It’s easy to become overwhelmed when considering what kind of home security system will best fit your needs. The system that is right for you will depend largly on how much you want to invest in the equipment and subsequent subscription fees and how “hands on” (or off) you would like to be.
If you know electronics and would like to go the most cost effective route, there are many camera/dvr packages available for purchase. Two benefits of this type of sysem are a.) one single up front cost for the system itself and b.) these systems run on a loop and as long as they are set correctly, they are always recording. The likelyhood of catching suspicious or illegal behavior is very good. The downside is that you do need to understand how to install, set up, and run the system. The good news is that there are many wireless versions available that make installation easy. One example of these systems are the Annke 3K Lite Security Camera System. This particular system is wired so it would requre some installation know-how. To make installation easier, a wireless option such as this Firstrend package might be a good option for you.
If you feel as though you can handle installing a wireless system but would rather let an outside security company do your monitoring for a monthly subscription fee, a company like Ring, Blink, or SimplySafe might work best for you. These systems are easy to install and you can choose the type of monitoring subscription will fit your needs.
If you are looking for something more hand-off and you are willing to pay for the convienence, a professionally installed system would be the best choice. There are several options here. Companies with local offices in Fort Dodge such as Per Mar, Iowa Fire Control, and Modern Sound Engineering would be a great option. Their professionals walk with you from start to finish to find the system that best fits your needs.
If you chose to invest in a security system, don’t forget to call your insurance company and let them know what you have. Many insurance companies will offer discounts on your homeowners policy for having taken steps to minimize the risk of being burglarized.
Regardless of what type of system you chose, any protection is better than none. This includes leading a potential burgler to believe you have a security system. Placing security signs in your yard and putting stickers in your windows whether or not you have a security system will make a burgler think twice about breaking into your home. They will also think twice if they see a sign for a vicious dog.
We’ve covered ways to protect you home from invaders. In the next series we will be talking about how to protect your identity. See you next week!
