Home security systems

[bananiem]

Ok, give me your info. What company? What type? How much to install? How much are monthly fees? Are you happy with it?
I keep putting it off but now a neighbor was broken into last week so I'm thinking about it again.
TIA!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

ADT--we are happy with them. Hubby wanted to cancel to save us money. They reduced our rate. Cancelling after that point would have netted us only $1 per month due to the credit on our homeowners that would have disappeared. So we have monitoring practically for free.

We got our system 8 years ago, so I don't know what has changed in cost structure since then. I think we were contracted for like $20-$25 per month and we pay about $20 a month (I think!!). Not sure if a first time customer would be able to achieve that.

Cost of installation also depends on how many doors and windows you need secured. Our free stuff covered all we wanted---so we didn't have any out of pocket costs to start.

 

[ducklite]

We use a local company here. It's $210 a year +/-. The system was installed as they built the house, I want to think it was around $1200. That covered sensors on 26 windows and seven doors, plus several motion sensors inside the house and three alarm pads.

If someone sets off the alarm, the company will call, and if a passcode can't be given, they will send the police.

It also monitors for fire, and the keypads have buttons to push for police, fire, and ambulance.

And there are VERY VERY LOUD exterior and interior alarms.

I think my favorite feature is the chime, I can tell if someone comes in and out or opens a window.

Anne

 

[JR6ooo4]

We are gone 8-10 hours everyday, so are the nieghbors. Anyone could back up a truck and clean out our house. So after our office was broken into and burglarized about 2 months ago we got an ADT alarm for both. A $600 install was only about $290 thanks to the end of the month special they were running. Monthly monitoring is about $35
We got two door sensors, two motions for the office, one for the home covers most the first floor (small townhouse). Wireless connection to the security center is another $10 a month fee. If the burglar can get to the phone line and cut it, the alarm does not call anybody. So we got a wireless cell included that has an 8 hour backup. even if the power is out our alarm still works.
The hard part is trying to teach our non-english speaking maid how to run it...

Mikeeee


ETA The first estimate included purchase of the hardware. ADT is leased equipment but lifetime warranty. If we move they leave all the equipment and set up the same system in the new place free of charge. We also got a five year lock on monitoring price. All our home sensors are wireless so no drilling in the walls. The batteries have about a 5 year life.

 

[Hercules10]

Used to work for a security comp. Inquire whether you'll be leasing the equipment or purchasing it. Leasing should be fairly cheap install ($200-$300) with probably a 3 year contract. Purchasing the equipment can be very expensive, but you get to choose your monitoring company.

Monthly monitoring shouldn't exceed $20 nowadays.

Make sure to get as many signs and window stickers as possible. Those are the main deterents to thieves. Radio Shack used to sell just the signs and stickers. Also a dog is the #1 deterent. Doesn't matter the size just as long as it barks and makes a racket. Anything that'll draw attention is what a thief will avoid. Unfortunatly a dog can't call the cops or fire department though.

 

[ducklite]

Also a dog is the #1 deterent. Doesn't matter the size just as long as it barks and makes a racket. Anything that'll draw attention is what a thief will avoid. Unfortunatly a dog can't call the cops or fire department though.

My best friend has a rottie and two golden's. Want to talk about a racket??

Every single house in her neighborhood was burglarized over a three week period about five years ago--except hers. Wonder why?

Anne

 

[minnieandme]

Mine was prewired and already installed when I bought my house. If you want to use the service, that's up to you. The company is local and I get billed $42 every quarter.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Ok, give me your info. What company? What type? How much to install? How much are monthly fees? Are you happy with it?
I keep putting it off but now a neighbor was broken into last week so I'm thinking about it again.
TIA!!!

Several firearms, primarly a Glock. No monthly fees. I forget costs cuz DH pays for them (law enforcement discount). Yes, I am happy with it the times I use it at the range. That's probably not what you had in mind though, huh. Can I also suggest something furry and barky?

DH says Home Security Systems are a waste. I don't really have an opinion as I have never had one.

Thanks for your time, Bana.

 

[DVC-Don]

We had ADT for 3 years and just discontinued our monitoring yesterday. We paid a couple hundred dollars for the install and for 2 1/2 years we paid $35 per month for monitoring. I called at that point to disconect and they dropped the monthly fee to $25. Our 3 year contract ended last month so I called yesterday to end it. The alarm still works, it just would not call ADT if triggered. We can now hook back up at anytime, but we got a new neighbor a couple of years ago who is a deputy sheriff and he is home most days as he works evenings.

