Before you choose a home security system, it's important to take the time to review your needs. There are 3 primary areas to look at: your security needs, the reputation of the security company and your budget. Starting with your security needs, you'll obviously be the best judge of what your needs actually are. It pays to have a security expert come in, however, to offer suggestions that you may not know of or think of yourself. An expert will look at your house with a trained eye, finding the spots most vulnerable to intruders. Things like a windows facing an open field, out of sight behind the house or a balcony with a climbable tree right beside it. The security expert will give you a list of all these problem spots and can recommend the best types of equipment to protect them. They will also be able to tell you exactly how many motion sensors, video cameras, contact sensors, etc. you'll need to protect your home effectively. The reputation of the security company is the next consideration. Are you going to install a stand-alone security system or are you looking for central monitoring? If you are away frequently and your house is somewhat secluded, central monitoring is important. After all, what good is a screaming alarm if there's nobody around to hear it? Look for a security company that offers 24/7 monitoring services and has a good reputation in the industry. If possible, get some references from them of other customers and contact them to see how happy they are with the service. You should also check to see if the monitoring station is UL (Underwriters Laboratory) certified, if it has power backups in case of a power outage, has a good staff training program and has a good relationship with the local authorities in case of an alarm call. The final thing to consider is the cost. You'll obviously need to make a choice that fits within your budget. But remember - many home insurance policies offer discounts when an alarm is installed, so this may help to offset some of the cost of the security system. |
