Does anyone have any experience with Home Security...either have one or perhaps in that business? I'm trying to determine what options may be available and what may be the best solutions out there.
I'm not looking for an interior motion detector (as I have two cats that would set them off all the time). I'm looking primarily for something that would keep (or dissuade) intruders from breaking in - perhaps the alarm type on the doors and windows? I don't really know what the options are.
Keeping in mind that I have cats...would they set off the window alarms if they were to jump on the windowsill of open windows?
Any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Lydia ******************************************************************* 07-09-04, 07:50 PM clarebear Clark Howard suggests:
• Choose only a company that doesn't require a contract to monitor your alarm. If you feel you have to sign a contract, never sign one for more than one year, and make sure it doesn't have a "rollover" clause that renews that contract automatically. Update! • Don't pay more than $15 to $20 a month for monitoring. Update! • To shop, start calling companies at the end of the yellow page listings, instead of front, because the big expensive companies usually are the first listed. • To figure the cost of equipment, make a drawing of your home, or a checklist, and figure out how many doors and windows you need to protect. • Don't lease a burglar alarm system. • Always get smoke and fire monitoring as part of the system.
I think your home owners insurance company could give you the name of a reliable security company. Remember, they know who is good and who isn't. (In this case, they want you to be protected as much as possible so they don't have to pay out) It will also lower your premiums to have a security system installed. You could also call Contact your local police department's Crime Prevention Department. They should be able to guide you in the right direction. Smile more tips on home security systems
07-10-04, 05:09 PM DvdGStwrt A beware of Dog sign costs $2.50, it is very effective in dissuading would be robbers. The threat of a Dog is far more impressive than any electronic gadgets. If I was a criminal I would see the ten to fifteen minutes for response (at least) to an alarm to be plenty of time to pilfer. A dog, or the threat of a dog is an immediate threat which a criminal is not usually willing to take.
What does a security system do? Well other that screaming every time the system is set off - Which has caused alarms to be very, very low priority to most police departments who assume that the system was tripped by a homeowner who forgot to turn it off - a very common issue btwWink Our neighbors across the street installed ADT. A friend of theirs came over, was a bit rowdy, broke a few windows and was in and out of the house well before the police department got around to checking the house.
Oh yeah, the police came because I called them, not because of the alarm.
Some security systems come with guards through the company - Nice - I don't know, I wouldn't trust them to be effective in case of a real emergency.
I would consider a good security system to be neighborhood watch, motion detection exterior lights, bars on the windows in areas of high crime, etc. Putting your trust (and money) in a big security company doesn't seem logical to me, unless you are a bank, store or other high risk establishment.
As for who, call or visit your local police station, ask wh they would reccommend, and ask if your neighborhood is one that needs security like that.
07-12-04, 09:19 AM Lydia I live in an upscale neighborhood in a TINY town...so, I definitely think that bars on the windows would be a sign of sure paranoia...
I don't think a "beware of dog" (or owner) sign is going to keep anyone away...should they walk close enough to my house, they will surely know that I don't have a dog because I have alot of floor to ceiling windows and if there was a dog, I'm sure they'd see (or hear) one.
Lately, people have seen a guy walking around with a clipboard taking notes...of what, who knows, but there are several in my neighborhood that think that someone is casing the area. Yes, the police have been notified and are keeping an eye on things. Unfortunately, being in a tiny town means that we don't have many police officers, so they can't be everywhere.
Thanks for the info...
07-12-04, 11:09 AM clarebear
Actually, a sign really wouldn't be such a bad idea. Many companies sell security signs and stickers to deter thieves.
If I was reading this thread for myself, I certainly know I don't need another bill each month! Security monitoring can be costly. Just do what you can to make your home as safe as possible. Buy a locked box and hide it some where. Consider buying a wall safe to hide in your closet. If something does ever happen, take solace in the fact that you have updated your homeowner insurance. Smile
07-12-04, 01:10 PM Lydia Clare - - I know you were kidding! Big Grin
You know...this may sound very silly to some people, but I think the worst thing I could come home to would be for the windows and/or doors to be open and my two kitties gone Frown
As long as they were still there, I wouldn't care what they took!
07-12-04, 04:11 PM clarebear That doesn't sound silly at all.
It is scary to think of someone breaking in, having a pet get out or having a fire. Lydia, you can only do so much. Get a little sign for your yard and maybe a few stickers for your windows. Be sure to lock all your doors and windows when you leave and get a timer light for when you are away. Get to know your neighbors and you can look after each other. (That's really about all you can do)
I hope you have one of the stickers on your house for a fire. If you don't... order one today free! Smile
07-13-04, 07:42 PM coldfuse David makes a great point. I have "caring without being nosy" neighbors and the police convene to eat doughnuts at the school parking lot across the street from me. This beats the heck out of any security system I could dream up.
