Looking for a Home Security System

[TimSullivan]

I just looked at the file and checked the prices of our last two installations both done by ADT techs.

The first was a hard wire system in a home built in the thirties and cost $1300. It included four motion detectors, four door contacts, one glass breakage sensor, low heat sensor, one heat sensor in furnace area, two smoke detectors, sensor on sump pump, sensor on sewer pump up and two control panels. The original quote was for over $2000.

The second was a system for our new home last year and included three motion detectors, eight door sensors, low heat sensor, three smoke alarms, sensor for sewer pump up, sensor on water storage system, radio phone back up, and two control panels. Again the original estimate was over two thousand dollars. Our final cost was $1700 with five additional zones added for more theft protection. The salesman was good but the installer showed me the holes in the system. He got permission to add the additional zones at only $100 additional.

There is a lot of room for negotiation with the companies in our area. They really make the money in the monthly monitor fee. There are three companies that serve our area and they will cut the prices to sign you to a contract.

 

[fivestring]

"Arriving LEOs shot three of the dogs killing one since that was the only way the deputy could get treatment. The dogs would not leave the area and EMTs/LEOs could not get to hre car. If the workers had not been there she likely would have been killed. If the gate had been shut the deputy would have seen the beware of dog sign. But with the gate open the sign was not visible. The owner knew that there had been an alarm activation but she left. Its not been clear who called in the alarm. Can you say big law suit?"

BIG LAW SUIT.

If that was me, B I G G E R L A W S U I T.

Here are some tips to save folks some false alarm fines... I wrote these, so I guess they are copyrighted by me, so I can post them.

Responding to false alarms is costly to your Police Department and can take officers away from other important calls for service. 97% of all alarm calls end up as false alarms. Listed below are some tips that can help prevent false alarms and possibly save you money in the form of false alarm fines. Remember, you are responsible for all false alarms from your alarmed location.

• If you accidentally set off your alarm, let your alarm monitoring station know immediately. Remember your passcode and /or password. Do not call 911 to cancel an alarm call. You must call your alarm monitoring station. You will not be charged for a false alarm if your alarm monitoring company cancels the alarm call before the Officer arrives.
• Make sure all alarm users and keyholders to the building are trained to use the system and know the codes to arm and disarm the system; including how to cancel a false alarm. If you expect workers, real estate agents, delivery personnel, etc., do not set your alarm. If you must set your alarm, meet the people at your site to deactivate the alarm. Remember, you are responsible for all false alarms caused by everyone that has keys or access to your location.
• If your system sends a silent panic/duress signal when an incorrect code is entered, you might consider having that feature disconnected. Often when in a hurry to arm or disarm the alarm, an incorrect code is entered and the police are dispatched. Since the alarm was a panic/duress signal, you won’t hear the alarm and your alarm monitoring station will not call you.
• You can arrange with your alarm company not to dispatch the police for interior motion sensor activations without having at least one other sensor activated. This is known as “double sensor” dispatching. This is highly recommended and will save you from false alarm fines.
• Adjust hinges and strike plates of doors so the door only moves about ¼ inch when pulled or pushed on. Have wide-gap sensors installed on all doors. Have an arming delay of at least 45 seconds on all doors.
• Lock all protected doors and windows. Do not leave doors and windows open or unlocked while you are away. Be sure all doors and windows are properly closed and locked prior to arming the alarm system. You are responsible for all false alarms from unlocked/unsecured locations.
• Do not leave anything that will move (pets, plants, balloons, drapes, blinds, etc.) in a room that is protected with a motion detector. Have the sensitivity settings on motion detectors and glass-break sensors adjusted so that unwanted sounds or items do not activate them.
• If your alarm system is activated by storms or brief power outages of 4 hours or less, your system needs to be checked and adjusted. These are false alarms that you are responsible for.
• If your alarmed location is enclosed by a fence, the Police can not properly check your property and you will be charged for false alarms. Arrange to have a private security company provide alarm responses to these locations.
• Call your alarm company after each false alarm to determine the cause of the false alarm. You will continue to have false alarms until the problem is repaired or adjusted.
• Have your alarm system checked and tested regularly. Having a service plan helps reduce future costs of equipment repair. If your alarm system is more than five years old, now is the time to consider upgrading or updating the equipment.

 

[TimSullivan]

Good suggestions thank you.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I have ADEMCO units at both my house and my business. I'm happy with them. Been using them for at least a dozen or more years.

My alarm calls go to a monitoring station which attemps to reach me, or others on a "call list" before contacting the county sheriff (home) or local police (office).

I pay $5 per month for monitoring. The monitoring service covers smoke/fire continuously 24/7 and break-in when the alarm is turned on, there is also panic mode for when the alarms are not on, but can be activated at any of the keypads in a forced entry situation.

But the concept of an alarm is sort of a last resort, after all the deterances have failed. If you get an alarm, also put stickers on your windows. I have stickers scattered around the house because I have a lot of glass (the west wall has 28 windows & glass doors), there are probably stickers on 10 different doors or windows around the house. I also have a large sticker on one of the garage doors.

Also, use light timers to make your house look inhabited.

Also, keep your landscaping neat and tidy and well trimmed. Don't create hiding places for break-ins. I live far enough from neighbors so that you could throw a chair through the window and the neighbors won't hear the shatter, but I still want the areas that are visible to be accessable to passersby.