Have you heard the saying “you can’t put a price on safety”?
Well, home security systems are doing just that.
The world is a much different place than it was when our parents and grandparents were young.
Years ago, the idea of anyone trying to break into your house was barely in the back of most people’s minds.
Fast forward to today, and all you seem to see in the headlines are violent crimes and robberies.
Whether or not violent crimes have actually increased in number, or if it’s only due to an increase in media coverage of violent crimes is a debate for another day.
But either way, it’s only natural to want to find ways to protect yourself, which is why so many have turned to home security systems.
As much as you value your safety, a home security system is, like so many other things, an expense that will probably have you asking yourself at some point if it’s really worth it.
One of the most popular home security systems you’ve likely heard about is ADT. According to their website, their service can cost anywhere from $36.99 to $52.99 per month, and that doesn’t include any installation fees, or equipment costs.
To help you decide if home security systems are really worth the money, here are a few pros and cons to consider before investing in a system for your home.
Benefits of Home Security Systems
Your Alarm Can Have Multiple Sensors & Features
Although deterring thieves is the only thing that comes to mind when you think of security systems, if you opt for the right one, they can protect you in more additional ways.
Depending on which system you purchase, you can choose a security product that also has heat sensors, fire alarms or even carbon monoxide detectors.
Furthermore, quite a few systems today have applications that allow you to control your system from afar via a connected smartphone, and these “smart” systems can also alert you of any discrepancies, which help keep your home, your belongings, and your loved ones secure at all times.
It Can Alert You When People Enter or Exit Your Home
One of the greatest features an alarm system provides you with is the ability to know when anyone enters or exits your home or property.
If you have the chime on, anytime someone opens a door in your home, you’ll hear a ding throughout the house. This is particularly handy if you have children in your home, as you’ll always be alerted if they leave the house without your knowledge, or if anyone else tries to enter your home while you have you attention elsewhere.
Are home security systems worth the costs? Pros and cons to consider
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Police Will Respond Automatically
No matter what, if your alarm goes off, someone will respond. You’ll often receive a call first to see if you’re alright, as it could be a false alarm.
However, if you really are in danger and no one responds to the call, police will automatically be dispatched and come to your aid. It provides peace of mind to know someone will come if you can’t pick up the phone.
You Might Be Eligible for an Insurance Discount
To help offset the price of home security systems, some insurance companies actually offer a discount to customers that have alarm systems installed in their homes.
Insurance prices are all about risk, so it makes sense that companies assume that homes with a security system are less likely to be broken into. Thus their risk as a company is less and they can provide a discount to those customers.
In fact, installing a home security system is one of the first recommendations for how to reduce your homeowner’s insurance costs on the Farmers Insurance website.
Home Security Systems Monitor More Than Just Break Ins
You can use your home security system to monitor other things if it has cameras that you can review the footage of. For example, you could use it to check in on how the babysitter is doing with your children, or you could watch to see how Fido is constantly escaping from your back yard.
If the camera footage is available on your smartphone, you can watch these things from anywhere, at any time. You might even be able to forego buying a baby monitor and use your home security system’s cameras instead.
Drawbacks of Home Security Systems
You Have to Remember Your Code
One of the drawbacks of security systems is that they don’t work if you don’t turn them on. When you have multiple people coming and going in your house, you may be hesitant to turn it on in case someone accidentally sets it off.
Or, in some cases, like any new habit, setting the alarm can be a hard thing to remember. But again, if you fail to set it, it’s like not even having one.
That being said, if an alarm is more of an inconvenience than anything, it may be an expense you don’t need to add to your budget.
You’ll Get Charged for False Alarms
Another drawback of home security systems is the ease with which you can set one off accidentally. Unfortunately, if you do set off a false alarm and the police are dispatched, it can cost you additional money.
If the police show up and there’s no emergency, you’ll likely get charged for their time. Not to mention their annoyance at being dispatched unnecessarily. Too many times of a false alarm and they may be hesitant to come to your home even if you truly need help.
Home security systems, like most things, have advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day, it’s really up to you to weigh the pros and cons, and potential uses, to help decide whether or not a home security system is right for you and your family and worth the cost.
Do you have a home security system? Have you found it worth the cost?