Thinking about it?

Well, it's time to quit thinking about it and act on it! Can you count the number of times someone backed a moving truck into one of your buildings and you had no idea who did it? Or how many times your door locks have been cut? If you have been in the self-storage industry long enough, you're probably very familiar with these and other frustrating scenarios that you would love to be able to correct. Video surveillance might not prevent these events, but it certainly would help in identifying the persons responsible.

Some questions that come to mind most frequently about Video Surveillance: Do I really need video surveillance and how will cameras benefit my facility? Can I afford video surveillance? A better question is How can you afford not to have video surveillance. There are numerous benefits of having video surveillance at your mini-storage facility. Simply put, video surveillance is one of many effective tools used to assist in managing your property. It really doesn't matter about the size or type of facility you own.

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IS A GOOD IDEA.

Video surveillance provides you better marketability as well as better overall security, because having cameras at your facility can often provide a competitive advantage in your local market. Customers are usually going to shop for different facilities in the area to find the safest place to store their belongings. Upon entering a facility displaying various cameras, customers tend to feel more secure about doing business with you. The key is attracting customers and deterring potential problems. Visuals such as cameras, signs and warning stickers inform the customer that the facility owner is looking out for the customer's best interest. These tools also tell thieves and vandals that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. With competition growing more and more every day in the self-storage industry, facility owners are looking for various ways to set themselves apart from all their competitors. Video surveillance is definitely one of the ways in order to gain that advantage. When looking into video surveillance, there are many different options and different levels to choose from. With all video systems, there are certain components that will always be present: Camera, Lens, Housing (If applicable), Mount, Power Supply, Processor, Time Lapse Recorder and Video Monitor. Different applications and situations define how elaborate the video system should be. Whenever considering a video system, the facility owner must determine what he or she wants out of the system. Do I only want a general overview of the grounds? Do I want to see very specific items like license plate numbers? Do I want to see good enough detail to identify someone for a police lineup? This can all be achieved by installing the proper the equipment in the appropriate areas. Putting together an effective camera system starts with asking the right questions. A good place to start is asking whether the facility is best suited for color or black/white cameras. Color cameras are recommend if the facility has an abundance of light. This is a key factor for color. Because most problems with vandalism occur at night, color cameras will not benefit if the coverage area is dim and dark. If well lit, color provides a tremendous amount of detail for identification purposes. Newer technology is allowing color cameras to operate at lower light levels more effectively. On the other hand, if the facility is not well lit, black and white cameras might be a better alternative. Black and white cameras need far less light to operate successfully. Choices for mounting cameras are usually covered by either wall mounts, ceiling mounts, pole mounts or pedestal mounts. Any camera going outside must be enclosed in some sort of environmental housing. Most environmental housings come with the option of heater and blower kits. These kits typically operate off a thermostat to engage at certain temperatures to either cool or heat. Next and probably the most important part of the system is how you will process and record all the cameras. The most commonly used piece of equipment to process multiple camera signals is a multiplexer. A multiplexer allows the user to see and record multiple cameras. Used in conjunction with a time- lapse recorder, a multiplexer allows the user to playback individual cameras at full screen views as well as multi-camera shots. With advances in technology, even more effective tools are being introduced to the video surveillance industry. One of the most significant advances is the introduction of the digital recording system. As time goes by, digital recording systems will be a driving force in video surveillance. Utilizing computer technology, we are now able to record streaming video to a computer's hard-drive. By allowing us to store to hard-drive, we eliminate the use of VHS tapes. We now have the ability to review video clips by specifying a certain time and day where as before, with video tape, we had to hunt and search for certain events using the rewind/fast-forward buttons on the recorder. Although still very effective, this process can sometimes be very time consuming. Another very useful feature available to us through the digital recording system is the ability to view your camera system through standard phone lines. For example, from your personal computer, you have the ability to dial up your cameras and look at a live feed of the events taking place at your facility. If you wish, you also have the ability to play back recorded clips. The remote viewing products are also available to those of you have existing camera systems utilizing multiplexers, quads, or switchers. For more details about digital video recording, remote viewing products or any other questions you have concerning video surveillance, you should contact some of the vendors who work within the self-storage industry. Lastly, with any electronic component, warranty is always an important factor. Most reputable companies now offer at least a one year warranty. Better companies are offering two or three year warranties. When a warranty situation comes up, find out how the return/repair process works and ask about turnaround time. Beware of deals that seem too good to be true. Do your homework and find out as much as you can about the company you're dealing with. Don't be hesitant to ask questions. The more you find in the beginning of the buying process, the better off you'll be down the road when dealing with problems.