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Security enhancements are becoming part of home renovations, especially connected doorbell cameras, outdoor cameras and wireless locks. In Houzz’s 2026 U.S. renovation study, homeowners who renovated in 2025 reported buying these products—but the survey measures purchase behavior, not whether a device prevents break-ins. For a remodel, the practical approach is to plan security in layers: first address doors, windows, lighting and sightlines, then choose connected devices that fit the layout, network and household’s privacy needs.
What security products did renovating homeowners buy?
In its 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Renovation Trends Study, Houzz reported purchases made by homeowners who renovated in 2025. The findings suggest that connected video and access devices are part of renovation shopping, particularly at exterior entry points. They do not show market share, how well a product works, or whether the home became safer.
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| Product category | Smart purchase | Standard purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Doorbell cameras | 14% | 1% |
| Indoor security cameras | 9% | 1% |
| Wireless door locks | 7% | 4% |
| Garage door openers | 8% | 6% |
| Outdoor security cameras | 25% | 3% |
| Outdoor lighting fixtures | 8% | 21% |
| Alarms and detectors | Purchased by 28% overall; standard and smart options were more evenly represented | Not reported separately here |
Source: Houzz Inc., 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Renovation Trends Study. Respondents were U.S. homeowners who renovated in 2025; respondents could select multiple products. Houzz defines “smart” as a device that can be monitored or controlled from a mobile device or computer. Figures are purchase rates, not percentages of the security market or evidence of effectiveness.
Outdoor security cameras were the most frequently reported smart product in these categories, at 25%, while smart doorbell cameras were reported by 14%. Smart wireless locks were reported by 7%. The pattern is not simply a shift from conventional equipment to connected equipment: standard outdoor lighting fixtures were reported by 21% of renovating homeowners, compared with 8% for smart outdoor lighting. The study therefore supports a careful conclusion: connected video and access products are showing up in renovation plans, while conventional exterior lighting remains a common purchase in this sample.
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These are U.S. renovation figures, not a forecast for every region, household or type of project. They also say nothing about whether a camera recorded a useful image, whether an alert was acted on, or whether a lock resisted an attempted entry. Use the figures to understand what fellow renovators bought—not as proof that a particular device reduces crime.
What should I consider before installing smart home security?
Start with the property’s entry points and sightlines, then decide what each device is meant to do. A camera, a suitable lock, a light and an alarm or contact sensor address different needs; connected equipment should complement sound physical security rather than replace it.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →For a construction or renovation plan, make a simple coverage map before choosing products. Mark exterior doors, accessible windows, the garage, paths to entrances, parking areas and places where walls, landscaping or outbuildings could block a view. Note which locations need a physical upgrade, better illumination, detection, video, or some combination. This keeps the project focused on gaps at the property rather than on a list of gadgets.
- Check the opening, not just the lock. A lock must suit the door, window and frame it is installed on. Include the condition and fit of the opening in the renovation discussion; an electronic lock cannot compensate for a poorly suited or maintained door or window.
- Preserve visibility. Think about views from doors, walkways and parking areas. CISA recommends maintaining exterior lights and positioning cameras and lights to reduce blind spots. Trim shrubs that interfere with visibility and avoid planning a camera view that ends at a wall, branch or other obstruction.
- Plan for detection as well as recording. Depending on the system, a camera may provide motion notifications or visitor communication, while a contact sensor may detect an opening and an alarm may alert occupants. These functions vary by product and system; do not assume that every camera detects every event or that every device communicates with the others.
- Decide who needs access. Consider which household members should receive alerts or use remote access, and how access will be set up and maintained. A renovation is a useful time to identify household needs, but the actual user controls depend on the selected products.
- Consider ordinary upkeep. Think ahead about battery replacement, software updates, alarm checks and backup power where applicable. A device that is difficult to maintain may not remain ready for use.
CISA’s Personal Security Considerations Action Guide recommends securing exterior doors and windows with appropriate locks, considering alarms and monitored video surveillance, maintaining lighting at doors, parking areas and walkways, and keeping tools or ladders from becoming easy access aids. The guide is directed to critical-infrastructure workers, so treat it as practical federal guidance—not a universal building code or a substitute for local requirements.
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Which security upgrades fit into a remodel?
