4 Reasons for a Home Security System
By Todd Robinson
Your home security system should be the most important appliance in your home. One of the first investments that you should make after purchasing a new home is a home security system. Now more than ever, with drug use among America's youth holding at a steady pace or rising, a home security system should be on top of your priority list.
As an ex home security system salesman, it always amazed me how many people would purchase a home security system after they had been victimized. The main problem is, people have the true ability to think that crime will not happen to them. I would have to say that at least 6 out of 10 times that I went to an appointment, it was after an incident of some kind. Most people, if not all, like to think they live in a nice neighborhood, so they think that they don't need a home security system. The problem is, I can tell you first hand that crime happens everywhere. Lots of times crime happens in a neighborhood without anyone but the victims knowing about it. People don't always like sharing bad news with their neighbors, especially if they are not on speaking terms. Industry statistics show that chances are that if you are burglarized, it is by someone who is familiar with your home or neighborhood. Usually it is someone that lives in the neighborhood or maybe knows someone in the neighborhood.
A home security system has four objectives:
1. Deterrence
Statistically you are 3 to 4 time less likely to have an intruder enter your home if you have a home security system sign on your front lawn and stickers on your windows.
2. Minimum loss
If someone is brave enough to enter your home after seeing the lawn sign, they don't believe that you actually have a home security system. You can go to ebay right now and purchase an ADT yard sign and stickers, which means that every yard sign you see does not mean that the home owner has a home security system. If a intruder decides to enter your home and the alarm sounds, chances are he is not going to stick around very long, he may take an item or two, be he won't be able to go shopping in your home because he knows the police have been called.
3. Avoid a confrontation
The last thing anyone wants, is to return home only to have an intruder in the house. If you have a home security system, if someone broke into your home, when the alarm sounded he probably left. If you arrive home and your alarm is sounding, you know not to enter the house.
4. Fire protection
The home security system of today has the abilityilty to have smoke detectors connected to it. ADT actually calls them smoke communicators. If smoke is detected, the home security system alerts the monitoring station and a representative calls your home, if someone does not answer the phone, the fire department is dispatched.
Insurance companies offer up to a 20% discount for having a home security system, that being said, the investment you make, will eventually be paid for by your insurance company. Overall, a home security system should be strongly considered if you are a new homeowner or if you have been in your home for 20 years, it is a investment that is worth every penny.
Invest in a Home Security System
By Bruce Kelly
A homeowner that does not have a home security system installed in their home is six times more likely to be the victim of a burglary. Having a professional home security system installed makes a home more secure. In addition, insurance companies often provide discounts on homeowners' insurance when the policy holder has a home security system installed.
The discounts that an insurance company provides can range from five percent to as much as twenty-five percent off. Once your home security system is installed, you simply show your insurance company the certificate that indicates that a home security system exists.
Any homeowner who is seeking a professional home security system does themselves a disservice if they fail to go with the best home security system company. Therefore, that should be the first goal - to look for a home security company that is rated tops by industry professionals.
In addition, check out the home security company with the Better Business Bureau, your state licensing agencies and your local police department. Once you have secured a top home security company that checks out with all the agencies, you can move forward to protecting your home.
A top security company will offer basic protection that is highly useful. For example, it can include a master control panel, a keychain remote, window and door sensors, a motion detector, a built-in siren, and window and yard signs. All of these components should be part of any basic home security system. For example, when a homeowner places a yard sign in the front of their house, it lets a potential burglar know that the home is protected.
Another very important aspect of a top home security company is the 24 hour a day protection they offer that occurs seven days a week and 365 days a year. In addition, the company should have more than one command center and these centers should be placed across the United States. For the homeowner, they should have access to two way communications, anywhere within the home.
The importance of a command center cannot be stressed enough. These are the centers that watch your home continuously, so that you can leave it and still feel safe that your home will be safe. If your home alarm system is triggered, a command center will notify the police or other authorities. The result is that assistance will arrive at your home within minutes.
Command centers have contacts to police, fire and medical personnel. A top home security company will provide coverage not only for burglaries and break-ins, but also fire and medical emergencies.
