Is It Worth It To Get a Home Security System?
There’s no doubt that a home security system is an investment. However, to know exactly how good of an investment it is, it’s vital to determine the return it can offer. Tallying figures attached to upfront and monthly costs is easy enough, but placing a monetary value on peace of mind is an entirely different story.
This is especially true when you have kids at home. Feel free to read on or visit Hi Tech Home Protector to learn more about the true merit of a home security system.
The Role of a Security System
More than deterring potential home invaders, such as burglars and kidnappers, the ideal security system keeps you connected to your home even when you’re not there. It lets you know when important doors are passed through and if there are attempts to access sensitive rooms. It can also alert you to unauthorized presence near the gun safe or drinks cabinet. The right system can also offer other perks, such as homeowner’s insurance and discounts, which many tend to overlook initially.
What Is Home Security Equipment?
When assessing the initial cost of a home security system, you may find that the majority of that amount is determined by the security equipment type and installation process. On average, this can range from $300 to $1,000. Of course, that’s a one-time cost that usually results in your ownership of the said equipment. Then, once the system is set up and operational, monthly fees will come into play. Your security system’s monthly costs will fall on your hands, with your chosen package determining how much you’d have to shell out on a monthly basis. Security monitoring, features, and services can vary per package, with some companies offering plans for as low as $20 a month. That said, there are also advanced packages that include 24-hour live monitoring and security patrols on top of a basic plan’s upgraded features. Depending on what you’re looking to protect, the several hundred dollars attached to these specific plans could be worth it.
What Are Security System Discounts?
In most cases, the more features a security system comes with, the steeper the discount you may avail of on homeowner’s insurance. Keep in mind that some insurance companies don’t offer discounts for security services. As such, you’ll want to consult with them to confirm the availability of discounts. Acquiring a security system is sometimes a matter of keeping your homeowner’s policy than saving on it. Some policies would require an alarm system addition if a home has been broken into previously. Others would be as adamant if the residence were in an area with a high crime or burglary rate.
Protecting Your Valuables
Works of art, family heirlooms, and other items with high sentimental value are irreplaceable. If stolen, these pieces may make it difficult for you to recover from the loss. If items such as these are in your home, it will make a lot of sense to invest in a home alarm system or a safety deposit box. Of course, a home security system would be the more preferred choice if you want more accessibility to these pieces.
How Do You Know It’s Worth It?
To know if a security system is worth buying for the people you want to protect, evaluate its value to you first. Without question, an alarm system has the ability to deter crime and improve the chances of catching a criminal who manages to break into your home. In a comparison between a home with an alarm system and one without, the Electronic Security Association suggests that the latter still stands to lose $2,000 more on average if both were broken into. Thus, if your main goal is to mitigate losses from home break-ins, security systems can be game-changing.
However, what you may fail to see in the initial evaluation is how going for a more advanced system could potentially lead to more savings. Additional features and services, such as remote home automation, a smoke alarm, and a carbon monoxide alarm, can provide life-saving advantages while managing energy costs at the same time. Then again, this is insurance we’re talking about, so you never quite know if you’ll end up using it to the fullest extent. In fact, you would hope the situation doesn’t come to that. Nevertheless, it’s imperative to have a full understanding of your security and monitoring goals to ascertain the true value and cost of an alarm system.
The Value of a Home Security System
Thorough research, including consulting home security specialists about the ins and outs of an alarm system, is crucial for determining how worthy a security system investment is. As helpful as writeups from credible sources are, you sometimes need someone on your side who’s present and more than willing to shed light on home security and monitoring matters. Thus, the best decision is to visit prospective companies and see whose services align with your needs best.