OT: Home Alarm Systems

[Chris Kulbaba]

Hey everyone... since you are all so knowledgable and keen on several aspects of life... I thought I would see what the majority had to say about home alarm systems...



We have been offered a 'deal' by ADT an alarm company.



Its a wireless alarm system, includes pretty much all we need for free.



But the monthly cost seems very high for something ive never had a problem with in the past.



They want $40/month for a monitoring fee...



Are they worth it? What I said to the person is, the alarm is only good for when we are not around... which my insurance covers all items of the house and the house itself. So really id be more concerned about when we are home. They stated that they call before they dispatch to make sure there is something going on. My whole family could be slaughtered before they even called... I know thats harsh, but really, what else could happen that is worth $500/year for the rest of my life?



Your thoughts?!

 

[TomT]

I only believe in the "Smith and Wesson" home protection. There are so many false alarms, home alarms are considered very low priority these days by police.

 

[Victor Garret]

Whats the purpose for you? Some people want to make sure if there is a fire when they arent home that the firedepartment shows up. Do you want someone to call you if someone breaks into your house if your home or not home? I'd rather spend $500 on self defense classes, gun lessons, something else before I pay $500 per year for something that may never be used. My pesronally, I don't even lock my front door. I havnt in years. I figure, if someones gonna break in, i dont want to have to replace a broken window too. of course i live in a smaller neighborhood, about 15 houses and everyone knows each other. I could spot a car and tell you if they should be in the neighborhood or not.



My fiance has an inactive alarm on her house. If a door or window is opened, you hear a beep throughout the house. It's nice cause if a door opens at night, it will beep twice and its enough to wake us up, but its not annoying. this has no monthly fee.

 

[Andrew Tollison 3]

I have the same protection as TomT. Smith and Wesson 357 Magnum. My wife is wanting to get an alarm system for the house. I told her with 2 boxers and the gun what else does she need?



Andrew

 

[Wes Davis]

I believe in the alarm system but not in off site monitoring. Go for the door, window, motion sensors and a loud ass siren. Make arrangements with a neighbor to respond if your family is not at home and the siren sounds.

 

[Ben Poche]

my home protection a squeaky door and my AR

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[LaRue Medlin]

NOOOOOOO!!!!! ADT will drain you dry for the same thing others have for less. Check around. I sell home security systems for a lot less than ADTand they are just as good. They charged me 40$ for 2 years on a system I already owned. But I was too stupid to know better at the time.

 

[Andrew Tollison 3]

LaRue, do you know of any good home security companies in Greenville SC.



Andrew

 

[Nelson Atwell]

One of my neighbors had a break-in a few weeks ago, and they stole about $20K of stuff, including a small armory of weapons and ammo. No one saw suspicious behavior and since he didn't have an alarm he wasn't aware of the break-in until he came home. He is paranoid now that the burglars are going to come back armed and take what they couldn't get the first time.



I have the alarm service from ADT and it gives me peace of mind. I know that when I set the alarm, the contents of my house are safer than if I didn't have it. I am in the military and it is nice to know that my unoccupied house will be safe for weeks or months while I am gone.



Also, I have a teenage daughter. On her days off from school, she is old enough to stay home while I am working. I set the alarm and know that if someone tries to enter the house the alarm will sound, and I will get a call from ADT telling about it. Additionally, when I set the alarm at bedtime, I know that no one can enter or exit the house without me knowing.



Finally, I get a $20 discount on my homeowner's policy for having an alarm system. That brings my total cost of protection down to around $20/month. I feel like that is a good deal for me.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Go to your local mall "Home Security" store, or even the security aisle of WalMart and buy some of those window stickers and roadside placards that advertise your security system. Then, post them very visibly. Do that, and put motion sensing outdoor lights on your back deck, front, etc. Also trim your shrubs so that no one outside has a place to hide in the dark.



Do those things and save the rest of your money. Your house will then be an unattractive target when you are away at night, or when inside sleeping.



During the daytime, make sure to keep your garage doors closed and cars and vehicles locked if parked in your driveway.



