March 6, 2019
Choosing a Security System? These 7 Tips Will Help You Get the Right One
People who were victims of burglaries lost about $4.5 billion in lost property in 2013. Burglaries of residences accounted for about 74% of all burglaries reported that year. Many people put in high quality alarm systems to protect themselves, their families, and their homes from burglars. If you are choosing a security system, you may not know where to start. Here are some tips for choosing a security system that works for you:
- Think about who you want to put in your new reliable and effective security system. Do you want to do it yourself? Do you want to hire a professional to do it for you? Talk to some area companies that handle this kind of thing and think about how easy it would be for you to handle.
- Make sure any contract you sign with a security system monitoring company lasts no longer than one year. You can cut your costs by signing a contract but you should look at any cancellation fee they may charge if you find you do not like the service you are getting. Having a shorter contract can help you save money and not be stuck working with a company you do not like.
- Make sure you have at least a few smoke detectors included in your monitoring contract. When choosing a security system, it is important to get a monitoring contract that will include them. Criminals are not the only problems you may have with your home. If you have your fire alarms included in your security plan, your home can be safe from problems other than break-ins.
- Put in motion detectors to reach areas that cannot be linked with the wiring. For example, you need a way to make sure your system knows when you open doors so it will not alert the police every time you open the door to your patio. If you can, link the doors on each level of your home to the main security panel. This also works well if you have a bunch of windows on the ground level, where they can be reached by would-be criminals.
- Make sure you work your basement into your plans to secure your home. When choosing a security system, you need to think about the process differently if you have a basement. Now all basements are accessible from the outside so if it is not, that changes things. Any basements that have their own entryway, you need to factor that into the kind of security system and plan you are going to use to protect your home and family. A wireless security station in your basement works well if the area is furnished.
- Before you have an expert check out your house to give you ideas for your security system, take time to look around first. You should look at your home and decide what areas you think need help in the security department. This can help in choosing a security system. Decide where you will want to place important parts of the system such as the keypad you will use to arm and disarm the system. Good options are closets or unfinished attic spaces. You may want to consider putting a second keypad in your bedroom.
- Think about what kind of monitoring you want. Some plans with monitoring capabilities will alert the local authorities if there is an issue with your system. These problems include fires, break-ins, floods, or other problems that need attention immediately. In addition to the fee you will have to pay the alarm company for the service, your city or locality may require you pay for and get a permit for your alarm system. You may want to check with your local government to find out if you need a permit and, if so, how much that will cost.
Choosing a security system that works for your home, your family, and you, can take time and effort but it will be worth it when you get the right one. There are at least 38 million alarm activations that are investigated by police departments around the United States. Getting a good system can keep you and your family safe and secure.