Another important feature of a top home security system is the existence of wireless features. Wireless sensory devices will pick up movement both from outside your home and inside your home. It is important to note that these sensors know the difference between human movement and pet movement. Therefore, there is no reason for you to worry about your pet triggering the alarm. Basic wireless sensors work for standard sized pets. Often there is an upgrade for pets that are larger.
What if there is a power failure in your neighborhood? A top security system will have battery-backup.
Finally, it is not advised to try and install a home security system yourself. It simply does not compare to a professional installed home security system.
10 Reasons Why You Should Install A Security System
1. Effectiveness: Home security system currently marketed are a highly effective crime deterrent. When a potential intrude attempts entry into the home an alarm, incredibly piercing and loud, will sound. This is an attempt to scare the would-be thief away. The security system despite frightening the intruder is also meant to get the attention of your neighbors in the hope that will call the police to respond. Many home security systems today come with built-in home monitoring which automatically alerts your police department. Utilizing a camera security system with monitoring allows you to gather irrefutable evidence against the intruder.
2. Home Break-Ins: Surveillance Systems often give you nearly 100% safety when a home break-in would occur. The criminal will usually skip your home when seeing the sign or window logo of the home security or camera security system you have. If they still are bold enough to enter then the police will quickly come.
3. Ease to Use: The home security system of today are incredibly simple to use. You merely have to enter a rather short numerical code that you can use to activate or deactivate your security system. This simple addition relieves the stress you may have of accidentally setting the security system off when leaving or entering the areas to which your home security system is set up to monitor.
4. Rapid Response: when you purchase a home security system, be it a camera security system or not, if it has monitoring then information is instantly transmitted to the police and fire department (depending on which home security system package you purchased) If your home security system comes with monitoring, information is transmitted to the police and even fire department and rescue squad within seconds of the incident. Because everything works via high-powered computer system, the transfer of information is immediate.
5. Customer Service: The companies that provide security system options are highly trained and very professional. They can assist you in every aspect of operating your security system. Most of the time a solutions specialist will come directly to your home to install the home security system for you and then instruct you on its proper use and function.
6. Affordability: With the myriad of benefits that a home security system offers one would think it to be quite expensive. You can have an effective security system installed at a reasonable price, usually for as little as $99 with a small monthly fee to maintain the home security service.
7. Choice: There are an incredible (and still growing) amount of providers for home security systems. Brinks as well as ADT are two of the biggest names in the industry. As far as security systems go they offer tops in quality and service.
8. Insurance: When purchasing a home security system your insurance provider often gives a discount on your insurance premiums. Camera security systems can decrease your premiums even further.
9. Peace of Mind: Nothing else can match the peace of mind you'll feel when you have a home security system helping you to protect your family.
10. Safety: Your family will feel more secure and safe in your home when you have a security system.
No matter the reason why you seek out a home security system it's an important step in securing your family from harm.
Home Security Has Come a Long Way in the Past Century
By Ralph Winn
Having top-notch home security can mean the difference between feeling vulnerable and feeling in control of your home and family. Home security has come a long way in the past century; as burglars have become more sophisticated, so have the means to repel them.
The Garza family of Houston, Texas thought their home was secure. They locked their doors. They lived in a good neighborhood. What more home security should they need? But one Friday afternoon they came home to a broken window and a ransacked house. Their TV, other electronics, even the kid's bikes, were gone. "How could this happen in broad daylight?" Asks Ed Garza. "The criminals are getting braver."
Clever Criminals
They aren't only getting braver, they're getting smarter. Criminals watch families closely to learn their habits, when they're home, when they're not. 40% of break-ins occur in the middle of the day while the family is at work or school. Burglars know that during the day there are likely to be fewer people around to keep an eye on the neighborhood, and they can treat homes like candy shops. Night is no longer the common criminal's only time on the job. They prowl at all hours, so your home security system must be ready and in place 24 hours a day.
Security is moving beyond strong locks and a guard dog and requires more vigilant standards. With burglars coming out into the day time and carefully planning their not-so-random attacks, safeguarding your home with a complex system requires you to put as much thought into it as the burglars do.
