Published by Certified Security Systems | Serving Westlake, FL and the surrounding Palm Beach County communities
Westlake is one of those places where you can drive through an area and wonder, “Where did all of this come from?” And can I watch it all on my security cameras?
New neighborhoods seem to be appearing almost overnight. Streets are filling in, new homes are going up, and more families are moving into communities that didn’t even exist a few years ago.
That makes Westlake a little different from some of the older communities we serve.
A lot of the homes are newer, many are two-story, and there are plenty of young families who aren’t just thinking about protecting the front door. They’re thinking about being able to see what’s happening throughout the house.
Westlake Is Growing Fast — And the Homes Are Growing Too
One of the first things you notice about Westlake is the amount of new construction. There are large communities, smaller neighborhoods, and plenty of homes still being built out.
That creates a great opportunity for homeowners to think about security cameras while the house is new rather than trying to retrofit everything years later.
Two-story homes also create a different kind of everyday security question.
Mom might be upstairs folding laundry or working in the bedroom while the kids are downstairs in the playroom. Instead of running downstairs every five minutes to see what they’re doing, a properly configured camera system can let her check the playroom from a connected TV or her phone.
That’s not necessarily about security in the traditional sense.
Sometimes it’s just about knowing what’s happening in your own house.
Wendy’s Take: The Two-Story Mom Problem 😂
Let’s be honest.
If the kids are downstairs and Mom is upstairs, she’s probably going to yell, “What are you doing down there?” at least three times before she actually walks downstairs.
A camera can save her the trip.
With the right setup, she can pull up the downstairs playroom on a connected TV or her phone and see whether the kids are actually playing quietly or whether the house is about to become a disaster zone.
That’s one of my favorite things about modern camera systems — they’re useful even when nobody is breaking into anything.
A Real CSS Story: Moving an Existing ADT and Camera System to Westlake
The Customer Didn’t Want to Start Over
One of our Westlake customers came to us after purchasing a new home. He already had his own security setup, including an ADT system and Alarm.com cameras, and he wanted to bring that equipment with him rather than start over with an entirely new system.
That makes perfect sense.
Moving into a new house is already expensive enough without automatically throwing away equipment that you already own and want to continue using.
So we looked at what he had, figured out what could be moved and integrated into the new property, and planned the installation around the new home’s layout.
And here’s the part I really liked:
He wanted it done quickly.
We got the system moved and working within a week of him moving into his new Westlake home.
Instead of spending weeks staring at boxes and wondering when the security system was going to get installed, he had his ADT system and cameras back where they belonged — protecting the new house.
That’s one of the advantages of working with a local company that can look at the equipment you already have and figure out how to make it work with the new property.
You Don’t Always Need to Replace Everything
Moving into a new home doesn’t automatically mean your existing security equipment belongs in the trash.
Depending on the equipment, its condition, compatibility, and the new home’s layout, some systems and cameras can be relocated or integrated into the new property.
That’s something we can evaluate before you spend money replacing equipment that may still do exactly what you need it to do.
And if something isn’t worth moving, we’ll tell you that too.
New Construction Is the Best Time to Think About Cameras
If you’re buying a brand-new Westlake home or building from the ground up, this is a great time to think about camera placement.
Once the walls are finished, adding new cable can be more complicated than planning those runs during construction.
We can look at the property and determine where cameras should go, where the NVR should live, how network equipment should be connected, and which areas need coverage before everything is finished.
Even if you’re buying an existing new-construction home, it’s worth thinking through camera placement before you start hanging pictures, installing furniture, and finishing the spaces around the house.
CSS Tip: Think About Where You’ll Actually Be
Don’t just ask, “Where should the cameras go?”
Ask yourself:
- Where do the kids spend most of their time?
- Where does everyone enter and leave the house?
- Can I see the driveway?
- Can I see the backyard or pool?
- What happens when I’m upstairs?
- What happens when I’m downstairs?
- Will I want to check the house from my phone or connected TV?
Good camera placement follows your life — not just the floor plan.
Two-Story Homes Change the Way You Think About Coverage
Many Westlake homes have multiple floors, which can create blind spots that aren’t obvious until you’re actually living in the house.
A camera at the front door tells you what’s happening at the front door. It doesn’t necessarily tell you what’s happening in the downstairs living area, upstairs hallway, backyard, pool, or garage.
Depending on the family’s needs, cameras can provide visibility into key areas without putting a camera in every room.
For example, a family may want cameras covering exterior entrances, the driveway, backyard, pool area, and a downstairs common area such as a playroom or family room.
Interior cameras should always be placed thoughtfully, with privacy in mind. Bedrooms and bathrooms are obviously not appropriate locations.
Westlake Isn’t Just About New Houses
Although new construction is a huge part of Westlake’s identity, the security needs of each homeowner are still different.
Some families want a traditional professionally installed camera system with a local NVR. Others already have equipment from a previous home and want to bring it with them.
Some want cameras primarily for security. Others want remote access so they can check on the house, kids, pets, deliveries, or the backyard while they’re away.
That’s why we don’t start with a predetermined camera package.
We start with the house and the people living in it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you move my existing security cameras to my new Westlake home?
Often, yes. We can evaluate the cameras and security equipment you already own and determine what can be relocated, reused, or integrated into the new property.
We recently helped a Westlake customer move his existing Alarm.com cameras and ADT system into his new home, and we had the system up and running within a week of his move.
Can I watch my security cameras on my TV?
Depending on the camera and system configuration, yes. Many modern security systems can be viewed through connected devices, mobile apps, or compatible televisions and streaming devices.
Do I need Wi-Fi for security cameras to work?
Not necessarily. Wired camera systems can record to a local NVR without internet access for the recording itself. Internet access is generally needed for remote viewing and certain connected features.
How many cameras does a Westlake home need?
There isn’t one number that works for every home. We look at the home’s entrances, driveway, garage, backyard, pool, layout, and the areas the family actually wants to monitor.
A two-story family home may have different needs from a smaller single-story home, and a homeowner who wants interior monitoring will have different requirements from someone who only wants exterior surveillance.
Can you install cameras in a brand-new construction home?
Yes. New construction can actually provide an excellent opportunity to plan camera wiring and network infrastructure before the walls are finished. We can also work with homeowners who have already moved into their new home and need a retrofit installation.
Is Certified Security Systems an authorized ADT dealer?
Yes. We’re an authorized ADT dealer, and we also install standalone CCTV systems for homeowners who want to own their camera system outright.
One More Thing From Wendy…
Westlake is changing so fast that I think we’re going to be watching this community grow right along with the families moving into it.
And that’s actually one of my favorite parts.
These aren’t just houses we’re putting cameras on. They’re families moving into brand-new homes, kids growing up, playrooms getting destroyed five minutes after they’re cleaned, and parents trying to keep up with everything happening on two floors at once.
If a camera can make the house a little easier to manage while also making it more secure, that’s a pretty good use of technology.
Ready to Protect Your Westlake Home?
Call or text us at 561-285-2780 — we answer our own phones.
We’ll schedule a free on-site assessment and build a camera plan around your home, your family’s needs, and the way you actually use the property.
Whether you’re moving into a brand-new Westlake home, building from the ground up, or bringing an existing ADT or Alarm.com system with you, we’ll help you figure out what makes sense before you spend money on equipment you may not need.
Certified Security Systems — Serving Westlake and Palm Beach County
Call or Text: 561-285-2780 | www.certifiedsecuritysystems.org
ADT Authorized Dealer | CCTV Installer | Licensed & Insured