We also have a system in our office across town that I installed myself for $300. We are charged $10 per month for monitoring of that one.

 

[DVCLiz]

I have a system designed by a local company. The previous owners had installed a sytem, but it was past its prime, so I updated it when I moved in. I have all doors and windows in the house monitored, as well as fire sensors that dial into the fire station if they are set off. My control panels (one in my bedroom, one by the back door) have buttons for police, fire and hospital, and if I hit them they will send those services immediately, without waiting to call. If an alarm is set off, the monitoring company will call, and if they don't get an answer from a person including a password and number code, they will send the police.

Recently I also got a camera security system. I couldn't see who was at my front door, so I installed a camera at the corner of the house, behind the gutter. I could have 3 more, so 1 is on one side of the garage and looks down the driveway, another is on the opposite side of the garage and looks at my back door, and the last one is on the other side of the house and sees most of my back yard (which backs up to some woods.) I can see all four channels from my TV. It's the last thing I do before I go to bed at night - check and see that everything looks fine. If the front doorbell rings, I can see who's there and choose to answer or not. I don't have the system that would record those cameras, but I could add it if I wanted to, and I might sometime.

I feel much safer with this all in place.

Oh, I have a dog who barks loudly, too, although she would probably just lick a burglar if one ever got in the house!!

 

[reeeoga]

Sarah: 12 pound Rat Terrior. Goes off if anything happens. Installation $25. Monthly fee: $6. Yearly Tune-up: free (I married the Daughter of a Vet).

 

[Simba's Mom]

We use a local company here. It's $210 a year +/-. The system was installed as they built the house, I want to think it was around $1200. That covered sensors on 26 windows and seven doors, plus several motion sensors inside the house and three alarm pads.

If someone sets off the alarm, the company will call, and if a passcode can't be given, they will send the police.

It also monitors for fire, and the keypads have buttons to push for police, fire, and ambulance.

And there are VERY VERY LOUD exterior and interior alarms.

I think my favorite feature is the chime, I can tell if someone comes in and out or opens a window.

Anne

Sounds similar to ours. But we don't have the motion detectors since we have pets. We have a glass break on our rear patio door, so if anyone breaks that glass, the alarm goes off. Our last house had an alarm system already, but on this one we got a little extra perk which I love. We have a remote control, about the size of the little thing that hangs from your keychain. I keep it right next the bed, in the night table drawer. If I hear any unusual noise at night, by pushing the button, it immediately activates the alarm and calls the monitoring company. Since DH travels alot, I love this security feature.

 

[disneymama73]

We have ADT. And a big American Bulldog.

 

[ducklite]

Sounds similar to ours. But we don't have the motion detectors since we have pets. We have a glass break on our rear patio door, so if anyone breaks that glass, the alarm goes off. Our last house had an alarm system already, but on this one we got a little extra perk which I love. We have a remote control, about the size of the little thing that hangs from your keychain. I keep it right next the bed, in the night table drawer. If I hear any unusual noise at night, by pushing the button, it immediately activates the alarm and calls the monitoring company. Since DH travels alot, I love this security feature.

That's a neat feature. Fortunately one of our alarm pads is locating a foot from the bed, so it's not something I'd need, but if you didn't ahve a pad in the bedroom, it would sure be handy!

I woke up around 3:00 this morning from some sort of noise. I listened for a few seconds and then figured out it was just the ferrets squabbling in thier cage.

 

[Melwood23]

I have ADT. Had for about 5yrs, not sure how much to install, I believe it was less than $200. I was paying around $35/month, but they switch to quarterly billing (every 3 months), which is $110. So looks about $36/month. I have had no problems except this past spring I finally had to go around and change all the batteries in the sensors. The batteries have about a 3yr life, but mine lasted 5yrs, so that is pretty good. The thing is when one starts going bad, it sets off false alarms to the company, that is how I knew it was the batteries, cause one night the one in the bathroom (which is the only sound detector) kept going off. Also, if you need new batteries, your best bet is to go to Batteries Plus if you have one, I had a heck of time trying to find them in reg stores.

 

[golfgal]

Sarah: 12 pound Rat Terrior. Goes off if anything happens. Installation $25. Monthly fee: $6. Yearly Tune-up: free (I married the Daughter of a Vet).

We have the SAME system! We don't get the free tune ups though . We also have an ADT system that was here when we bought the house.

For those with a security system, make sure you let your insurance people know, you can get a BIG discount on your insurance if you have the burglary/fire notification set up.