Start with the ways in
Walk the property and list every way someone could get onto it. The main gate. Any side or service gate. The garden if it backs onto open ground or a neighbouring plot. Any point where a wall could be climbed easily.
Every one of those needs to be covered. This is the base number, and it is usually four to six on a typical villa.
Then the places you want to see
On top of the entry points, there are places you want a record of even when nothing has gone wrong. The front door, so you see who called. The driveway and parked cars. The area where deliveries are left. The pool, if you have small children.
Corner positions do double duty
A camera on a corner of the building can see along two sides at once. Two well-placed corner cameras can sometimes cover what several poorly placed cameras would. This is one of the main layout points to confirm before installation.
Rough guide by property size
A townhouse with a small yard is often covered by around four cameras. A standard villa usually lands somewhere around six. A large villa with substantial grounds, a pool and multiple gates often needs eight or more. A very large estate can need considerably more.
Treat these as a starting point rather than a specification. Layout matters more than floor area.
Indoors
Most people add one or two indoors. A camera covering the main entrance from inside is the usual one, since it captures anyone who has come through the door. Some add cover on the stairs or a main hallway, which catches movement between floors.
The placement mistakes that undo a system
Mounting cameras too high is the most common. A camera high on a wall gives a good overview but a poor view of a face. At least one camera at head height near the entrance is worth having if you want to identify anyone.
Pointing a camera into a light source is the second. A camera facing a streetlight or the setting sun will be blinded at exactly the moment you need it.
Ignoring night performance is the third. The picture at 2am is what matters, not the picture at noon.
Covering the front and leaving the back open is the fourth. Rear and side approaches are usually the ones used by anyone who does not want to be seen.
Getting it planned properly
Send us the layout, property details and any useful photos. We use them to prepare an initial written quote within 24 hours, then confirm the positions and final scope before installation if a site check is required.