Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

curlysue Posted: Jun 30, 2003 10:08 AM

Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

This is one of my projects my FI is giving me :o)

Anniegrl Posted: Jun 30, 2003 10:21 AM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

We use ADT in our townhouse. It's around $35/month and we have our front door, front window, and back door wired. It's pretty easy to use. It hooks up to your phone line so that if someone breaks in, it'll alert the police. Only problem with that is the burglar can cut your phone line. The alarm will still sound though, and it's really loud. It has a battery backup too in case your power goes out.
The keypad also has a silent alarm, and a fire department and police department quick key.

curlysue Posted: Jun 30, 2003 10:36 AM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

I'm currently looking at The Slomin's Shield. Have you looked at them before choosing ADT? ADT and Slomin's are the only two I have heard of.

Anniegrl Posted: Jun 30, 2003 10:46 AM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

No - we went with ADT because they kept sending us these darn flyers in the mail like every week! FH finally gave them a call and he was able to get them to give us free installation (which is normally like $100). I think he had to sign a 3 year contract though.

StayandJohn Posted: Jun 30, 2003 10:59 AM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

We have Brinks. The installation was $300 (we went with an upgrade package), with 2 keypads and monthly monitoring is $27.99.

michele31 Posted: Jun 30, 2003 11:18 AM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

I use a local, rather than National company. I still have the central station monitoring, but I paid a lot less for the install and I told them upfront that my best friend's husband can do the hook ups of my other enterance points for me (at no charge, he used to do this for a living). And they had no problem with me adding on windows, doors later on done by other person.
Ask
-how much do I get at the install and what is the price for that. (usually they give you 2 doors and a motion dector. If you have a pet or use your hallway during the night DO NOT get the motion detector. It will go off ALL the time! And even the new 'pet' sensors still go off frequently.)
-what is the monthly cost and do I pay it quarterly or monthly?
-how long is the contract for. what are the penalties if I want to cancel.
-what is your response time to an alarm
-is there an emergency code that I can put into the alarm to silence it, but still have the police come? (this is important in case someone ever threatened to hurt you if you did not turn the alarm off)

Karen H Posted: Jun 30, 2003 08:08 PM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

Ask about systems that rely on a radio signal instead of phone lines, that way if your phone line is cut the alarm still goes off. Also, you can tie in fire detection.

Check with your insurance company too, to see how it will drop your rates, that will help offset the monitoring fees.

mlp924 Posted: Jun 30, 2003 08:30 PM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

I use Stop alarm company in Levittown. I have every door and window wired as well as glass sensors. I am not sure what installation was but I pay $56 quarterly.

butterfly20 Posted: Jun 30, 2003 11:29 PM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

wow.. cheaper than I though... I thought it was $250 for three months or something...

my old neighbors actually were robbed...had an alarm system but they cut the phone lines... this was years ago... im glad the tecnology improved

lorimari Posted: Jun 30, 2003 11:38 PM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

Wow - this is a great thread! I just bought a house and didn't even think of an alarm system.

Thanks for posting ladies!!!

LnP2003 Posted: Jul 01, 2003 12:06 AM

Re: Searching for Security System for our new home? What to look for who do you use?

as soon as the house is done, that is the next thing that Pete & I are doing.... living right on the corner of Old Country Road isn't something that settles well with either one of us.....