Some Considerations in Choosing a Home Security System
Since home security systems protect your family, your home, and your property, deciding which system to buy is an important and difficult decision. After all, considering what’s at stake here, ideally we’d all get the best systems with all available options. Then again, practical consideration enter the picture, primarily, the price of the system. Furthermore, the physical layout and location of your home may also play a part.
- Price: No matter how much we may wish to pick the best system, price and budget play a major factor. Unfortunately, if the budget doesn’t allow it then certain features will have to remain in the store. Good guidelines would be to compare feature vs. cost: if a given feature can significantly impact the level of security, it may be worth going for it despite price. However, if a feature only improves security in certain rare occasions (i.e. flood monitoring) and is expensive, then that feature may be best left out. It all depends on your specific circumstances.
- Entry points: which entry points to the house should be covered: should all windows and doors be covered, or just those that are more likely to be used? For example, if you have a two story house, should you install a sensor in a second floor window is one decision that needs to be made. This relates to the previous point.
- Wireless or Hardwired systems: although wireless systems may have some hiccups (as a result of random wireless signals in the neighborhood), they are significantly easier to install, upgrade, maintain and do not require any alterations to your home. Read my article about choosing a wireless home security systems for more information.
- Monitoring services: should you pay a monthly fee to a security company to monitor your system’s sensors, or would you rather rely on the alarm alone. Clearly, having a company actively monitoring your system could greatly improve the reliability of your security system. This is true in particular when you are are away on vacation or for people who travel option, but this costs additional money. Then again, the fact you’re actively considering installing a system (and many homes do not have one) shows that you are are actively concerned for yourself or for your property, so reliability in this case may be a very important factor.
- Choice of company: just like any important purchase, make sure you buy your system with a reputable company. Do your research and verify that the company – particularly if it offers monitoring services – is reliable and trustworthy. Although this may seem like common sense, some may be tempted by a cheaper price to go with an unreliable company – and may end up paying for it if something were to happen.
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