Do you use home security?

Xstatic3333 · June 2014

Our *knock on wood until we get our closing date* new house is going to be in a city. We're in a very good neighborhood in our city, but it's still a city and less-safe neighborhoods can be found less than a mile away in some directions (in our particular city, the boundaries between neighborhoods are quite abrupt). We did notice that many of the other homes in our neighborhood have "protected by ADT" signs, so I've been spending some time today on my super-lazy Saturday trying to research home security options and see if it's something we should look into. I've never been particularly paranoid about break-ins, and I grew up in a (different) city without any home security-but, there were pretty frequent break-ins in my parents' neighborhood, so I know that a "safe" neighborhood feeling is no guarantee that a break-in won't happen.

I'm finding that it's pretty hard to get any sort of good pricing or detailed information online without calling a rep first (which I don't want to do until I know what I want a bit more) so I thought I'd ask you all for your opinions. If you have a home security system, which company do you use? Have you found it worth the money? I really don't think we'd want anything too fancy, maybe just an automatic call to police or an alarm center if someone breaks a window or door while we're away or in bed. The ADT website seems to be pushing features like video and remote climate control, which is probably what they want you to talk to rep about so you can get upsold. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

mana8503 · June 2014

We have Guardian which was our only choice when we built our house. We have sensors on our doors, egress window in the basement and a motion sensor in the front room. We have a voice box in our bedroom so if they call in I don't have to go down stairs. We also have a fire alarm and carbondioxide detector hooked in so fire department is called if they go off.

We pay $43/Mon. I think it's worth it. I know it's a piece of mind for my husband. He works nights and it's comforting to him to know I'm safe.

I should add were kinda in the country but with a lot of crime. We're between Philly and Baltimore so lots of drugs, etc.

als1982 · June 2014

I bought our current home about five years ago as a single woman, and had a basic system installed when I first moved in. It really didn't make me feel any more or less safe, so I got rid of it but kept the window stickers and yard signs. We don't live in a high crime area, but I'm a firm believer there are crazies everywhere, even in the 'burbs. If someone wants in, they're going to get in, system or no.

Wulfgar · June 2014

I lived in an apartment that had an alarm system that was part of the rental price. I never used it in the entire time I was there.

Other people that I know have used them especially in really bad neighborhoods.

hoffse · June 2014

Another suggestion is to put some lights that can be seen from the street on a timer. My parents did this years ago, and the light in the kitchen/breakfast room (which can be seen from the street) goes on every 90 minutes or so, whether they are there or not. If anybody was watching the house from the street it would look like somebody was home.

You can turn the light on manually too of course.

lifeonthehill · June 2014

Hoffse had the same idea as me.

I live in Maine. We have never even locked our door at night let alone an alarm system. The lights on a timer was something my neighbors did growing up.

HoneyBee973 · June 2014

We never used one, and don't think we will.

When we go away, no matter how long, 2 days or a week, we always leave one of the lights on in the house. But I think that's more for us, so when we get home late, we can see when we walk into the house.

sillygoosegirl · June 2014

No, but here is a sign on the front porch and stickers in the windows claiming we have an alarm system. The previous owners had a security system, but we took it out. Frankly, I don't think I'd remember to arm/disarm the system (the only reason we remember to lock the doors is that we have them set to lock automatically behind us), and without that, I think they are basically useless.

Xstatic3333 · June 2014

Thanks all. I think I'm putting this in the "not a high priority" category for now. I tend to agree with @als1982‌ that if someone really wants in, they'll find a way. I do think light timers for trips are a good idea. Something else my parents do when they travel is ask their neighbor to park in the driveway sometimes.

jtmh2012 · June 2014

I had the ADT stickers on my windows from a prior owner. Still didn't stop somebody from breaking in the back window and taking a walk around the house.

Erikan73 · June 2014

We have AT&T Digital Life. After what looks like an attempted break in on our patio screen door last summer & then having someone going through our mail to steal our credit card information we decided to get a system. AT&T is still new to the market & they are still working out some of their kinks, but we've been happy. What we like is being able to control things from our smart phones & computers while away from the house. We did install keypads to our maindoor that we are able to program several different codes in & when the code is entered, the alarm system is automatically disarmed. Our parents each have their own code as does our dog sitter. What's great is that we can program them to be active for only a certain period of time so our dog sitter's code is deactivated automatically when we return from vacation. We did go a little overboard and that did drive up the price. We have 3 outdoor cameras, smoke/co alarm, thermostat, two keybapds, five window/door sendors, 2 lights that come on when alarm is disarmed so that you don't walk into an empty house & then 1 light that is on a timer. All of these things can be controlled from a computer or our smartphone.

jessica490 · June 2014

We live in a condo which feels pretty safe to me right now. If we go on vacation we let our trusted neighbor know to keep an eye on the place. We also use the timers as well. Do I still get paranoid that someone will break in? Sometimes, yes because you just never know. We run an AC at night and I also worry that if someone breaks in we wouldn't be able to hear it over the loud AC.

