| Few people disagree with the idea that having a home | | | | one to two motion sensors and maybe a smoke |
| alarm system is a wise move, especially if you live in | | | | alarm. If you opt for something more elaborate than |
| an area that is experiencing increasing incidents of | | | | this, you will be required to pay for the equipment and |
| burglary. With monthly monitoring ranging from $30 to | | | | installation cost. All of this can make a free security |
| as much as $47 per month, the cost of a traditional | | | | system a really expensive proposition. What makes |
| home security system has become an issue for many | | | | matters worse is that the hardware is proprietary and |
| families. This article will address money saving | | | | is useless if you try to use it with another security |
| alternatives to the big name home security companies. | | | | company or use it without monitoring. Even after the |
| 1. What Are Your Security Needs? | | | | three years is up, you can not move to another |
| Each family must assess their own security situation | | | | service without encountering another three year |
| and realize that there is no one size fits all answer to | | | | contract and the cycle never ends. |
| this issue. For example, if your home is left vacant a | | | | An alternative to paying monthly monitoring is to utilize |
| large percentage of the day, you have an entirely | | | | a system that calls your cell phone if the system is |
| different security profile than a household where there | | | | tripped. An excellent option would be to combine an |
| is almost always someone present. Other | | | | Internet camera with self monitoring. This allows you to |
| considerations such as past burglaries at your location | | | | go online and see what is happening at your home |
| or in your neighborhood, known medical issues that | | | | before you call the police. A decent home camera that |
| may require emergency medical assistance, and other | | | | can be set up in a few minutes should cost no more |
| unique considerations should all be factors in your | | | | than $100. If you use an iPhone or other smart phone |
| decision. | | | | device, you can check on your home throughout the |
| 2. Is A Monitored System Really Necessary? | | | | day even without access to a computer. Additionally, |
| The greatest sales point of the major home security | | | | you may have a neighbor you can call on if receive |
| systems is off site monitoring. This is featured in | | | | notice of an alarm. Many homeowners form groups |
| almost every ad they run on TV. Monthly monitoring | | | | such as a Neighborhood Watch for this purpose. |
| fees are principally where the major home security | | | | 3. Other Low Cost Security Measures |
| firms make their money. Monitoring can have its own | | | | Motion activated exterior lights |
| problems, however, such as slow response in some | | | | Dead-bolt locks |
| cases, and the possibility of being fined by your | | | | Door Viewer (also known as a peep hole) |
| municipality if you have a false alarm. In many areas | | | | Timers to turn interior lights on and off while you are |
| fines can be from $50 to $200 if the police are called | | | | away |
| out by your security company and it turns out there is | | | | Security System Sign (you can buy these for about |
| no security breach. | | | | $10 online) |
| The Free Security System Pitch | | | | Home security is important, no question about it; |
| The way that most security contracts are structured | | | | however, it's important to recognize that there are |
| is that you get a basic security system for free if you | | | | ways around spending thousands for an installation |
| sign an agreement for three years or more of | | | | and associated monitoring costs to help protect you |
| monitoring. Keep in mind that this is usually a very basic | | | | and your family. |
| set up that would only provide two door sensors and | | | | |