Anyone here have a home security system?
 

I travel just about every week, which means I leave the wife here all alone most of the time. She's been concerned lately that someone is going to break in while she's alone. So I suggested that she either get a gun (which was out of the question, she won't have them in the house) or a security system.

I have two quotes so far, and they seem excessive, ADT with 14 monitors, and remotes was around $700 with a three year contract @ $32.99/mo. Brinks came in just under that, also with a contract. My question is am I going about this the wrong way? This is a three story five bedroom house btw, which is where I think the cost is coming in.

If this is just how it goes, then I guess I'll just hand over the money and be done with it.

Price sounds a bit typical. But I went with a local company. Pro bad guys know the routine with ADT and the national firms...locals have a few tricks up their sleeves, which I won't disclose here.

Too bad your wife is anti gun. Cindy was, at first. Then I took her to the range...women like having power. Knowing how to handle firearms is power.

Thanks for the tip on the local guys. I tried hard to get her to the range, I don't shoot, but my brother does and he was willing to get her started, but she would not hear of it. I guess that's why we vote for different presidents.

I have had brinks for 9 years now. It's a good service especially the peace of mind it gives.

you can set it up to arm only the door sensors, leave the motion sensors off so if someone walks in, blamo.

The biggest issue is getting used to remembering it's on when you leave, it's a big, big mess when you do that. you get used to it tho.

BFD, big f'n dog. Evena a small one will do. As long as it's territorial and makes noise.

Well, I can only hope that you'll become wise in that regard as well.

But think this scenario over...alarms go whoop-whoop. Sometimes the bad guys run, sometimes they don't. A service is contacted. That service contacts the local cops. Yep, the cops will be there, eventually, (since they get weary of false alarms) to mop up the blood. Questionable who's blood that may be. I'd rather have my hi-power or a 12 gauge in hand when the whoop-whoop starts. Then there are those who choose to eliminate the whoop-whoop. They have a silent monitor in a room of their choosing, and a silent method to wake them up...again of their choosing. Then, weapon in hand, they can determine the path of intruder entry, and which room the intruder is in. Then the homeowner can move to that intruder, and kill him. If he is only wounded? The intruder's story will be that he was looking to work for the local chapter of habitat for humanity, should it come to trial. If the homeowner kills him? The homeowner story will be the only story a jury will hear.

All good points, this is going to be a tough sell, gun and security system are required as I see it. BTW I have a dog, she's a 60lb black lab that would lick the face of any would be criminal.

I travel for a living and the house is empty a fair amount of time, so a 12 gauge or dog is not an option.

You can buy the systems all day long in Ebay, install the wireless systems yourself. Then if you want monitoring find someone to monitior it. I have ADT and they are ok.

Two friends came to my house when I was out of the country a while back. Both futzed up the alarm code. In both cases they were staring down the muzzle of a 9mm within 2 minutes.

That makes me feel better...

My Aunt lives in a nice neighborhood. Left 1 day for dinner at 4:30pm and some drug head must have been watching. Deadbolt was not locked. They saw some cash on the table. Kicked the door in. The alarm went off. So did they. They live somewhere you would think is safe. It made me think. I have changed my feelings on security systems.

I 9 years has is ever done anything to stop a robbery or break in?

I have had one for 10 years and never had to use it. I think in certain high crime areas it "might" stop a robbery or break in but other places its a waste of money and basically you gave into the fear they sell.

My house in NC has a security system, the guy below me has one too, I hear it beeping when he leaves the house in the summer. This is a place where you can leave your house unlocked and your keys in your car at night with the windows opened.

Its gotta be the lowest crime area I have ever seen yet people have alarm systems. They bought into the fear.

We are in central Denver, and I agree there is a "scare" that's in the local news media, meth labs and etc... I just need the wife to feel comfortable at night.

I bought a complete system about 7 years ago...about $3k, I paid for the thing directly as now I own it, can using the service I want and I got what I want.

I have all the sensors, high water, freeze, carbon monoxide, fire, motions all over the place, window/door opening including the ones with fine wires in the screen so I can secure the system when I am away. I have keypads at every door, panic alarms where needed, the system has radio backup and will phone in a call if the wired system does not do the trick. No wireless anywhere as I do not trust wireless at all.

Anyway, the insurance savings pretty well pays for the monitoring. Everyone feels a little safer, but it is not a panacea. Main thing is when i am away for an extended trip, the insurance is not so fussy about having the house checked as it is monitored up the wazoo.

Oh yeah, I also have stuff like garage door open sensors on a different partition so I can secure that (all my tools, Porsche) when I am away. It is also nice to know if my dishwasher starts leaking on the hardwood floor that it will notify....

