New research suggests that a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the US. When asked why they don’t have a home alarm company system, many people often cite popular home security misconceptions, such as cost. Surprisingly, home security doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Some security companies offer a basic level of monitoring for around $40 per month. However, you also have to factor in the discount that having a monitored security system gives you on your homeowner’s insurance. Most insurance companies will give you around a 20% discount for having a monitored security system installed. In some cases, you might find that having a security system pays for itself in insurance discounts.
Most home alarm companies understand a direct result of these current tough financial times, people are resorting to desperate criminal measures. Spending money on a home’s security is like buying “insurance”. Even if you don’t get burglarized, it’s impossible to put a price on peace of mind.
The first step in figuring out what kind of protection you need is figuring out what are the likely security scenarios. Are you worried about theft? What about someone breaking in and committing violence? Do you have a fear of vandalism in or around your home? The particular type of threats you see around you will greatly impact what kind of security system is best for you.
There are many factors that go into figuring out what the best home security system is for your needs. If you live in a nice neighborhood with a regular neighborhood watch and routinely see police cars on patrol, the kinds of threats and the threat level are going to be different than if you live in a crowded suburb, or in a part of town that’s struggling economically. In the same respect, a house set on the top of a hill has different risks than a house hidden away in a wooded area. Your home’s location is a key factor in the type of protection you need.
In many ways, it comes down to your budget. If money is no object, you can invest in a magnificent home security camera system with all the bells and whistles, one which connects to a 24/7 monitoring service. If you’re like most folks, however, you need to set a budget and then get as much protection from the most likely threats as you can. Ultimately, the question isn’t as much about the best home security system on the market as it is the best home security system that you can afford.
In addition to price, many people complain that security systems are not pet friendly, which is completely false. Most monitored home security systems are now designed to accommodate for at-home pets. The sensors can be placed in an area above the pet’s height, or they may also be put at a setting that detects movement over a certain size. For example, some motion sensors can be set to only go off if they detect motion of an object over 50 pounds, which is more than most pets weigh. If you have a pet, talk to a home security company – there are probably many options available to you!
If you purchase a monitored home security system from a company along with a monitoring package, in most cases you may be able to get the system installed free of charge. Free installation has become a standard for many home security and alarm companies. Many recommend that you stick to wireless systems, which are much easier to set up and install. Most stand-alone systems come with detailed instructions that will walk you through the installation process.