Home Security System
Reasons to Purchase a Home Security System
If you are considering buying a home security system, you should rest assured that you are likely making the right choice. This is because there are various reasons to get a system that can help protect your house from intruders. If you are still undecided, you should consider the main benefits of buying a home security system.
Reduce the Risk of Theft
When you are away from home, there is a risk that thieves will try to enter the house to steal your belongings. Having a home security system can help reduce this risk, especially if you make it known, such as through a sticker on the window or a sign in the yard. Most burglars target houses that they assume will be easy to break into, and needless to say, a home with an alarm does not fall into that category. Since it greatly increases their risk of being caught by you or the neighbors, it decreases the chance of them attempting to break in.
Increase the Safety of Your Family
A home security system can be ideal both when you are away and when you are at home. When you are inside the house, the last thing you want is to be confronted by a robber. In many instances, robbers will stop at nothing to get what they want, and this may include harming your family. Of course, even if they do not hurt you, they will take your belongings. However, the presence of a home security system may deter them from breaking in. In addition, if they somehow do proceed with their plan to intrude, the alarm can alert police quickly so you do not have to call on your own.
Peace of Mind
Some people believe that they do not need a home security system because they live in a nice area where few crimes are committed. However, everyone is at risk of having unwelcome intruders stop by, and in fact, many thieves specifically target nicer areas since they want high quality things to steal. Even if you never have to use your home security system, you will have the peace of mind of knowing it is there. It is much like insurance in that way.
Reduce Insurance Rates
Speaking of insurance, many property insurance providers offer a discount to families with security systems in place. This is because they are less likely to have to pay to replace expensive items when burglaries are less likely to occur. This means that having a home security system can save them money, and they often pass this savings on to customers in order to encourage them to install such technology. Therefore, when you do decide to install a home security system, be sure to let your insurance provider know.
Increase Home Value
A security system is yet another upgrade that many home buyers often look for when shopping for a new house. This is because, just like you, they want the peace of mind and increased safety that home security systems bring. Therefore, when you decide to sell your house, the home security system you had installed may pay for itself since the home will be more attractive to buyers, and thus worth more money. For this reason, you should remember to list it as an upgrade when you put the home on the market, and watch the interest from home buyers start to soar.
Now that you have an idea of the main benefits of a home security system, and have perhaps decided to purchase one, you should start comparing features and prices. After all, you want to get the most for your money, especially if you want the system to pay for itself in the future. To start your shopping, you should get some price quotes and check out deals from the security companies in your area so you can get the perfect product for your home.
What To Consider When Purchasing A Home Security System
The economy stinks, which means thieves are getting bolder and sneakier. The time seems ripe for a home security system. Before taking the plunge, it's wise to realize a home security system is not the one-dimensional open-and-shut case it's advertised to be.
DIY vs. Pro
Security systems can be installed by commercial dealers or by homeowners — the DIY or Do-It-Yourself approach. While saving money is always a bonus, there is no such thing as a warranty in a DIY operation, with the exception of a limited parts warranty. Some knowledge of electrical systems is required for making the proper connections, and if a DIY homeowner does not possess the required tools for the installation, he or she will have to buy them. The best thing to do is build a rapport with a security systems dealer, so that an agent or customer service representative will be familiar with the purchased system and its components. That will make over-the-phone questions that much easier to handle. The greatest advantage in a DIY installation is minimal maintenance and the option of periodic upgrades; some features can be swapped out or replaced later. The warranty of a professional installation will be very limited unless a customer orders the full setup: an estimate, the subsequent installation, and perhaps one follow-up visit — though post-setup troubleshooting may be regarded as the same thing.
The utmost care should be given to planning and installing a DIY system that is wire-enabled. Any faulty wires or wire ends must be addressed if not replaced outright. Once the house's wire network has made the grade, the security system can be installed. If there are any grey areas whatsoever, it's best to consult a professional. In such cases, it's evident why a professional setup trumps a DIY undertaking. In the case of a wireless system, one that connects to a phone line, a phone technician must be called in to install a second or third line, anyway. Wireless systems require far less effort to install than hard-wired systems, and the price tags will reflect that difference.
Time To Go Pro
Not all home security systems are created equal, which is why an on-site estimate — typically free — will narrow down the best options for the house and property to be surveilled. Some aggressive security representatives tend to recommend unnecessarily extravagant features to pad out their commissions. Other dealers will not obligate a consumer to their merchandise in exchange for a quote — those are the businesses to check out.
A very low-risk, family-oriented neighborhood in an affluent area probably won't require an extensive system — indoor motion sensors will do the job. A home in a neighborhood that borders a high-risk zone may benefit from outdoor and indoor surveillance. When an external motion sensor is tripped, strategically-placed lamps illuminate one or more areas. Surveillance technology has advanced to where motion sensors are equipped to gauge a moving body's dimensions so that a roaming pet will not be perceived as an intruder. Video augmentation will facilitate the range of detection even further.
One aspect to consider with hard-wired security reveals itself to be a downside: radio frequencies. That's what wireless systems operate on, so any type of vehicle that employs use of radio frequencies in daily operation — police cruiser, certain construction vehicle, couriers or any service vans that engage and disengage two-way communication — might trigger a false alarm in the system's surveillance. That's one reason wireless systems cost more than a wire-intensive configuration.
Home security systems range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, and frills or the lack thereof will affect the overall price. A wireless microsystem with a keypad control is a good example of minimal coverage for minimal cost. A full-blown system, wired-in with monitored control, will command roughly a thousand dollars for installation, with additional recurring charges for monthly monitoring and an annual maintenance fee — whether the system needs a component upgrade or only a system operation check.
All of the above considered, the presence of a home security system could spell out the same difference between bathing in a private shower or on a highway in full view of commuters. Peace of mind is one quality that remains priceless.