Should you consider a home security system? Maybe there's been a string of robberies in your area. Maybe you've recently come into the possession of a few priceless valuables. Or maybe you just decided that a double lock on your door wasn't secure enough. You need a little more than that. Whatever your motivation, you're ready to install a security system. Security systems—there are so many of them. What is a person hungry for a secure home to do? Contact the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) or your state burglar and fire alarm association and request a list of companies in your area which are a member. Call several of these companies, and confirm that their employees are trained and certified by the NBFAA. Do the companies have appropriate licensing? Do they screen their prospective employees before hiring? After you've narrowed it to a few companies, request the name of the person who will call on you, and make sure he arrives when all members of your household are there. When he gets there, ask for company I.D. Ask for an inspection, recommendation, and a quote—all in writing. Compare different price quotes and packages. A security system's price depends on how sophisticated it is. One of the good ones is the full-perimeter system, which has a series of sensors that detect when a door or window is opened, broken, or messed with. When a detector is tripped, an alarm sounds, and if the security system is comes with off-site monitoring, it will also notify local police. A number of other security systems protect you if someone makes it through your perimeter system and enters your home. There are motion detectors, which sense significant movements within a certain range with infrared beams (these should be placed in central hallway, such as the main hallway or stairway), and floor sensors which, by the weight of her footsteps, can detect an intruder. Window or door screen wires activate if the screen is removed or cut away from the frame. Panic buttons can be placed within reach and can be activated if you suspect your home is being broken into—panic buttons also come as necklaces. Neat, eh? But your security system is only as good as the monitoring service. Basically all companies monitor 24 hours a day, but there are other factors you should consider. Security systems are monitored via the phone line, but that could be disabled by the intruder, and even by bad weather, so it's a good idea to find a monitoring company that offers cellular or radio back-up should the traditional phone system go down. Find a company that offers annual maintenance, and also make sure your company signals your system to test it around once a day, and that the company responds when the system fails to. But there are steps for your safety which you can take that go beyond your security system, and even without purchasing one. If you don't want a security system, pretend you do. Get stickers that claim you are protected by such-and-such security and place them on your doors and windows. Acquire a Beware of Dog sign, whether you have a dog or not. Install dead bolt locks, and replace old doors with doors made of metal or hard wood. Don't surround your house and windows with trees and bushes. Make sure any sliding glass doors you possess have proper locks and can't be lifted out of their frames from outside. Get rid of the chain on your door and replace it with a peephole. And, finally, know your area! The best indication of how far you should go in regards to installing a security system is whether you are in a low or high crime area, whether your home is more accessible to burglary (for example, lower level apartments are more likely to be hit than those on higher floors), and so on. Know your situation, know your options, and protect yourself, your family, and your possessions Need help locating a Home Security Store Learn how to prevent Identity Theft and Laptop Computer Theft.
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