When it comes to keeping our homes and possessions safe from intruders, we’ve got our work cut out. According to a survey by Insurance Information Institute, Americans are losing about $1 billion a year to home invasions, with the risk of attack increasing yearly.
Fortunately, there are a variety of home security systems designed to help keep us safe. From motion detectors, locks, and cameras to smart alerts, we’ll take you through what you need to know about home security systems.
What is a Home Security System?
A home security system is a system that helps protect our homes and possessions from burglars, intruders, and other threats.
Some examples of home security systems are locks, secure windows, and surveillance equipment such as cameras and motion detectors. We’ll cover these in more detail below.
How do Home Security Systems Work?
Traditional home security systems have a camera, alarm, and keypad. When an intruder triggers the alarm, the camera will turn on, and the owner will receive real-time alerts.
Many of these systems also have motion detectors that sound an alarm when someone enters your house or moves to a new room. With these systems, you can contact the police or keep an eye on the situation yourself.
Types of Home Security Systems
There are two types of home security systems: monitored and unmonitored. Monitored systems have the highest level of protection, as they come with a monthly service plan that includes 24/7 monitoring by a security company.
Unmonitored systems don’t offer this type of protection, instead relying on self-monitoring or notifications from other emergency services, like law enforcement agencies.
To help you decide which system is suitable for your home, consider how much you want to spend on the monthly service charge and whether you would prefer the extra layer of protection offered by a monitored system.
How do you choose a Home Security System?
Choosing the right home security system for your needs boils down to budget, location, and alerts.
– Budget: The solution ranges from DIY options to professional monitoring.
– Location: Where are you to your nearest police station? What’s the crime rate near your home?
– Alerts: How would you like to be alerted when a break-in occurs? What kind of notifications do you want about other events on your property? What kind of timeline would you like for alerts?
Is a Home Security System Worth the Cost?
It cannot be easy to determine if a home security system is worth the cost. After all, it’s only valid if you have an intruder.
But when you look at the statistics that show burglars entering homes in 37 seconds on average and that most burglars never spend more than 10 minutes in a house, it makes sense. And the truth is, not every home has a burglary — but many do.
Statistics show that one out of every two homes will be broken into at least once in their lifetime, with approximately 2-3% of dwellings experiencing multiple break-ins. With home security systems becoming lower priced as technology improves, investing in protection for your home is easier without breaking the bank.
The best part? While many burglars are opportunistic and may turn away if they see something that might alert them to an alarm system (i.e., a sign), they will still try their luck anyway – and often succeed. Rather than trying to fight off or escape from an intruder, you can rely on your home security system to keep you safe from harm or property damage.