The right scope depends on the home and the work already planned. A focused renovation might improve a door’s hardware and add lighting at an entry. A broader project may coordinate camera positions, wiring, a connected lock, sensors and alarm equipment across several areas.
Entry doors and windows
Begin with the openings people use or that are accessible from outside. Confirm that planned locks and sensors fit the doors, windows and frames. If a door or window is being replaced or altered, discuss hardware and sensor placement while its construction details are still being decided. A keypad or wireless lock may add a connected access option, but it is one layer of the entry plan—not a replacement for appropriate hardware and a suitable opening.
Exterior lighting and sightlines
Include doors, parking areas and walkways when planning exterior light placement. Standard fixtures can be a sensible choice: the Houzz survey reported them more often than smart outdoor fixtures among renovating homeowners. A connected light may be useful if remote control or automation is part of the household’s plan, but the study does not establish that smart lighting is more effective. Check that fixtures illuminate the intended area and that landscaping will not create avoidable blind spots.
Doorbell and outdoor cameras
A doorbell camera is a direct fit for a front or other frequently used entry where visitor communication or video may be useful. Outdoor cameras can cover selected approaches or areas around the property. Before fixing a location, consider what the device can see, whether the view is blocked, how it will receive power and network access, and which household members should receive notifications. The Houzz purchase figures show that these categories are appearing in renovation plans; they do not identify a best placement, model or performance level.
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Indoor cameras, alarms and sensors
Indoor cameras and sensors have different roles and different privacy implications. Decide what an indoor camera is intended to monitor and when recording should be enabled. Contact sensors or other detectors may provide event information without serving the same purpose as a camera. Alarm and detector options may be standard or connected, and the Houzz study reports that 28% of renovating homeowners bought alarms and detectors without giving a separate percentage for each type in the supplied results. Choose a system around the household’s monitoring needs rather than assuming every device category is necessary.
How do I plan power, network access and installation?
Map power and connectivity before walls are closed or finishes are complete. Whether a device is wired or battery-powered affects placement and ongoing maintenance, while network access affects whether connected features can work as intended.
- List proposed devices and locations. For each item, record its purpose, approximate location, power approach and whether it needs network access. The exact requirements depend on the product, so confirm them with its manufacturer before construction decisions are finalized.
- Check the renovation drawings and site conditions. Identify where wiring can be coordinated with the project and where an existing outlet or network signal may be relevant. Do not assume a convenient mounting location is also a workable power or connectivity location.
- Review coverage from the intended position. Consider the field of view or detection area and possible obstructions. Adjust the plan if a camera or light would leave a key approach hidden.
- Confirm integration rather than assuming it. If you want a sensor to trigger a light or an alarm, verify that the specific devices and system support that arrangement. Compatibility cannot be inferred simply because products are connected or described as smart.
- Plan access and handoff. Decide who will manage accounts, receive alerts and maintain the equipment. Keep product instructions and account-recovery information somewhere the household can find them.
For a larger or more integrated project, a smart-home or security-system designer may help coordinate device placement and installation. CEDIA describes these services in its homeowner guidance on smart-home security. That resource is industry-association guidance; it does not establish comparative performance or guarantee that any particular service is available in a given location.
What cybersecurity and privacy questions should I ask?
Connected locks, cameras, lights and alarms add internet-connected devices and accounts to the home. Plan for router security, account access, app permissions, software updates and recording choices alongside the physical installation.
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CISA’s Protecting Your Digital Home recommends changing the router’s default username and password, checking the router’s available security options, and reviewing the permissions device apps request. It emphasizes the router’s role in the home network: “Your home’s wireless router is the primary entrance for cybercriminals to access all your connected devices.” Treat network setup as part of the security plan, not as an afterthought once the devices are installed.
Before buying a connected device, ask the vendor:
- What information does it collect, including video, audio, event history or account details?
- Where is that information stored, and who can access it?
- Is data transmission encrypted, and can third-party access be limited?
- What permissions does the app request, and can permissions be changed?
- How are software updates delivered, and what happens if the product or account is no longer supported?
