Burglar alarms are nothing new, but what constitutes a home security system now is a lot more complex. Sure, you can still install a relatively basic, inexpensive alarm that will make a noise if someone intrudes into your home, but with a bigger budget you can protect your place against everything from break-ins to floods and even fire.

Here are a few inclusions to consider:

While this type of alarm system has been around for a while, it’s still a good option. In short, how a ‘back to base’ system differs from your average burglar alarm is that while both feature sensors that trigger the alarm, the more high-tech version also triggers a response from an off-site security company. In this case, you won’t have to worry about your neighbours or passers-by simply ignoring your home’s alarm when it sounds.

Featuring a variety of strategically positioned cameras, this allows you to check out what’s happening at different locations in your home simply by switching on the television.

With a little more money to spend, you can have the stream of images ‘wired’ to a remote, secure website, so you can check in on what’s happening at your place from wherever you are in the world.

Your security system can even control other safety-related features around your home – things like lights and whether or not your entry points are locked or unlocked. Something to bear in mind is that this type of system is expensive – and sometimes impossible – to retrofit. In other words, all of your fittings and appliances will have to be compatible, so if this idea sounds appealing to you, it pays to plan early.

The cleverest alarm systems aren’t just about protecting your home against intruders – they also feature components that can save it from fire and flooding. They do it by incorporating sensors that measure everything from water to temperature and even whether your power has gone down. And if they sense something out of the ordinary, they are capable of alerting you, or your security company, so you can take action.