I always said that if we got a house I would get an alarm system, but I'm just not sure I'd want to pay the money for one...but it just depended on the location and if I felt safe and all that. H keep a louie bat by the bed and we have our ankle biting dog as well. I'd prefer to just get a pistol permit

brij2006 · June 2014

The previous owners of our house had an ADT system installed. When we bought the house ADT offered us 1 year of free service. It was horrible. The sensors would never match up, I spent many lunch breaks at home meeting with the ADT service tech to get them fixed, and it would go off randomly throughout the day and night. We ended up calling ADT after 6 months and got it cancelled. It's still installed, but we don't use it. We still have the sign up in our yard though.

Also check with your homeowners insurance. Sometimes there's a big discount for it if you live in a larger city. We live in the sticks, so the discount was $50/year and the cost was $300/year to keep it. It wasn't worth it to us, but might be to others who live in an area with a higher crime rate.

Now we just have a dog. Our town has low crime rate, but we're not too far off the interstate from Chicago. So unfortunately there are people who will come from Chicago and set up meth labs in our town of 800 people. We've had someone try to break into our house through the living room window, and our 5 year old collie scared them away. She isn't vicious, but she packs a mean bark that seems to deter thieves.

juliebeannn · June 2014

The previous owner had a system on the house. We haven't activated it yet. Not sure we will. All the doors and windows have sensors that work great, and give me a little peace of mind when the hubs is working overnight and I'm by myself (he's a firefighter).

At first, I wanted to hook up the security system but after living in the house for 2 months now, I think we'll forgo activation. With the sensors and timers in the living room...plus a cop as a neighbor, I think that's enough to make me feel safe.

smbenevides1989 · June 2014

I have an alarm system in our home. We live in the sticks, so its not like there would be any issues regarding break ins. Not only was this for piece of mind both at night and during the day, its nice to feel safe knowing the police will be at the door in no less than 5 minutes. The alarm system in our home is loud you can hear it down the street if it goes off. My dad gets a phone call making sure it wasn't an accident (like wrong pin number, etc) and it also calls the fire department in case of a fire. We have window sensors and door sensors and an eye in the open space of the home. When we go on vacation, we call the alarm company and notify them in case of an issue while we are away. Definitely keeps our heads sane.

formerlyGDaisy09 · June 2014

We don't have an alarm system, most of the time I feel pretty safe. our Dalmatian is a good alert dog and has a pretty scary growel/bark (then she turns into wiggles and kisses as soon as someone comes in the door), I think she would scare most off.

for when you're home at night I've heard suggestions to keep you car keys near your bed...if you get spooked you can always press the panic button to draw attention to your house...we live in a residentila neighborhood and our neighbors are pretty close.

MommyLiberty5013 · July 2014

Keeping your home well-lit, well-maintained, and keeping bushes away from windows and doors will prevent your home from being victimized. Also, after holidays don't put out the boxes/cartons of valuable electronics in the trash pile. Take the boxes elsewhere for recycling.

We don't have a system. We have a dog and a 12 gauge. ;o)

Meeshe · July 2014

We live in the city and we have an alarm system. I would check local companies too, not just ADT and the like. Our is a local to our city system. The system was actually installed by a prior owner and is pretty involved, alarms on each window and door, separate system for the detached garage, motion detectors, etc. We absolutely use it. In my experience you either pay a lot upfront for the system, and have lower monthly fees, or you pay higher fees and get a free system, etc. It was to our benefit that a previous owner paid a lot and for such an extensive system we pay $30/month. I also like the active fire monitoring. If something sets off the system, they call us, if we don't answer or can't/don't give the right passcode police are sent out. I like having it, makes me feel safer. We do get a discount on our homeowners insurance for it.

formerlyGDaisy09 · July 2014

along the same lines, H and I relpaced our 25 year old flood light with a 270 degree motion sensor flood light, can't get to the front door without activating the light

FabulousMrs.P · July 2014

We have an alarm system but we went with a local company. We have window and door sensors as well as beams in the living room and kitchen. While we don't live in a high crime neighborhood, I just feel safer knowing that I can set the alarm at night...especially since my DH is away a lot on the weekends. Also, it will call the fire department if it detects fire. We pay $30 a month for the moitoring. I can't remember how much we spent initially to install the alarm as it was about 7 years ago.

vlagrl29 · July 2014

Porch light is on every night all night and our mini schnauzer work well for us

Do you use home security?

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