These are questions to ask, not claims that every product meets a particular privacy or security standard. CEDIA’s homeowner guidance recommends considering data storage, access, encryption and third-party access. The answers are product-specific, so review the relevant product documentation and account settings rather than inferring protections from a general “smart” label.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →NIST’s December 2025 report, Survey on Smart Home Users’ Security and Privacy Perceptions and Actions: A Device Category Perspective, describes a survey of 401 U.S. smart-home users. It considers security and privacy across multiple device categories, including lighting, security devices, sensors, thermostats and voice assistants. The report is useful context for treating connected-home privacy as a question that extends beyond cameras, but the reviewed findings do not support attributing a specific attitude or behavior rate to those respondents here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do I compare security options for my home?
There is no single best smart-home security system for every property. Compare options against the house’s coverage needs, the renovation’s scope and the household’s preferences rather than choosing by the number of connected features.
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| Decision | What to check | Why it matters during renovation |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Doors, windows, walkways, parking and blind spots | Defines what the system needs to illuminate, see or detect. |
| Physical fit | Whether locks and sensors suit the planned door, window and frame | Hardware choices may be easier to coordinate while openings are being updated. |
| Power and installation | Wired or battery-powered operation; installation requirements | Power and placement decisions may affect construction planning and later maintenance. |
| Monitoring and alerts | Self-monitoring, professional monitoring, remote access or a local alarm | Different households want different kinds of notification and response. |
| Compatibility | Whether the proposed products work together and with the planned network | Connected devices are not automatically compatible across products or platforms. |
| Privacy and data | What is recorded, where it is stored, who can access it and app permissions | Recording and access choices shape how the system fits household expectations. |
| Maintenance and resilience | Batteries, firmware updates, alarm checks and backup power | Ongoing upkeep affects whether equipment remains available and ready. |
Before committing, compare product-specific requirements and terms directly with the manufacturers or installers. The available evidence does not establish current prices, subscription costs, local installation availability, model compatibility or tested performance, so those details should be confirmed for the actual products under consideration. Avoid assuming that a particular system will lower insurance premiums or crime rates based on renovation purchase figures.
What is a practical order for adding security during a renovation?
A project can move from physical priorities to connected features in a sequence that reduces missed coordination decisions. The specific scope still depends on the home, construction plan and local requirements.
- Walk the property and identify concerns. Note doors, windows, walkways, parking areas, dark approaches and obstructed views. Include areas where a ladder or tool could provide access.
- Set physical priorities. Review appropriate locks and the condition and fit of openings. Decide where exterior lighting should serve doors, parking and paths.
- Choose intended functions. For each proposed camera, sensor, lock or alarm, write down what it should do. This distinguishes video coverage from entry detection, visitor communication or a local alarm.
- Coordinate the installation plan. Confirm device placement, power, network access and compatibility before finalizing relevant construction details. Check installation requirements for each selected product.
- Set privacy and account practices. Review the router, change its default login credentials, check available security options, review app permissions and decide who needs account access.
- Plan upkeep. Assign responsibility for battery checks, firmware updates, alarm testing and backup-power checks where applicable. CEDIA advises regular alarm and backup-power testing and keeping firmware current.
- Recheck coverage after the work. Confirm that installed lights and cameras are not blocked by the finished layout or landscaping, and that household members know how to use the access and alert settings.
CISA’s physical-security recommendations and digital-home advice cover different layers of the same project: the first concerns openings, lighting, visibility and equipment, while the second addresses network and app risks. Bringing both into renovation planning helps avoid a connected system that is thoughtfully installed physically but poorly managed online—or a network-secure device plan that leaves basic entry and visibility concerns unaddressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does adding security cameras to a renovation reduce the chance of a break-in?
The available renovation survey reports what homeowners bought, not crime outcomes or the effectiveness of cameras. It cannot establish that cameras reduce break-ins; treat them as one part of a broader plan for openings, lighting, visibility and household practices.
Should I choose a smart doorbell camera or an outdoor camera first?
Start with the location and purpose rather than a universal ranking. A doorbell camera is associated with an entry and visitor communication, while an outdoor camera may be intended to cover another approach or area; confirm the specific device’s view, power and connectivity requirements.
Do smart-home security devices work if the internet goes down?
That depends on the device and system; the supplied guidance does not establish offline behavior for particular products. Check product documentation for which local functions, alerts, recordings or remote features remain available without an internet connection.
Can a renovation security upgrade qualify for an insurance discount?
The cited survey and guidance do not establish insurance discounts or eligibility rules. Ask your insurer about the policy and equipment requirements before relying on a potential discount.