Do all that, and you will be safer.



TJR

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

XST, I install alarm systems for a living. That's WAY to much for monitoring. Average here is $20 per month. Some people pay just to feel secure no matter what the price is. Tell me what you have as far as doors, windows, etc., and I can get you what you need at cost plus shipping. Email me if you like.



Gary D. in CT

 

[Chops]

Doesn't sound like it too much for free as they lock you into a contract.

There are less expensive monitoring svcs out there.



I had a basic alarm when I bought my house, but beefed it up quite a bit myself. All the parts and pieces are readily available on the net.



The remote control keychain is the best.



I never have had mine monitored, instead I reprogrammed the panel to call out my cellphone and it then rolls over to the GF's number. My neighbors can be at my house in 45 seconds, the police, probably a couple hours from the stories I'm told.

 

[Ben Poche]

 

[Keith Lew]

I pay $24.95 per month with Alarm Center for my house. Someone once advised me to go with a smaller company since the big ones like ADT get a high volume of activity at their central alarm station since they sell so many accounts. Alarm Center calls within 2 minutes of a false alarm and calls local police within 5 minutes it they don't get confirmation of a false alarm. In dealing with ADT in a much larger scale at work (courthouse construction), I find them to be difficult, not the most careful workers and frequently making changes.

 

[FL ST]

I'd have to agree with Keith L2 on this, I have a local Alarm Company with 24-Hour monitoring for my home plus a security camera. I used to think a security camera in the home was rediculous but it's very handi. It's like a caller ID of sorts...

 

[Jason McKinnon]

There is an advantage of fire protection, as Victor stated, or if you are away from the home for long periods on a regular basis like NelsonOKC. Other than those things, there is not much advantage for having a monitored alarm. There are plenty of places where you can buy the system yourself, or you could even have a professional install it. While this will obviously cost more up front than ADT's "free" system, it will pay for itself after a few months of no monitoring fees.



I've been with the police department here for over 11 years, and while I think that we've had a few home alarms that were actual break-ins, the offender(s) were long gone before we were even dispatched. An unmonitored alarm would accomplish the same thing, as the crooks will take off when the alarm goes off.



In fact, it's not uncommon for us to hear the alarm (both residential and commercial), check it out ourselves, and be on scene for 5+ minutes before dispatch gets a call from the alarm company. And that's not counting how long the alarm may have been going off before we heard it.

 

[Kevin Long]

If anything, when someone breaks in they won't hang around and work while the horn is going off. If you have an alarm system and do not pay for monitioring it is still a good thing.

Forty bucks a month is not bad for monitoring, especially since you are getting wireless monitoring. Some use a cell phone to make the call, I am sure there are other ways.

I have had a system in every house I have owned, and will continue to do so in the future!

 

[Johnny O]

In the house, I have a 9mm and a large dog. Outside the house, I have an alarm sign from a major company, it was an extra from my dad's house.

I'm the designated "first-call" person for the security system at my church because I live nearby. A few false alarms a year, always around 3:00 AM. :angry:

An upside to alarm systems, they usually include hard-wired smoke detectors too.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

Go to eBay search for ADT and buy a handful of their stickers. Place them on your windows. Unless the burgalur is a complete dumb As* they won't attempt to see if the alarm is really installed. The stickers will be enough to deter them.

 

[Victor Garret]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ADT-Yard-Sign-And-Window-Decals_W0QQitemZ170011681595QQihZ007QQcategoryZ41969QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



http://cgi.ebay.com/16-SECURITY-SIGN-ADT-DECAL-STICKER-THEFT_W0QQitemZ220010504370QQihZ012QQcategoryZ20589QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



and finally



http://cgi.ebay.com/2-ADT-YARD-SIGN-WITH-20-STICKERS_W0QQitemZ200010938120QQihZ010QQcategoryZ41969QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



I do like the idea of motion sensors outside, however there is a house down the road that has about 4 or 5 of these on his house. at night, the whole yard is lit up, but its ok cause he has no neighbors.