What do you have for home security and what do you pay?

[kymom99]

People post footage from their cams quite a bit in my feed. From what I understand the Ring network would essentially work that way, your neighbors would be able to share footage of something hinky. No doubt social media is helpful that way. I’m glad they caught the guys who robbed your sister’s home.

I'm glad too. I know I personally felt sick about it. I can only imagine how my sister felt. They got lots of irreplaceable stuff, including my deceased mom's wedding rings, which were never recovered. But at least they are in jail.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Our security system is 3 dogs, a gun, and a baseball bat. The dogs are priceless. As for alarms, we had a system installed for about a week-alarms were constantly going off at all hours of the day-finally we called them before the free trial ended and told them to remove the system, it was a pain in the rear. They left the security sign outside though, so we kept it there.

 

[Darcy03231]

Door and window alarms we got at Home Depot, a Blink motion detector system, a Glock for DH and a Smith & Wesson for me. We also have stickers in the windows saying that our house is monitored by a security company.

We live in a rural area and by the time the monitoring system contacted the police and they arrived, we'd be in pretty poor shape if someone was trying to hurt us. Local PD told us the best thing was a loud alarm that would scare off anyone attempting to break in.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Door and window alarms we got at Home Depot, a Blink motion detector system, a Glock for DH and a Smith & Wesson for me. We also have stickers in the windows saying that our house is monitored by a security company.

We live in a rural area and by the time the monitoring system contacted the police and they arrived, we'd be in pretty poor shape if someone was trying to hurt us. Local PD told us the best thing was a loud alarm that would scare off anyone attempting to break in.

Many years ago, my mother's cousin lost her husband unexpectedly. They lived in a very isolated, rural area. She was concerned about being alone, so she called the local sheriff's office and asked if they would do a consultation to tell her what kind of security system she needed. The guy came out, looked around and said "to be honest, it doesn't matter what kind of system you put in, it would still take us 20 minutes at best to get to you if it went off." He then pointed to her dog and said that he was the best security system she could possibly have.

Since the dog was getting older, she went the next day and got a second one as a "backup." She also got her concealed carry license, which she thankfully never had to put to use. Thieves don't like noise and they don't like the possibility of getting bitten.

 

[kymom99]

Many years ago, my mother's cousin lost her husband unexpectedly. They lived in a very isolated, rural area. She was concerned about being alone, so she called the local sheriff's office and asked if they would do a consultation to tell her what kind of security system she needed. The guy came out, looked around and said "to be honest, it doesn't matter what kind of system you put in, it would still take us 20 minutes at best to get to you if it went off." He then pointed to her dog and said that he was the best security system she could possibly have.

Since the dog was getting older, she went the next day and got a second one as a "backup." She also got her concealed carry license, which she thankfully never had to put to use. Thieves don't like noise and they don't like the possibility of getting bitten.

My sister and her husband put in an alarm system without monitoring. It will make a loud racket if one of the entrances is breeched. As you said, they are too far away for the county police to catch anyone who might break in, but hopefully the noise will send them running. He also has a game camera strategically placed to capture cars that go up and down their drive and a motion activated camera by their most used entrance that would capture images of people. He can monitor the camera from his phone.

 

[ktate82]

When we moved into our house, we got ADT. We had a three year contract and were happy when it was up. ADT did not live up to the hype for us. To ever talk to anyone was at least an hour wait. They didn't install the system correctly and then told us we had faulty equipment (that we had bought from them the month before) so had to pay to have it replaced. We tested the alarm about once a month and in the three years, they only asked for the password once. Only twice during the three years did they call us within 4 minutes of the alarm going off (the average was seven minutes before they called us).

We now have Ring and have been very happy with the software. We are so impressed with it that we are adding extra security camera through Ring.

 

[Darcy03231]

Even when we lived in the city we went with the door/window alarms from home depot and the motion sensor cameras, both inside and out. The cameras are synced to our phones and we're alerted if they're tripped. Same thing that a monitoring company will do, only faster.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I'm moving to a new house that has 3 doors and a few windows at ground level ( house is a split). I got a quote from ADT that includes sensors for glass break on those windows. $45/month for the wireless plan and $250 for installation. I just started looking into Simplisafe and got a quote for $250 for the equipment but not sure how that would work for those very low windows.

I had a 1500 square foot single story ranch in California. We put ADT in 2005. It had 10 windows, 4 doors and French doors in master bedroom. Land line. Looked into upgrading to wireless but it was very expensive. Cost about $250 to install and $25/month. Alarms system had to be registered with police station in order for them to respond and that was, I think, $40/year. The cost in ADT went up every year, by 2016 it was $45/month. All in all ADT was pretty good. What I did not like as time went on was the price increases, decrease in service (took forever to get someone to come to house if there was a problem), and they weren't local. I live in the Southeast now. House is 7500 square feet. Over 25 windows, 6 doors, sensors for glass break. The security system was already in place when buying this home and we went with the same security company. $27/month. It's a local company. When we moved into the home, the owner is the one who comes to your house, I like that. Good service, can always speak to someone if need be. Was helpful when learning how to use it. A friend of mine go Vivent. Her father is a sheriff and said it was a good one. I don't know anything about their customer service or cost.

 

[Scifidiner]

About 275# of German Shepherds, a Glock 21 and Mossberg M590. Cost several k.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We have ours through a small local company. We have door sensors, glass break, fire alarms and a water sensor in the basement. We pay $39.95/ month and it is on cellular.

