Do You Need a Full Service Home Security System?

So, you’ve decided to take the big and important step to protect your home and family with a home security system. But there are so many choices. How to choose?

One of the most important factors is deciding whether or not you want and need a full service security system with a monitoring company. There are no shortage of them and many offer great deals. But are they the deals for you?

First you have to ask yourself what the value of a security system is to you and what you hope to get out of one.

At its most basic, a security system acts as a deterrent to theft. Noise and attention are a thief’s enemy. Why swim upstream? There are plenty of homes with no alarm, no dog and no one watching. Rather than take unnecessary chances, the smart thief moves on. This is much the same goal as a car alarm. By and large, it’s effective.

If budget is an issue, you can install a basic security system yourself – or have one installed quite affordably.

However, monitoring services take things to the next level. Many, such as those offered by national prover ADT (www.adt.com) start for as little as $24.95 per month. With a monitored security system, dispatches security guards or police immediately in the event of a break-in. Someone is checking on your home even when you can’t.

Plus, depending on the package you decide on, your security system can monitor for fire, flooding, and any extreme temperature changes. No more worrying about frozen pipes while you’re on a winter vacation and no worrying about electrical wiring, a gas leak or a furnace problem doing unexpected damage. You have resources to protect your home.

Many services, including ADT, offer medical monitoring. You can have an emergency medical button installed by a bed or in a particular room. They even offer emergency medical pendants and bracelets which are wireless triggers to get help in case of emergency. For families with an elder or for those with touchy medical conditions, this can be a whole new form of security.

However, something is better than nothing. If the whole enchilada is too much to swallow, stick to an option you can afford and which makes sense for you. The main thing is to protect your home and family. In that sense, you’re making progress any which way.

Photo via The Upstairs Room