When you’re considering getting a security system for your home or business, you might be scared off by a monthly fee or service charge for monitoring. You’ll ask yourself “Do I really need monitoring for a security system? Won’t the alarm system scare away burglars?”
Well, once you get a security system, you may have signs and stickers on the property and a siren when the alarm is triggered, but what if that’s not enough? With 24/7 monitoring, you can have peace of mind knowing that you will be notified and the police or fire department can immediately be called should a problem arise.
1. Relying on stickers, signs, your siren, and neighbors is risky
Many burglars will ignore security system signs and stickers, taking a chance that the system is not armed or monitored. And while a security system siren is loud when you’re inside, but it may not scare off a burglar. The intruder may still do a quick sweep.
Most security systems don’t have external sirens, so your neighbors may not hear it when your siren goes off. Even if your neighbors can hear when your siren sounds, they would have to be home when the alarm is triggered (the most common time for burglaries is between 9am—3pm, when most people are out of the house) and contact you or the police. By that time, a burglar could easily have come and gone.
2. You may be unable to act on an alarm
There are several reasons why you may be unable to act on an alarm — you were listening to loud music or using headphones, you were asleep, or you were already overcome by carbon monoxide or smoke. Even if your system is set to notify you when an alarm is triggered, you need to have your phone on, within cell range, notice the alert, and act on the alert. There’s a lot of steps where something could go wrong.
3. A response center is ready 24/7/365
No matter where you are or what time it is, a monitored security system will signal the response center in the case of an alarm. They will use the 2-call verification to notify you and emergency personnel when necessary, depending on what sensors/detectors were triggered.
4. Insurance discounts
Many insurance companies, such as Allstate and Geico, may give you a discount on your homeowner’s insurance when you install a security system. This discount can range from 5-20% off, but you may be eligible only if you have a monitored system.
With a non-monitored security system, anytime you leave your house, you leave it vulnerable, hoping that the alarm alone will scare away intruders or that your neighbors might call the police. You’ll save on monthly monitoring/service fees, but how much is peace of mind worth to you?