| In this day and age, sad as it seems, more and more | | | | one in the bedroom. |
| homeowners are choosing to install home security | | | | *Door And Window Sensors: These are generally |
| alarm systems. While choosing a home security alarm | | | | simple devices, but when you buy them one by one |
| system may seem like a straightforward task, there | | | | yourself, their cost can really add up. Many |
| are actually many considerations involved in choosing | | | | professional companies expect to make their money |
| the correct alarm system for your home. | | | | off the monthly monitoring. Home security companies |
| Your home alarm system can be as simple as a few | | | | can acquire these items in bulk at much lower prices |
| relatively inexpensive devices placed at each door | | | | than you or I would pay, and that is why installation |
| and window, or as complicated and as expensive as | | | | as a package, is often much less than what you |
| you wish to go. You can choose monitored services | | | | would have to pay just for the items, if you bought |
| and unmonitored. You can choose to have security | | | | them individually yourself. |
| cameras, not have security cameras, or put up fake | | | | *Motion Detectors: Should an intruder approach your |
| security cameras. You can choose home security | | | | home or by some means gain entry, motion |
| systems which alert you in case of fire or carbon | | | | detectors can be used to sense their presence and |
| monoxide, or again, you can have a monitored | | | | activate alarms or summon help. |
| system where someone on duty is alerted to your | | | | *Remote Controls: In addition to the command |
| danger before you even become aware and calls | | | | station, touchpad, or keypad, many systems include |
| emergency personnel for you. | | | | a remote device which you may carry with you. |
| As you can see, one factor which WILL have to be | | | | These range from small units suitable to be carried on |
| considered is cost. | | | | a keychain to larger units intended to be carried from |
| HOME SECURITY SYSTEM COSTS | | | | room to room within your house. |
| Obviously, it is difficult to place a price on the peace | | | | *Sensors: There are sensors available to detect fire, |
| that comes with knowing that you have adequately | | | | carbon monoxide, heat, moisture, breaking glass and |
| protected your home and your family. However, in | | | | flex. |
| the real world, we often have to evaluate the costs | | | | *Alarms And Other Warning Devices: The old familiar |
| of things we desire or need, and this extends to | | | | "alarm" is almost passé. You can get sirens, |
| home security systems. Parts and pieces for a home | | | | chimes, and even strobe lights to warn you of |
| built security system are available from such sources | | | | break-ins or other emergencies. |
| as Radio Shack, which you would expect, and | | | | *Security Cameras: While most home security |
| Wal-Mart, which you might not! Even do-it-yourself | | | | systems that the average family can afford will not |
| systems such as these can cost a few hundred | | | | use security cameras, this is still an additional option. |
| dollars and, while providing basic home security, | | | | Home Security System Services |
| usually will not provide monitoring in the event of | | | | Once you have seen the short list of components |
| your absence. Some do-it-yourself components can | | | | above, you will have a pretty good idea of what |
| be found which will notify emergency response | | | | services can be provided. Most commonly, intrusion |
| activities without you having to take action yourself, | | | | or activation of a sensor by other means, by fire or |
| but with every bell and whistle (literally) which you | | | | carbon monoxide, for example, is the cue for the |
| add, the cost will go up. | | | | monitoring team to go into action. Primarily, they can |
| Now, when I was talking about a do-it-yourself home | | | | summon police, fire, or emergency medical personnel |
| security system, you probably thought I was giving | | | | for you if you are incapacitated or away from home. |
| the good news first. As you read about how | | | | Since this service is around the clock, it provides you |
| expensive this can get, you probably thought that | | | | and your family with a sense of security and buffer |
| was either the bad news, or the good news going | | | | of safety that may well be worth the cost. Some |
| sour. | | | | companies also provide security review services to |
| Wrong. I started off with the BAD news. | | | | help you judge your particular home security situation |
| The two major advantages I see to do-it-yourself | | | | and options for defense. Again, these services, and |
| security systems is that you can buy one unit at a | | | | their costs, vary from company to company, so |
| time for a relatively low cost, and, if you are the | | | | shop around. |
| handyman type, you can have the joy of installing | | | | HOME SECURITY ON THE CHEAP |
| the stuff yourself. | | | | If you honestly feel that a home security system is |
| Here's the good news. | | | | out of your price range at the moment, there are a |
| There are many good quality home security | | | | few inexpensive steps you can take to possibly |
| companies out there. You may or may not have | | | | improve your situation. |
| heard of ADT, Brinks, and Great Alarms, but you | | | | First, make sure that all your doors and windows |
| may NOT be familiar with their services and costs. | | | | lock. If several people may have had access to keys |
| While offers change from time to time and vary | | | | previously, go ahead and change the locks and make |
| from company to company, prices are actually quite | | | | sure that only the people that need them have keys. |
| reasonable considering services provided. At the time | | | | This trip to Wal-Mart or Home Depot will be nowhere |
| of writing this article, a quick survey of just a few | | | | near as expensive as the cost of a break-in. Make |
| companies found installation costs ranging from free | | | | sure all your windows can be locked and ARE locked, |
| to a little over $300.00. Since these generally are | | | | except when YOU want them to be unlocked. |
| monitored systems, you can expect to pay a | | | | Second, light the areas around your home at night |
| monthly fee for the monitoring service, but it usually | | | | where someone could get close and break in. There |
| is only about $30.00 per month. Again, this may vary | | | | are solar powered lights which can be used to cut |
| from company to company, so by all means, shop | | | | down on your electric bill. Lighting can be attached to |
| around. | | | | inexpensive motion detectors. |
| I personally believe that when you consider what you | | | | Third, put all emergency services on speed dial, and |
| get with a professionally installed and monitored | | | | make sure numbers are prominently posted near all |
| home security system, you will probably skip the trip | | | | phones anyway. Don't assume that 911 will always do |
| to Radio Shack or Wal-Mart and hire one of these | | | | the job. Sometimes a call directly to a fire |
| companies to install your system. | | | | department may get faster response. |
| COMPONENTS AND SERVICES OF A MONITORED | | | | Fourth, make a plan for an emergency and make |
| HOME SECURITY SYSTEM | | | | sure that everyone realizes their job and where to |
| Actual components and services will vary from | | | | meet up if people get separated. |
| company to company, but here is an overview of | | | | Fifth, buy an air horn and don't be afraid to use it. |
| the components and services you might expect to | | | | You can apologize to the neighbors later. |
| get from a home security system. | | | | Sixth, there are places where you can buy signs for |
| Home Security System Components | | | | your yard and decals for your windows. Nobody has |
| *Command Stations: This may be referred to by | | | | to know you never got around to buying the |
| various names depending on the service provider. | | | | system, do they? |
| Great Alarms calls it a "command station", ADT a | | | | Seventh, get your hands on some fake security |
| "touchpad", and Brinks a "keypad". From this | | | | cameras. I don't exactly place a lot of personal faith |
| command point, the system can be armed or | | | | in this one, but there are some reasonably realistic |
| disarmed, help can be summoned, warnings can be | | | | looking fake security cameras around, and just "not |
| given to others in the house by means of a device | | | | knowing" may be enough to deter an inexperienced |
| such as a horn, whistle, chime or similar item. It is | | | | burglar looking for an easy score. The cameras I |
| often possible to get more than one station or | | | | have seen move, and have a pulsing red light which |
| keypad installed, such as one in the living area and | | | | makes it look official. |