First time home owner looking to get the best bang for my buck with a home security system. I know a lot of people have Security Solutions or ADT and that works well, but I know there are also some DIY systems out there (Ring, SimpliSafe, etc). Our house is a pretty standard starter home, one story with three bedrooms and less than 2,000 square feet. Just looking for something effective and also affordable. Any tips would be appreciated.
OT Home Security Systems
- Thread starter MSUDC11
- Start date
If you go with a brinks/adt type company
If they try to get you to pay for anything install/equipment related, say no, and they’ll say ok. Including monitoring through a cell phone signal. They make their money on the monthly monitoring fee. Also, I’ve had monitoring service in 3 different states with 3 different companies, and all were about $35-40/month, including being monitored through cell signal. They all tried to say monitoring starts around $70 plus additional fees if you don’t have a land line.
If they try to get you to pay for anything install/equipment related, say no, and they’ll say ok. Including monitoring through a cell phone signal. They make their money on the monthly monitoring fee. Also, I’ve had monitoring service in 3 different states with 3 different companies, and all were about $35-40/month, including being monitored through cell signal. They all tried to say monitoring starts around $70 plus additional fees if you don’t have a land line.
I've had Brinks & ADT in the past and I just switched to Ring a few months back. Cost me 10$ a month for monitoring and I setup my house in less than an hour. Did every window/door and installed a Ring Video Doorbell also. Prime Day had the best deal on the systems but if you're a Costco member you can still get a decent deal on a starter kit and then order any extra sensors via amazon. I would recommend Ring, Simplisafe, or Nest because of the 'smart home' capabilities and interface.
SimpliSafe is very easy to install and is relatively cheap once you buy the equipment. I want to think it is around $15-25 a month for the monitoring service. We have the base package with a sensor at every door and one motion detector inside the house. You can arm it as home and away (the only difference is the motion detector is inactive when set to home)
No to ADT. I used to work for Bart at Security Solutions. I also went to church with Clark Pittman from Southern Alarm. Both are honest guys and will take care of you if you go that route.
I'm not in the area anymore. I put my own together with Smartthings and I love it. I don't have monitoring, but everything comes to my phone. More control than a commercial system. Cheap and easily expandable.
I'm not in the area anymore. I put my own together with Smartthings and I love it. I don't have monitoring, but everything comes to my phone. More control than a commercial system. Cheap and easily expandable.
I have a ring doorbell and a ring spotlight. I also have two $25 Wyze cameras. The Wyze cameras have as good or better image quality as the ring cameras and there in no monthly fee. The Wyze camera phone app is also good. Buy one Wyze camera and see how you like it. It's only $25 and you can always find a use for it if doesn't meet your needs. The outdoor mounts are $9 each.
https://www.amazon.com/Wyze-Indoor-...YD3KWGP7Z2VCZ68QBJM4&qid=1568218045&s=gateway
https://www.amazon.com/Wyze-Indoor-...YD3KWGP7Z2VCZ68QBJM4&qid=1568218045&s=gateway
Whatever you get, try to find an extremely loud siren to go with the monitoring. Ring has some videos that are outstanding. An audible deterrent will send 99% of criminals running.
You gotta let those crooks know you mean business & get a fully-trained tactical Belgian Malinois. The front-end cost for Astra here is not modest but maybe she could do double duty as a babysitter?
https://protectiondogsplus.com/team/astra-2/
https://protectiondogsplus.com/team/astra-2/
Get both an indoor siren and an outdoor (attic) siren.
Local companies or authorized dealers of a national company (ADT, etc) make their money by installing a "free" basic system for you, so long as you sign a contract for monitoring for about 3 years. Just do the math and make sure you're getting what you want - $40/mo for monitoring = almost $1500 after 3 years. The "free" system they sell you costs maybe $100, then they sell your contract to the monitoring service for their profit.
Consider whether you really want to pay for monitoring. Whichever you choose, make sure you get a couple of signs and plenty of window stickers - those are the front line of deterrent.
Local companies or authorized dealers of a national company (ADT, etc) make their money by installing a "free" basic system for you, so long as you sign a contract for monitoring for about 3 years. Just do the math and make sure you're getting what you want - $40/mo for monitoring = almost $1500 after 3 years. The "free" system they sell you costs maybe $100, then they sell your contract to the monitoring service for their profit.
Consider whether you really want to pay for monitoring. Whichever you choose, make sure you get a couple of signs and plenty of window stickers - those are the front line of deterrent.
I went with none.
after the last two trips to Omaha and the two trips to the women's final four, I sold everything I owned. if anyone wants to break in and leave me some stuff, I welcome it.
after the last two trips to Omaha and the two trips to the women's final four, I sold everything I owned. if anyone wants to break in and leave me some stuff, I welcome it.
