Is There Value to Having a Home Security System?

It is thought that there are about 36 million security systems installed in the US, and of this number, half are in homes. The revenue generated by the industry as a whole is approaching $30 billion. A lot of people think their homes are safe against burglars. This may be true if the police response times were better.

It has been reported in various home security reviews magazines that in big cities, such as New York, Chicago and Atlanta, police response time is up to 45 minutes, however, in smaller cities the response time is marginally better, it is about eight minutes. Regardless of whether the home security system is installed in a big city or small, chances of nabbing the thief are small.

So, is a home security system worth having? When the systems are thoroughly investigated, the consensus is, yes they are. It so turns out that many people are installing the systems to get features which are beyond the scope of eliminating burglaries, things like fire alarms and the ability to see what is going on in the home.

When the system is looked at strictly as an exercise in economics, things begin to look different. The average home insurance premium will be discounted by 20% if an alarm system is installed. The average savings that a homeowner in the US can expect is $225.00. Statistically, a home that is protected can expect a loss to a thief of $3,300 compared to $5,300 in a home that is not protected. This is a difference of $2,000. When added to the savings from the insurance, one can expect a savings of $2,225 in the event they suffer from a break-in. If the monitoring service costs $100 a month, that is a net savings of over $1,000 a year.

The same survey showed that in neighborhoods where a large percentage of the homes were protected with a security system, the incidence of robbery decreased in direct proportion to the increase in alarm density. Nothing is perfect, but a home security system has benefits that go beyond eliminating theft, it provides peace of mind.

Best Home Security: Systems, Reviews and Advice

For the best home security for yourself and your family, there are a lot of things you need to take into mind to know what the right system needs to include so that it's effective. Everything depends on the reviews of the brand, as well as of the company that will help you install it and monitor any emergencies. There needs to be immediate response to any kind of carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, floods, break-ins and theft.

In order for you to pick the best home alarm systems that satisfy your needs and those of your household, you need to pay attention to what kind of offers each alarm system has and what's the best for you: 1. Ask friends and neighbors around you about what home alarm system they use. Chances are that they use a system that is very efficient for the entire community you're in. 2. Take all the information and names you have gathered and research them online to find out about their offers and backgrounds 3. Use comparison sites to see which companies have the best offers and prices for you and your household 4. Finally, make sure you review how secure the company is and if there were ever any problems in the past with the safety they provide

Once you make your decision, look even further into the company you chose for the best home security reviews. Make sure they have the latest trends and security gadgets available for your protection. Learn how quick their response time is to any kind of emergency. Find out how long they have been in business--the longer a company has been around, then there is more information to find out about them and they are much more reliable considering the years they've been in the industry.

For a more comprehensive review on home security systems click here.

How to Identify Security Risks in Your Home

If you have not had your home broken into, consider yourself fortunate. The statistics are not in your favor. If you have had your home broken into, you are fully aware of the feeling of being violated it makes you literally sick to your stomach. Either way, it doesn't have to happen once or once again. You can create a plan to better guard your home. Even though no home security monitoring system is foolproof, if you take sufficient precautions, you can at least dissuade the most determined criminal. Most home break-ins are done by amateurs, simply taking advantage of easy pickings.

Your first step in guarding your property is to know it well. Survey your property looking for the obvious risks such as broken windows that are easy to enter and those that have been left unlocked, trees that may be too easy to climb to get to the second floor, barriers that may be too low, and so on. Are there areas in which a person can hide, especially near the windows? When a potential thief has time to break in, he often can, regardless of the home security camera systems you have. If you have areas like this, then either trim the foliage or put additional security measures in place such as a window grille. Fencing your yard will help in deterring a criminal, however a privacy fence gives just as much privacy to the burglar as it does to you.

Burglars are after high value items that are easy to remove from the home. Computers, cash, jewelry and cameras are all favourites – Avoid having items like these visible from the window. Don't leave them in view and make it a habit to close the blinds or drapes when you leave the house. As the old saying goes "out of sight - out of mind".

There are neighbourhoods, no matter how nice, that are more prone to break-ins than others. If your home backs on to the woods or a ravine, or is close to a subway station, you are an easier target. Having a corner lot is riskier than having a lot with only one frontage as there is more space for the thief to escape. Don't let these obstacles stand in your way of buying the house you want, just bear them in mind when you design your security plan and install the necessary apparatus to cover the risky areas.

As most home security systems reviews say, being aware of your surroundings is often the best security. Get to know your neighbors, get involved with a neighborhood watch and call a recognized security company to assist you with your analysis.