Home security alarm, Worth the money?

[goodoleboy]

I have a scheduled a security alarm to be installed in my home next week. Is there anything I should need to know about them installing it? As in what to make sure is done right before I pay them.
The system is a Caddex brand made by GE.
It is a hard wired system-Meaning all windows and doors will have contacts, no sole relaibilty on motion detector..I am also having a fire alarm installed that will be monitored.

I had to pay an $300 to get it wired like this but It means I can walk out of my bedroom in the middle of the night with out the alarm going off, etc. or I can turn on the motion detector too..

Main reason for this is my area has been having some home invasions and buglaries. I figure it will get alot worse as prices continue to rise throughput the country.

 

[methusaleh]

Is it a central station alarm, or just one that sounds in your home?

If it rings at a monitoring center, ask where the center is located, how well staffed it is, and most importantly if all of the operators speak good English. Don't laugh, this is good advice-- I have worked in law enforcement for years, and to this day whenever I spend time behind the desk, it never ceases to amaze me how many alarm companies have people working the phones who can barely speak English and/or are located in exotic locales. If your house is being robbed, or burning down, do you want the person who is notifying the police/fire department to take an extra 10 minutes to do so because he/she can't communicate with the public safety official in plain English???

If it is just a "ringer", notify your neighbors that you've installed the alarm and ask them to notify the police/fire department if the alarm is sounding when you appear to be not at home. Do not give passwords, installation information, or any other details to persons whom you can not completely trust.

 

[methusaleh]

Oh, to answer your question...**** yeah it is a good idea, ANY measure of a RELIABLE alarm system is a very good idea IMHO. The money spent will make up for itself tenfold in peace of mind alone, not to mention potential of loss if there was a fire or burglary. Even if the alarm is just a ringer, alert neighbors can probably call the local authorities and relay specific information even faster than a monitoring station could anyhow.

 

[Slick17601]

I have been contemplating having one installed myself. I am more interested in a wireless system. Let us know how your installation goes.

 

[iontrap]

Two control pads would be good to have. One at the front door and entrance from the garage, if you house is set up for this. I only have one, garage entrance, and wish that I had another by the front door.

 

[1sttruck]

The stats on home alarm systems seem to consistently produce over a 95% false alarm rate, and 99% is common. See if there is a warranty for flase alarms, so you don't have to pay fines by local PD and such.

 

[michaelc80]

We invested in a monitored home security system for our current home 4 years ago mainly for peace-of-mind for my wife when I travel. One benefit-our monthly monitoring fee is $36 for fire and security monitoring, our homeowners insurance went down an annual amount that was about a dollar per month average more than that. The installation fee was around $100 or so.

We've never had a false alarm with the system.

If it's a quality system you'll have 2 settings-one that arms only the perimeter so you have free access to the inside of the home while your there and one "away" that arms everything. We use a combination of motion sensors and door/window alarms. Window alarms can be defeated pretty easily by just breaking the glass-I would suggest motion sensors as well.

If you have pets they have motion sensors that won't pick them up-our cat roams the house during the day and has never set ours off in 4 years. Let someone over 40# get in range and it will trigger the motion sensors though.

I was painting the hallway last year and took the motion sensor down to paint. Within a minute the alarm company was on the phone and wanted to know why the tamper alarm was going off. Had to give my code word so they wouldn't send the police.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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I have been contemplating having one installed myself. I am more interested in a wireless system. Let us know how your installation goes.

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I would expect a wireless system to be easily tempered with.

 

[Schmoe]

So, if a burgular really, really wanted to get into your house, they cut the phone lines and then cut your power off.

 

[methusaleh]

Most companies also receive an alarm any time there is a voltage drop in the system, for just these reasons...

 

[9c1]

We have had an ADT system for about 15-20 years. Three key pads, two motion sensors, smoke detector in the garage (no fire detectors due to unheated space), and fire detectors on three floors of the house. Central station is about seven miles away, and every time I talk to them they speak as good English as I do. Never a false alarm yet. I put the phone wires into a down-feed pipe at the house, so while they can cut the wires, they would have to work at it. System has a battery so there is no issue even during power outages. The central station even notifies me when the battery begins to run low. I can replace it with one from Radio Shack. No charge for service calls – we have had two that I can remember in that time, and the techs who came out were really nice and competent. The installation was around $750 -- the detached garage was the biggest bite, and I put in the underground pipe. I think we pay about $25 per month for the central station monitoring. Great peace of mind, but I do have some ongoing difficulty getting the people I live with to set the garage alarm when we are home. That might be more because it is my toys that are in there, and the others are female.
Terry

 

[joatmon]

I've had a system for 15 to 20 years. It's hard-wired for windows and doors with several motion detectors. We have a keypad at a foyer that leads to a side entrance and the garage, and another in our upstairs master bedroom. We also have a fire monitor.

It was originally monitored by a local firm. They sold out to ADT several years ago. We were not happy about their monitoring location, so we switched to a local company. We paid $100 - $200 (can't remember) to get the system up to their specs and pay $20 a month to be monitored. The location is within a few miles of my home. We can talk to the business owner or his son at anytime and they are very responsive.

Benefits: I no longer lie awake at night if I hear a creak or noise. I like knowing that if my alarm is still activated when my wife, kids or I arrive at home, that no one is in the house. I like the fact that the load, audible alarm would deter most breakins. I like having a warning so I can summon my friends, Smith and Wesson.

Bottom line: Great peace of mind and investment.

Advice: Seek out a local monitoring company. They're around.

Also: If you're concerned about someone cutting your phone line, most companies offer a cell phone option that works even if the phone lines are cut.

Best of luck,

Jack