 

[LYSE]

We had ADT install about 2,000 in equipment (priced it out my self on alarmgrid.com) and we agreed to 3 years at 49.99 $0 down, last month I shopped around for a new alarm provider to take over the system as we were within 3 months of contract end, when I found one I managed to negociate a new rate of 25.00 a month locked in for 3 more years. (Celluar monitoring with pulse app) ADT customer retention seems to be quite aggressive.

I would just get quotes and see how much equipment you can squeeze out of an installer.

And yes my alarm system is only part of my security, the other parts included self installed hd cameras with nvr server, 2 GSD's, and my pick of body piercing tools (likely to be 9mm during the day and 45 acp at night )

 

[DisFan22]

last month I shopped around for a new alarm provider to take over the system as we were within 3 months of contract end, when I found one I managed to negociate a new rate of 25.00 a month locked in for 3 more years. (Celluar monitoring with pulse app) ADT customer retention seems to be quite aggressive.

That's an incredible deal for the service. Did you mention any provider in particular when canceling? I wanna try that.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

3 motion sensor IP cameras with both internal and cloud storage. They were like $99 each on Amazon and the cloud storage is free up to like 8 gigs. I don't need 8 gigs. There's a motion detector peephole camera on my door ($200) as well with internal storage and a motion sensor light ($40ish).

I have door sensors and window sensors alarms on my ground level for night time to let me know if anyone is coming to visit. I got a 10 pack of those for like $30. I set the alarms at night. Alarms when I'm not home serve no purpose as the cameras are positioned to cover everything and we have great insurance.

Anyone who gets in past the motion lights, alarms, and 2 loud dogs, one of which is a pitbull mix and has a VERY intimidating bark is going to have a bad day as I'm very pro 2nd amendment.

 

[LYSE]

That's an incredible deal for the service. Did you mention any provider in particular when canceling? I wanna try that.

When I first called to cancel they offered 29.99, when I pushed it further down to 25 they at first said no, then a manger got involved and asked me what company they were competing against, I truthfully said it was north star alarm and Bam done deal.

Truth be told Northstar was at 34.99 but was offering a few new peices of equipment which realistically aren't needed, I argued 25 was fair since they would give me no new equipment (they originally tried 29.99 with new equipment but what they could offer turned out to be a downgrade.)

 

[Summer2018]

We got our alarm system when we bought our house 19 years ago for free (worth $1500) with $20 monthly monitoring. Front and back door covered plus motion sensor attached to our landline. This year, we upgraded to wireless, and the monthly cost has gone up to $38. The upgrade includes a fire alarm as well.

We installed our own motion sensor lighting around the entire house.

 

[Summer2018]

Whatever company you go through. Remember that police response time along with the response time of the security system company is long. A security system calls the police for you, it does not actually protect you or your belongings. The best burglars can be inside your home, get what they want and leave long before officers will get to your house in many cases.

Most house break-ins involve kicking in the door. I highly recommend StrikeMaster reinforcement and good/real deadbolts for your doors. My DH also installed Nightlock barricades.

We also have Ring cameras at our front door, side door, and in our basement to alert us if an intruder comes when we are at home and to provide evidence to the police. (The Ring cameras work off Wifi which we have backed up at our house with an emergency powersource in case the intruders try to cut power to the house).

We also store what valuables and important documents that we can in a large safe. That will mitigate what is stolen if a break-in occurs.

Also, don't forget fire safety. Many homes don't have both ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors.

Where we live, the police arrive very quickly. We found out the hard way, and help was there before we knew what was up.

 

[LYSE]

For those of you with older systems that get quotes for a new company/system...keep in mind that just simply going to a wireless system is NOT an "upgrade" wired sensors don't run out of batteries EVER, wired sensors can't be jammed electronically (yes a few new sensors have counter measures but wired sensors don't have that problem to begin with) wired sensors don't have a range limitation etc.. basically the only upgrade a wireless sensor provides is ease of install DO NOT just assume its a better sensor because it's wireless, compare its other features.

If you have a large wired system and they upgrade your panel to something wireless they'll just use a adapter that takes those wires and converts them to wireless, that is much cheaper than replacing every sensor (which in turn will lower your monthly bill since you are financing less equipment)

 

[MillauFr]

I guess I'm not sure what the monitoring charge if for? You pay $40 a month just to get a text when the alarm goes off? No way here the police will show up if an alarm company calls. About the best you would get is an e-mail with a link to file a police report. Do the security companies have their own staff that respond?

 

[MouseOfCards]

The recently released Ring Alarm System with central monitoring for $10/month is currently selling at Costco for $240. This looks to be a major disruptor for the industry. Wonder if this means competitors will have to lower prices in the future.

https://www.costco.com/Ring-Alarm-Wireless-10-piece-Security-Kit.product.100424042.html

 

[wishuponastar1984]

I don't ever assume that the police will respond to my alarm going off but my intent for getting a home alarm system was to (1) alert me that someone is trying to get into my house when I am home and (2) will hopefully scare off a would-be intruder when said alarm goes off if they were to break into my house quickly whether I am home or not.

An alarm going off may not deter all burglars but they will know that a loud noise is likely to draw attention so their time in my home will hopefully be short since the clock is ticking versus someone who just has a dog barking at them if I weren't home. My neighbors would never bat an eye at a barking dog.

I am not a fan of just glass break as it doesn't deter someone from jimmying a window open when I am home. Same goes for just having motion detectors as a primary. Motion detectors need to be turned off if occupants are home. I paid extra to have a sensor on EVERY door and window. I worry about my personal safety while I am home. Stuff can be replaced, people not so much.

I pay about $45 a month for ATT Digital Life.