Home Security Systems
With crime rates increasing across the country, it seems that even middle-class suburbs are no longer the safe havens that they once were. I don’t consider myself an alarmist by any means, but I do take safety seriously – particularly where my family is involved. That’s why I’ve recently begun shopping around for a good home security system.
I have never had a home security system before, so I was under the impression that they were extremely expensive, complicated to set up, and required long-term contracts with an alarm monitoring company. However, as I am looking into these products a bit more, I have learned that none of my initial fears have any real merit, as home security systems have become far more affordable to the average consumer in recent years. Additionally, there are some great DYI home security systems available that were not available a few years ago.
The first issue I thought about was whether to go with a home security system that is installed and monitored by a security alarm firm, or go the DIY route. With the professionally installed and monitored system, I know that it will be installed correctly and that the system will be monitored 24/7; however, this comes at a cost in the form of some combination of upfront installation costs and ongoing monitoring fees.
The DIY option is attractive because technology has both driven the cost of equipment down, and has made installation simple, even for a neophyte like me. The big advantage is that once you pay for the equipment, you own it and have no additional monthly charges. The system monitors itself and can be configured to call several phone numbers in the event of a problem.
The second thing I thought about when I first started shopping for a home security system, was which features I should look for. At the very least, I wanted a product that would sound an alarm if any of my doors or windows were tampered with, but beyond that, I had no idea what else would be useful.
Were motion sensors worth the extra money or were they too inconvenient to work with? Would having dogs in the house lead to too many false alarms or are today’s home security systems sophisticated enough to tell the difference between pets and intruders? Is a perimeter alarm necessary or could I do without it? Are cameras a good idea? These were some of the questions I had in mind while comparing all the different products.
As I am doing my research, I was able to find a few very informative websites that told me just about everything I needed to know about home security systems. After reading about the various features that the newest safety products come with, I feel like I am fairly well prepared to make a decision about what would be best for my family.
So you are one of those people who always thought that home security systems were way out of your budget, I suggest that you take another look. They’re surprisingly affordable, and are the best way to protect your family and belongings from break-ins, intrusions, and even natural disasters.
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