Is Lorex the best home security cameras for easy setup without a subscription?

I installed a Costco special Lorex 4 camera system at a relatives house about 10 years ago. It’s great for monitoring while in the house but remotely it’s awful if it even ever connects.

I ran extra Cat5 to other parts of the house but ran out of time off of work to finish pulling the wires and putting up the extra cams. They’re going to pay me to take time off and install the other 6 cameras. I’m thinking the tech has changed so much in that time I’d like to get them a better system then put up the 10 yr old cameras. Without going over $3-4k for 10 cameras & NVR/DVR what are my options? I’d like to add in a thermal camera or two if possible.

with that budget, getting 10 NVR cameras plus a thermal camera will be hard. Could you think of doubling up the budget, then I will offer proper advice.

what are the key areas you need to secure with the thermal camera?