Did you know that police typically only solve 13 percent of home invasions due to lack of witnesses or evidence? In case of a break-in, a surveillance system can help you catch the perpetrators to recover your property and avoid a second offense.

For that very reason, visible surveillance cameras will deter robbers from targeting your home altogether. Thieves know if they’re seen, they’ll likely be caught.

But installing a few security cameras is not enough to protect your Charlotte, NC home. The wrong ones or poor installation could result in significant holes in your surveillance system.  

We cover the biggest surveillance camera mistakes below (as well as how to fix them, of course).

SEE MORE: Check Out These Revolutionary Surveillance Cameras 

This past Halloween, I had the great idea of taking the family out to see a scary movie at the local drive-in. With the cool weather, it seemed like the perfect activity for a spooky evening together.

It turned out to be a terrible idea. We weren’t the only ones to think of it. With everyone’s engines running, we could barely hear anything through our portable radio or even the car’s speakers.

Even with a clear view of the screen, it was impossible to enjoy the movie when we couldn’t hear the creaking of the door or the whispers between panicked protagonists.

Since then, we’ve resolved to watch scary movies in the comfort of our Charlotte, NC home where we can take full advantage of our high-end surround sound system.

A properly installed system can make all the difference when enjoying your favorite movie whether it’s a romantic comedy or explosive action movie.

If you own a home in the Charlotte, NC area, chances are you spend plenty every year heating and cooling your property.

Luckily, there’s a readily available solution that will help you save money and energy consumption each month: a smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats can automatically regulate the temperature in your home to create an eco-friendly home environment whether you’re at work, lounging in your great room or readying for sleep. They also can inform you of your energy consumption patterns so that you naturally can consume less.

Most importantly, though, climate control technologies such as smart thermostats shouldn’t be considered just a convenience. They can provide real, lasting benefits for your home and the environment.

Don’t believe us? Below are three startling facts you should know about home energy consumption and smart thermostats.

What is most important to you when it comes to shades? Is it privacy, style, or energy savings? You can accomplish all three goals with our Lutron motorized shades. But to make the most out of your investment, you should consider these three different smart strategies. Read this blog to find out what they are.

SEE ALSO: How to Choose the Right Motorized Shades

1. Maintain Privacy

If your top priority is maintaining privacy, blackout shades would be one way to ensure no one can see in your home. However, Lutron roller shades can be customized to still give you some visibility so you can see outside of your home. You’ll be able to see outside, and some light will come through, but people won’t be able to see inside your house.

Keep in mind that the darker your roller shade fabric is, the better you will be able to see through them. It seems counterintuitive, but take a look at a white roller shade and you won’t be able to see anything.

2. Save Energy

The best way to save energy is to connect your shades to the rest of your smart home system. Motorized shades already help shave money off your bill every month, but when you tie them to the lighting and HVAC, you can save even more.

No one wants to give an average gift. You want your friend, partner, or family member to feel loved, appreciated and special. Consider how a luxury smart device installed in their Charlotte, NC home can enhance the person’s lifestyle. So what are these are the top tech gifts of the season? We cover them below! One of these home automation accessories is sure to be the perfect gift for that special someone.

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Get Ready for the Holidays

1. Sonos One with Amazon Alexa

Sonos has combined the proprietary voice-control technology of Amazon Alexa with their incredible Play:1 speaker to bring you the best of both worlds. You can browse thousands of song titles with your voice, manage your busy schedule, and enjoy all of the other benefits of Alexa. The Sonos One with Alexa can play Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM and so much more with a simple voice command.

2. Apple TV 4K: $179

This gift would be perfect for the movie-lover who wants to watch everything in 4K. It comes with a voice control feature, so you can browse for titles by simply saying the name of what you are looking for, and the home screen is ad-free. This device is also the only streaming box that supports Dolby Vision, which is a huge plus. The colors on the screen will pop, and the images will look crisper with this brand new 4K streaming device.

3. Amazon Echo 2^nd Generation: $99.99

The Echo still stands as one of the top gifts for the holiday season. Their 2^nd generation model has a number of new and exciting features, including unique colors and Dolby sound upgrade. You can choose from an oak or walnut finish, sleek silver, and soft fabrics in charcoal and heather grey or white sandstone. In addition to the music upgrade and colors, the new Echo can also hear you better since it has seven built-in microphones for voice recognition.