I am happy with it, and am thankful that I do not live in a place where shooting is an acceptable means of home security...it would be more difficult in that situation....here the cops come pretty fast with their guns and the vast majority of guys trying to break in have nothing more than a pointy object...

Dennis

300 foot driveway up a canyon, only practical way in/out. Driveway I/R sensor to the house, and two very light sleeping BIG dogs.

I wouldn't know. I've never been broken into - had a car stolen once, and another broken into but no entries. For $29.85 / mo, the piece of mind is worth it - and there's no doubt to it's effectiveness. My place has been broken in 2x prior to my moving in. I have the nice signs out front advertising Brinks has probably had a lot to do with it. You see, there's section 8 apartments with a walkway to my street right next door.

It just takes someone to get the word out that a neighborhood with unlocked doors is right there - then it's all over.

rjp

PS - Trust isn't one of my stronger qualities :)

http://forum.homesecuritystore.com/

All you need to know. Monitoring available for $8.95 a month.

I have a Honeywell (Ademco) Vista 20P with 6270 touchscreen (mostly wired, but a few wireless) that my local security company installed (reasonable $$) and currently monitors for $19.99/mo. My wife loves it.

Homeowner's insurance discount is $250/yr so it pays for the monitoring.

One other thing that no one has mentioned so far is that my system has a smoke detector. Yes, I have detectors in every room but if I am gone there is no one to call the fire department until the paint on the house next door starts blistering, and I would rather save as much of the contents as possible.

For me the peace of mind knowing that should a fire begin that the fire department will be called no matter where in the world I am, is worth the bux.

That said, I paid for the system and can go anywhere. Have been paying ADT for the monitoring but moving it from $29.99 a month to what something like Kaisen is paying would sure help.

Joe

You don't exactly have to be an electrical engineer to instal a wired system.

I did all my doors, motion detectors on three floors and hard wired smoke alarms (no more batteries) in one weekend. Programming was easy. Less than $500. And a console at the back door and my bedroom.

Thanks guys, a "local" guy is coming this morning. I told him I have to leave for LA at 2:00 and he said he could come by early. I think I'm going to get the smoke alarms as well, based on the posts above it makes good sense to me.

The down-side of the smoke alarm - they do not have the kitchen-bypass pushbutton, so when you burn toast they go off for a while.

Good to know, my wife can burn water.

A good gun and knowing how to use it is the best home securityhttp://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/2ar15.gif

I know, know.

Guys, check your smoke detector batteries. It saved my life or at least my house and neighbor's last year. I left a candle burning, but the flame was so low that I didn't notice it when I went to bed. The detector woke me up almost three hours later and I could see the huge glow of the flames from my bed. I got it out and amazingly, with no real damage. But it was a serious jolt and I didn't go back to sleep that night.

My other alarms are made by Mossberg and SIG Sauer.

Scott -

I probably live right up the road from you. I've got ADT - cam with the house. I also have two really barky dogs. I think they do more than the alarm system for deterence.

If you are into DYI, check out http://www.aesecurity.com/

I installed an Ademco system in a previous residence and replaced a brinks in our current house with an ademco. They are nice alarms. You still have the option of monitoring at lower rates than the national firms. Or you can run the system without monitoring and just use the sirens and lights. There are options for dialers that can call your cell phone if your are away and have an alarm.

I tried one of the national monitoring firms for a couple of years and was not impressed. They took forever to call when the we accidentally set off the alarm.

Funny story, when we first moved in to our current house, the previous owner had been using brinks. The alarm had been canceled prior to the move. I was out of town and the wife was home with the kids. My youngest (2 yrs at the time) is the kind of kid that has to touch everything. He decided to push the "fire" button on the alarm panel. The siren starts wailing... The kids and wife are freaking.... The wife calls my cell in a panic, wanting to know how to shut it off. Since we didn't have a code, I had her pry the box open and pull the battery and power. We ended our call and I had a good laugh. About 5 minutes later, she calls back and there are 3 fire trucks in front of the house.....

Appreciate the information. A system came with my house and I am looking for monitoring. This information helps.

Scott

Similar situation here. I travel & she stays home. Near suburbs location in Toronto. ADT has been flawless for 8 -9 years & gives a lot of piece of mind to her & me. Remember, the outdoor signs are almost as important as the alarm. We skipped motion because of pets. And we don't use their patrol guys - just the real thing.

Only one cop call to date & that was when the door wasn't latched & it blew open when we were out. We got a $70 bill for that.

We wouldn't be without one. Guns are not an option here.