The basics: strong locks, trimmed back bushes, and nosy neighbors, are a good start, and you should make those the foundation for your home security system. But these days, a home security system requires a comprehensive network of components working together to protect your family from burglaries, fires, and other emergencies.
How a Wired or Wireless Home Security System Works
Wired or wireless, an alarm system does two things: when triggered, it not only lets out a shrill noise to draw attention to your home and scare away the intruder; it also alerts security personnel to the security breach and sends help right away.
There are many kinds of alarm systems. You can choose an alarm home security system that detects motion or an alarm system that detects window breakage or door entry.
Motion Sensor Home Security System
A motion sensor home security system detects unauthorized movement in or around your home. It senses infrared energy given off by a person in a secured area. On many motion sensor home security systems, an alarm is signaled only when the sensor is armed and the viewed energy has the correct temperature, motion, and timing associated with a burglar, thus safeguarding against false alarms. This sophisticated type of system is pet-proof, so Fido or Fluffy won't set off a false alarm, while Bruno the Burglar will be caught in the act.
A Window Break Home Security System
The other kind of alarm home security system is the window break system. Burglars love to break into windows, which, compared to doors, are much less secure. But a window break system detects when the glass is broken or the window is open without authorization, preventing burglars from simply smashing in a window and coming inside. If the Garza family had this sort of alarm system, chances are the burglar would have run away before stealing anything.
This type of home security system reduces the incidence of false alarms and break-ins. Simply affix the sensor to your window and it will safeguard your home.
Benefits of Any Home Security System
When you install a home security system in your home, you will enjoy decreased home insurance rates because insurance companies like knowing you have taken active steps to prevent damage and property loss in your home. Some home security system software also monitors your home and family for protection from fire and health emergencies as well.
A home security system can be a direct line to 911 -- the police, fire department, or ambulance. In the event of a break-in or other sudden emergency while you are home, you can hit the panic button and help will be on the way, thanks to your system.
The benefits of installing a home security system include:
o Permanent, 24-hour surveillance
o "Pet-immune" motion sensor systems available
o Security fits any size home
o Coded security power on/off puts you in control
o Preventive security as well as useful surveillance security
A Wireless Security Camera Home Security System
You have alarms, now how about some extra watchful eyes to guard you? A wireless camera home security system monitors you home with video surveillance that can capture any unsavory activity that can be used in court or used to protect your family from activities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Benefits of a Wireless Security Camera Home Security System
o Easy to set up
o Cost efficient personal surveillance system
o Transportable, can move from room to room or house to house
o Send signals through walls and floors
A wireless security camera makes video surveillance easy, portable, and cost effective. Have your eyes peeled all the time with a wireless security camera.
Check out all we have in wireless security camera technology.
We also have wired security cameras for more permanent home security system surveillance.
Fire Alarm Home Security System
A system should include security from fires as well as from foe. Fires are a real threat to your home and family. Consider these statistics:
o There were 1,584,500 fires in the United States in 2003
o Fires resulted in 3,925 deaths, 18,125 injuries, and $12.3 billion in damages
o Residential fires represented 25.4% of all fires and 77.4% of structural fires
Fire alarms are a key part of your system. A fire alarm system alerts your family to danger and gets them safely out of the house. The early alert of a fire alarm system can also prevent a fire from actually destroying the structure of your home, protecting not only your loved ones but your house and what's inside. Home fire alarms should be a standard feature of your system.
Home fire alarms belong in every bedroom, plus the hallway, kitchen and den.
At a very low cost, home fire alarms save thousands of lives a year. There's simply no reason for home fire alarms not to be in every security system in America.
Explore our amazing collection of powerful lifesaving fire alarms.
The Power of a Comprehensive Home Security System
This combination of fire alarm, video surveillance, and 24-hour security monitoring will ensure that your home is under the utmost protection of a complex, sophisticated home security system. The Garzas learned their lesson the hard way. Don't wait until it's too late to start fending off burglars- outwit them at their own game by preventing all of their usual tricks. A little thought goes a long way in building a successful system.