By Michael, on November 19th, 2012 
The decision to purchase a home security system often depends on several factors. Those living in highly urbanized areas may feel safer with a home security system, but so may someone who lives in an extremely rural area where there are no close neighbors. Some homeowners see the home security system as providing added protection for their property and for their safety. Despite the reason that any homeowner decides to research home security systems, there are several factors that potential buyers need to consider. Some of these are reliability, benefits, total cost and the means by which security companies monitor customers’ homes and businesses.
Old companies such as ADT and Brinks have good reputations for security but are linked to old approaches to technology. Front Point Security gains accolades on all fronts, including customer service, price and reliability. Fully wireless and requiring no wiring at all, Front Point Security also is appropriate for apartment dwellers who can take the system with it when they move.
Reliability
Effective home security requires reliability on several fronts. The first lies in how the system will be installed. Most of the old and best known companies are heavily invested in old technology and therefore choose to continue using the same type of equipment and systems that have served them well for years. Leading national companies typically use local contractors to install new systems. All of those contractors may not be absolutely trustworthy, and leave the new customer’s home knowing exactly where it is and is not fully protected. Customers install fully wireless systems themselves, eliminating that weak point.
Hardware and monitoring reliability are crucial, of course. Malfunctioning hardware can negate the reasons for having a home security system. Unreliable monitoring services can do the same.
Benefits
Other than achieving effective home security, potential customers need to assess issues such as customer service, attention to customer problems and helpfulness in assisting customers determine what level of protection they need. Some companies have abysmal customer service reviews, while others gain much more favorable comments by customers. One company, Front Point Security, even challenges potential customers to find any negative reviews online.1
Total Cost
Those considering purchasing a home security system need to compare companies’ total cost of ownership. Some companies charge more for equipment and less in monthly monitoring fees. Others reverse those costs, charging less for equipment but more for monitoring. Still others charge less for equipment as well as for monthly monitoring costs.
Almost every mainstream home security system can be upgraded to include many monitoring points above the basic number of sensors that service providers include in their basic packages. Virtually all home security companies include all doors and first floor windows in their basic packages. If the customer wants indoor or outdoor motion detectors or additional window sensors, most companies make those available at additional cost. At least one company, Front Point Security, offers a camera that the customer can use to view in real time. The additional equipment costs more than the basic package.
Platform
Most old, established companies are inextricably linked to the old concept of running cables and wires into and throughout the home. Some of those companies claim to provide wireless service but may fail to explain that the service is wireless only within the home and that there is an external cable. Virtually everyone has seen movies in which someone intending harm merely cuts the outdoor cable to disable phone and security systems. All cable-dependent security systems are subject to that problem.
Some of the newer approaches to home security dispense with the cable issue altogether. These systems truly are wireless. They operate on the cellular network, meaning that there is no cable available for cutting. Operating on the cellular network also means that the homeowner can access home information from any device that can connect to the Internet. Working parents who have a Front Point Security system equipped with a camera can use a smart phone or iPad to see the children after school.
Additional Measures
Individuals need to practice good safety measures, even in the presence of a home security system. Sound windows and solid locks are helpful, as are deadbolts on doors. Judicious outdoor lighting can discourage burglars, as one or more safes inside keep valuables out of sight.
Reference
1 What Is the Best Home Alarm System? (2012, July 30). A Secure Life. Retrieved August 21, 2012 from http://www.asecurelife.com/best-home-alarm-system.
Byline
This article was written by Otter Boone for the team at kanetix.ca; in the world of insurance, they can assist with expensive options and bargain coverage.