Ian

I was going to suggest Denver Burglar Alarm. I bet they're either cheaper, or WAAAY more. They've done a few commercial systems at places I've worked.

We have Brinks and it's the greatest peace of mind for me when I'm on the road. We really got it because of my wife's diabetes and the idea she only needs to push one button and they instantly know what to respond for. I can also call their number while on the road and they will have someone respond to the house. I really like the idea that if the alarm goes off they call quickly and even call our cell numbers to verify if anything is wrong.

I still think a monitored system has it's plusses. Smoke alarms, for example. We have battery powered, of course...but we also have a detector wired into our alarm system. If we're not home, and a fire breaks out, the alarm company will hopefully call the local F.D.

Unless you are at home, standing on the back deck havin a smoke while (important part) talking on the phone and you hear someones alarm go off and think to your self "how irritating is that" as you turn and look into your back door and a house full of smoke caused by the wife unit making blackened something in a pan and thinking olive oil would be good to use (NOT) so you put the phone down (important part) and run inside and after figuring out the house is not on fire you open all the windows and turn on the ceiling fans to clear out the smoke and while instructing the wife on the proper oils to use while blackening things in a pan you start seeing trails of "disco" lights in the smoke and think to yourself you've only had 2 or 3 margaritas so what the F is that as you wander to the front of the house and notice the Fire Trucks parked on your lawn and you may be lucky enough to open the door 2 seconds before the guys whose dinners you just interrupted bash it in with the axes they are charging up the front steps with in rabid anticipation of a little action and you'll feel pretty crappy telling them the truth and then pretty embarrassed when the Chief leans into his radio and says "it's just cooking" so the next day you'll stop by the firehouse with a couple of cases of beers to make amends.

Oh yeah, when your alarm goes off in addition to putting the phone down you also need to HANG IT UP or else the monitoring company can't call you to verify everything is OK and they WILL notify the fire dept.

Ask me how I know.

Other thing is to make sure that the smokes are properly positioned...over the stove is not a good idea...

Get it over in the next room (dining room or something like that). Idea is that by the time the smoke (aka wife's cooking) gets that far you really have a problem other than carbonized food....

Dennis

Denver Burglar Alarm is out of business their clients are with ADT now.

Brinks was just here with a little better quote, $29.95/mo and 850 installed with two key pads, 16 wired contacts and a remote transmitter. I'll probably go with them.

My alarm company calls the home number first, then my cell second, then starts on my other contacts. Takes care of the home telephone not answering issue.

I was worried about this as well, setting it off and such while home. Brinks has a "cancel" button that you can use when you do that, that's why they are winning right now.

We've been with ADT ever since I started travelling for work (10+ years). Honestly though I think the signs (front and backyard) and a couple window stickers are enough to disuade most thieves.

For the rare home invasion where they're looking to hurt people a security system isn't going to help. Having a gun won't help either unless you happen to be watching the Simpsons with a loaded gun in your lap.

I do not have ADT. I do, however, have ADD. Does this count?

Actually, we have Westec.

You have a point. Several years ago, some badasses lived near here. They are now being managed by the state. Breakins, day and night, happening all over the neighborhood. One, during the day, happened to a neighbor just to the west of me. He had a pack of yip-yip toy poodles...I mean, these mutts would run to their fence and bark at me, whenever I stepped in my yard to smoke a stogie. His wife was home, asleep, during the break-in. The yip-yip poodles never made a sound....

Funny thing. With my "protected by" sign out front, I wasn't hit by these punks. Neither was the neighbor across the road, who had 2 BIG dogs.... I mean BIG..."Elliot", the biggest, was 185 pounds. Very scary to look at...but if you knew him? He might lick you to death...

We have a Vector system and I have no complaints so far - it came with the house so I didn't do any shopping around, but shortly after moving in the main control panel bit the dust so I had to replace it and they were very professional and offered several options.

We have most doors/windows covered plus infra-red detectors most everywhere. The system gives you the ability to disable any single sensor by number (or group into zones) so you can keep some infra reds off for the dog. It's also hooked to smoke and heat detectors throughout the house, basement and attic. The best part is that when there is an "event" it sends 2 signals to the monitoring company simultaneously - one by land line and one via cellular. All land lines route through a controller in the panel also so it will take over the line if you are on the phone.

It's also fully controllable over the internet and you can program it to send an email or text message for any number of events. This is the part I like best when travelling because you will get a text if the power goes out, etc. Very nice system...

Having said all that though, our best system is Jake our 185lb Saint Bernard, who barks like a maniac at anyone who comes within 100ft of the house - even though he's a big baby in reality...