Anyone here have a home security system?

[Scott R]

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.

[pwd72s]

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.

[Scott R]

Originally posted by pwd72s
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.

[RANDY P]

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.

[stomachmonkey]

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

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Scott R
I guess that's why we vote for different presidents.

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.

[Scott R]

Originally posted by pwd72s
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.

[Joeaksa]

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...

[wreckersteve]

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.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by RANDY P
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.

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.

[Scott R]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
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.

[Dennis Kalma]

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

[Hugh R]

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.

[RANDY P]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
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.

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

[kaisen]

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.

[Joeaksa]

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

[Porsche_monkey]

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.

[Scott R]

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.

[Porsche_monkey]

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.

[Scott R]

Originally posted by PBH
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.