installed.
Get the phone line/internet connected.
Make sure the water, electricity and gas are connected.
Paint any feature walls.
Opportunity to get carpets fitted if they aren’t in the overall package, without furniture in the way.
Paint the garage floor . . .easy to do with an empty garage and you will be glad you have done it.
Install the washing hoist.
Lay gravel in any areas that you need to get to that haven’t got a path. This will stop you bringing mud into the house.
Get a post box and number installed and check mail is redirected before you move out of your existing home.
What I did was move in myself with a single bed and put curtains up.
This made the house look lived in while I did those jobs around the place.
After a week or so we were ready for the big move!
Have you ever thought about who has keys for the locks on the doors of your new house?
After all there are lot’s of tradies working on the house after ‘Lock Up’ stage.
Well these days most builders use Construction Locks, sometimes called Project, locks. These are a special type of lock which comes with two types of key:
The Construction Keys
Standard pattern ‘master’ keys which are given to all the tradies, who can with a single key enter any of the builders houses under construction
The Final Key
These are the keys which is given to you at handover. Once you use this key it displaces some ball bearings in the lock which should mean the Construction key will no longer work.
Some of the things you should know about Construction Locks are:
Before the end of the handover you should make sure you use the Final Key in every door lock in the house. check each lock with all the keys you are given. This will ensure that:
Every lock will be changed to only open with the final key. (It’s worth borrowing the site supervisors key to make sure his key no longer works)
All the locks, and keys work properly.
The locks the builder uses are unlikely to be expensive/high quality.
Although the construction key won’t work there will be a limited number of final key combinations for this type of lock. If you want in increased level of security it could be worth getting a locksmith to re-key the locks as soon as possible. The cost is going to be around $60-80/lock plus a call out fee.
Well summer is almost upon us and I am reminded of a poem by Dorothea McKeller
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!
The poem is called My Country
I also love Australia, but there are plenty of potential terrors
As well as the large disasters such as Floods, Bush Fires, Cyclones, there are many events that may be a disaster to you on a more personal level. . . . . so are you prepared?
Have you thought
How you might react in an emergency?
What you might need?
How your pets would be protected?
What is valuable to you?
Well the Red Cross, who have had a lot of experience in disasters, have provided some very useful information.