At face value, it’s a pretty simple question. The problem is, no two homes and no two needs are exactly the same.

You see it all the time, systems being advertised for $99, or even free. Understand this: These systems, though possibly offering modern bells and whistles like control over the internet, offer limited security protection. The typical package offers the control panel and keypad (often the same unit), a siren, 3 door/window sensors and a motion detector. That system may be just what you need. If you live in a small second floor condo with 2 doors and no access to the windows from the ground. You protect your vulnerable openings and have a motion detector for back up detection in the unlikely chance that someone breaks in through a hard to access window.

If you live in a townhouse or house with first floor windows, that more than likely is not enough points of detection to properly secure your home. Think about it – you put sensors on the front door, door to the garage, and the sliding door out back, and you have a motion detector and you think you are secure. Are you? Not as secure as you may think. All the windows on the first floor are still vulnerable to break in. But you may be thinking, I have a motion detector. Think about it, you can’t use the motion detector when you are home because it cannot tell the difference between you and an intruder. Your home becomes vulnerable when you need the security the most – when you are home. So you should add sensors that detect if the windows are open on all first floor and basement windows.

Proper protection doesn’t stop there. There may be some more vulnerable windows, perhaps over an easily accessible roof or landing on the second floor. Probably not all 2nd floor windows will be vulnerable but probably two or three will. If you choose this level of protection, you can count on your alarm responding properly if an intruder opens a window or door to gain entry when you are home.

Let’s say the total amount of windows is 10. A system of that size with 10 window sensors, 3 door sensors and a motion detector will cost you approximately $950. More than free or $99, but you will have adequate protection and a increased in the likelihood that your alarm system will be effective in preventing a break in.

Now let’s talk about 2 different types of intruders that security systems can protect you from. Fire and carbon monoxide. If your house has existing smoke alarms that are up to code, we would recommend 1 smoke detector per floor connected to the alarm as supplemental protection. The big advantage is that the fire department would be notified in the case of a fire and you would no longer have to count on your neighbors seeing smoke and flame and calling the authorities. In the same house, with three levels, those three smoke detectors would add $375 to the price.

Carbon Monoxide detectors should be placed within 10 feet from the opening to bedrooms. Lets assume 1 CO detector is all you need in this house. It would add $125 to the price.

Don’t worry about drilling holes throughout the house to make the system work, all devices are wireless. They operate on batteries (usually lithium for long life) and transmit via secure radio signals to the control panel. With this system you still need 1 wire for power to the control panel/keypad. The control unit also has a built in cellular communicator so you don’t have to worry about having home telephone service.

So the grand total for the equipment for a home with 3 doors, 10 windows, 1 motion detector, 3 smoke detectors detectors, 1 carbon monoxide detector and a full color graphic keypad/control panel would be $1,450. These prices include installation.

There is another component to the price and that is central station monitoring. Not all monitoring is created equal and that will be the topic of the next post.

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