Safe Luxury

anybody know what type of home security system is best?

i stay out of town for 3 weeks at a time and want my home to be safe. what security system makes a good reliable system for keeping my stuff safe from crooks and thieves??

Public Comments

1. A security company will supply and install the equipment free of charge with the sign up of a 3 year monitoring contract. The company will charge around $30 per month and make sure that they have their own security personnel that come out to check false alarms, If they automatically call the police you will be charged big bucks for false alarms.
2. well i see adt on most homes in my neigborhood
3. I was looking into getting a security system for my home and found out that there are all kinds of options now. For example, I thought you had to have a monitoring company come in and install it and then be stuck with a multi-year contract, but you can get a DIY system and monitor it yourself (for free) via cell phone or internet. You also don't have to have a hard-wired system (which means having a professional installer drill holes in your walls and run wires through your house) you can go totally wireless. You can pay as little as $0 to $50 a month for monitoring and you can pay as little as $10 for a single door or window alarm. I got a lot of great info from this blog: http://www.securitysystemsformyhome.com maybe you should check it out, too! If you're gone a lot, maybe get a system that is monitored or that you can shut off remotely because it would probably drive your neighbors crazy for the alarm to go off and not be re-set for three weeks ;>)
4. If it were my money in your situation, I would go with ADT. Yes, as some of the posters noted, you can get systems you monitor yourself, but if you are out of town for 3 weeks at a time, do you want to be contacting the police department saying that someone is breaking into your house? ADT has lower prices than competitors: http://www.teepeetech.com/home-security-systems/how-much-does-adt-cost-month-31.html http://www.teepeetech.com/home-security-systems/home-security-systems-cost-comparison-11.html I guess another thought that comes to my mind too is that if you are traveling and you think someone might break into your house, it won't matter what type of security system you have. A security system is only a preventive measure to alert the police that there is a problem. A lot of times a good thief can be through your house before the police even get there. There was this show on TV called, "It takes a thief" and they showed how a trained burglar can break into your house and be gone in about 8 to 10 minutes. You would be lucky if a cop shows up in 20 to 30. Because, the police have other things going on at the time and there are a limited number of patrol officers. So, given these things, ask yourself these questions: 1. What is it that I am trying to protect? 2. Is there anything I can do to further protect it from harm. Things like your personnel possessions are covered under insurance from theft. Take a video camera and walk through your house and record everything. Take that tape or video and put it in a safety deposit box at your bank. If your house ever burns down, you'll have all that as proof of what you own. Then if you are trying to protect something really valuable, jewelry,etc, consider putting it in the safe deposit box as well. The alarm system accomplishes 1 thing. It scares people away. It is somewhat of a deterrent, however, it won't let you who broke into your house and what they look like. Consider going to Costco or Lowes and purchasing a home security DVR system to record who was at your house when. They cost about $500. I think that with going with ADT is your best bet. ADT will probably require a 3 year contract but they are the least of all the evils out there. Stay away from Protect America as they have had a lot of complaints. Broadview security is being bought by ADT, so ignore them too. If you are out of your house, I would do more motion detectors than window detectors. The reason being is that if your at your house, that window alarm would help to let you know there was someone there, but the motion detector is going to cover a larger area. Those camera system DVR's, you can sometimes watch them remotely. Check the one you buy to see if you can. That way, when you are traveling, you will be able to check on your house. Secure the outside of your home by cutting bushes away from your windows. You don't want to give anyone something to hide behind. Also, consider installing some motion detector lights. Do you neighbors know you are away? Do you trust your neighbors? You'll have to gauge that one. Some people should not be trusted but others are good. If you have the money, consider having someone come over to cut your grass if you have a lawn. That makes the place looked more lived in. Long answer, I know, but the short of it is that there may not be one answer to your question. It's more of a combination of security measure that you can take for yourself. Best of luck
5. I agree that you really do want professional monitoring of your home - it is a small investment, and you should get a rebate on your insurance, especially if you add fir monitoring (which I always recommend anyway - and that should not cost you any more). Times have changed for alarm systems and what they can do. Here are some points to consider when you shop for a system: 1) Some of the larger companies (and ADT is a good example) are not known for their service level. Just do some on-line research on your own to check out their reviews. And if some of these companies charge less, it is because they offer less!. See next point. 2) The reason you want to shop around is that the only safe system is cellular, meaning it does NOT depend on a phone line or internet connection that can be easily cut by an intruder. When most alarm companies offer cell monitoring, it is a big up-charge for equipment and monthly fee - again, ADT is a great example. 3) You also want the latest features, and the big companies do not offer them: cellular monitoring for no extra fee, same for fire monitoring, remote arm/disarm. email and text notifications, special apps for smart phones, and even video and smart phone functions. Don't buy the past! 4) You can get upgraded new equipment and affordable monthly rates from other providers who offer more - so you have a number of options. By the way, you can get a great system that you can install yourself, fully programmed and ready out of the box. That means you can add devices at any time, and even move the system with you. When researching, I strongly recommend that you look at all the reviews you can find, and Google is a good place to start. Shop hard, and don't just focus on the big names: there are providers doing a much better job, and you can check them out very easily. Look for safer, smarter, simpler, and more affordable - you will be happy you did!