My favorite standup comedian, James Gregory , laments that the crime problem today is caused by the disappearance of front porches. And he has a great point – being less neighborly, sitting on our decks in back yards secluded by privacy fences, we know less about what is going on around us than we used to.
I happen to work for a security company but our focus is on the commercial and industrial marketplace. However, a couple of random points:
1. Determine why you want a security system and what you want to happen if you get an alarm. If a prospective security company is not a good fit for these, eliminate them from consideration.
2. I don’t know about rural areas, but in most larger cities the police are fed up with false alarms. False alarms are often in the range of 98% of all alarms each month, and in some locales carry fines. The only alarms which are prioritized are burglaries in progress, and the only ways that a monitoring station can verify this to a 911 operator are by audio or video means. Audio systems are available to the residential marketplace, but usually cost a bit more for installation and monitoring. The cost of monitoring a video surveillance system is well beyond the pocketbook of all but the most well-to-do residential customers (and, in my view, less reliable than audio detection when it’s dark!).
3. If you do happen to get a system with motion sensors, make sure the sensors are adjustable for pets. This will keep the cats from setting them off all the time!
4. The contract. YUK! Depending on the state you live in, part of the awful language in a security contact is simply there to reinforce the point that a security company is not the same as an insurance company. You can’t do much about that. But what happens if you move? Suppose you decide the service is terrible? This IS something you can negotiate, and I’d do just that!
Now some behind-the-scenes stuff…
5. OK – I said you can negotiate contract length. But not with all companies. The reason for this is that many security companies are funded by factoring or selling their monitoring contracts. Unable to acquire bank credit, they sell the future income stream from their customers at a discount to someone else. And if that income stream is not reliable, the contract is less valuable to them. Another residual liability of doing business with such a company is that you can be hounded to death and threatened by unscrupulous collector types should you decide to discontinue service.
6. It naturally follows that the company you hire may not necessarily be the company that actually monitors your system. Central monitoring stations, especially if they have gone to the proper lengths to be UL® certified, are few and far between and are expensive to operate. For my dollar, I like the idea of doing business with a local company that has a local monitoring station that is a known factor with the local police and 911 dispatchers.
7. Some companies serving the residential market, as a normal business practice, have installation and service technicians that are paid for “upselling” an account. Imagine buying something really cheap (because the other guys couldn’t provide a compelling reason to pay more) and then being scared to death by an installer about what could happen if you don’t have something expensive like a cellular backup added.
8. Find out about a company’s service policy and obtain references. For fun, ask them for some of their bad references. How long does it take them to respond to a service call? What are their service charges? What is the average length of service of their technicians? What will they do between the time you call and the time the system is fixed (or are you completely without a security system)?
9. Can another company monitor and service the equipment? If you are really sold on a particular type of system, the answer may be “no” but a purchase decision may be appropriate. If all your system will have are door contacts and motion detectors, however, stay away from a company with proprietary panels and communicators. You want to be able to switch companies later if you don’t like them.
10. Motion detectors, by the way, are “passive infrared” detectors. They sense heat. Many false alarms are caused by their incorrect placement near windows (heat from the rising sun, etc), near air conditioning supply ducts, and other things which may cause a rapid change in temperature.
11. As with anything, you get what you pay for! Any company charging a few hundred bucks for an installation (the equipment costs more than that) and fifteen dollars a month for monitoring wants something else out of the deal (see points 7 and 8 above).
12. If you are still having a problem with squirrels in the wall, these may frighten thieves away! Big Grin
07-14-04, 07:54 AM Walks On Water Speaking of changing monitoring companies, my employer just changed companies. The phone dialer was a proprietary part of the system and we could not change it. We had to install a new dialer so we could use any monitor company and program their number.
07-14-04, 08:13 AM Lydia Well, the guy that's been walking around with the clipboard...he was looking for me Eek Turns out...I was "randomly" selected as one of 200,000 US "residences" to participate in a survey for a White House initiative...something to do with the anti-drug Zar. I spoke with the Federal Dept of Health Services running the project who told me that this third party group is doing the surveys and they do not have names...just addresses.
Anyway - the police spoke with the guy that's been walking around and between them and me, we were able to figure out that he's legit...
So, for now...I will rely on my neighborhood police, my neighbors and my locked doors. Might go with that sign too - oh and Claire, thanks for the pet link...I did request a sticker for my window Big Grin
07-14-04, 11:33 AM DvdGStwrt Ironically the Feds send out suspicious people then tell us to call the police if we see such.
I guess thats government intelligence for ya.
Roll Eyes
07-14-04, 11:36 AM Lydia I agree David...like the saying goes... "The left (federal) hand doesn't know what the right (state) hand is doing!!"
Can't win!!
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