Reasons to get a home security system

3 Reasons You Need a Home Security System

January 4, 2021 by

When it comes to protecting your family and valuables, it’s best to be proactive rather than reactive. Getting a home security system in Toronto should be considered a standard in every household. Yet, many people fail to see the need for one until they have been victimized. You may never know that your home is a potential target for burglary until you spot some intruders lurking around during the day or night, and only turning away once they spot the cameras or notice movement. It’s even more scary when you return home from a vacation or night out to encounter an intruder or the aftermath of a burglary.

Suppose you’re considering whether it’s necessary to invest in a home security system, or which security equipment and services will give you the best protection. In that case, these factors may help you arrive at an informed decision:

1. Your home is at risk!

The most recent data indicates that there were 161,291 burglaries in Canada in 2019. This shows that hundreds of homes are broken into every day, putting your loved ones and possessions at risk. These break-ins typically occur through forced entry, via a window, door, and other entries into the house. The rise in residential break-ins is associated with an increase in drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment, and gang activity in the communities. To minimize your risk, law enforcement encourages households to install a home alarm to deter burglary attempts. Even homes with good locking mechanisms are prone to break-ins if there’s no system to alert the authorities of intrusions to, at least, minimize the losses.

The right home security system can give you peace of mind by:

  • Protecting your family. This is the most common reason why households install alarm systems. Knowing that your loved ones are safe and secure from home invasions provides peace of mind.
  • Protecting your home when you’re away. If there’s no one home during the day, then installing an alarm system can help to keep burglars away, or notify you and your monitoring service in the event of a break-in. With 24-hour monitoring, you can even enjoy long holidays since your monitoring service will handle any emergencies when you’re away.
  • Fire protection. With smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, you can have peace of mind that your fire alarm will alert anyone in your home, as well as the monitoring station, so they can notify the right authorities to minimize losses.
  • Protecting the elderly. Many alarm systems today come with a panic button that works even when the alarm is turned off. This is particularly useful for seniors or sick family members who live independently or are left alone for a few hours a day so that they can call for help in case of an emergency without any hassle.

2. Home security systems are effective

Security cameras are the most visible part of any home security system, making them a great deterrent for criminal activity. Most of the homes that report break-ins usually don’t have a security system in place. On the other hand, the mere presence of a sign indicating that your property is under video surveillance (or the actual visibility of one or more cameras) is enough to prevent many burglars from advancing with their plans.

Even if the criminals continue to break into your home, your alarm system will be activated when a door or window is damaged, triggering motion sensors or even smoke detectors if they start a fire. This could scare the intruders and cause them to flee immediately or after causing a little damage, minimizing losses. If you have a security monitoring service, they will be alerted immediately of the intrusion or fire for quick response to minimize the damage. In the event that you’re not subscribed to a security monitoring service, you can receive alerts on your smartphone for any events that trigger your home alarm system. But without alarm monitoring service you will have to notify the authorities yourself – which may not be possible if you don’t see the notification right away because you are busy or travelling.

Moreover, with a video surveillance system, the cameras will capture footage of the intruders that can be reviewed to assist in investigations, arrests, and prosecution of the perpetrators.

3. A home security system is not too costly

One of the main reasons why people hesitate to get a security system is their limited budget. However, a security system typically costs between $100 and $1,000, depending on your choice of equipment. If you subscribe to a security monitoring service, then you may be required to pay a monthly fee of about $40, which translates to $480 per year or $1440 for three years. You may also spend a little more if you hire a professional to install your security system. However, you can recoup some of the cost with lower premiums since a security system can help lower your homeowner’s insurance.

Moreover, it’s easy to upgrade your security system, so you can start with the features that you feel are the most essential to your home and family’s safety. Common considerations include:

  • Monitored or unmonitored home security system. At a monthly fee of about $40, you can have professional monitoring services watching over your home round the clock. In the event of an emergency, they will call you to confirm the incident and then promptly alert the emergency services on your behalf.
  • Choice of equipment. Most of the cost of getting a home security system goes towards purchasing the equipment, which may include indoor and outdoor security cameras, motion sensors, CO2 detectors, doorbell cameras, and so on. You can get a discount from your provider or lease the equipment if that option is available. If you plan on gradually adding more equipment over time, make sure to purchase a suitable control panel or hub that can accommodate all the equipment when it’s completed.
  • Wired or wireless home security system. Wireless security systems are more convenient and easier to install compared to wired systems that require a lot more labour which comes at a higher cost.
  • Smart home automation. You can choose to pay more for smart home automation, which will allow you to connect smart locks, smart lights, and other smart features to your security system, and even create routines that perform multiple functions at the touch of a button. For instance, activating the alarm could also lock all the doors, turn the lights off, and turn down the thermostat temperature simultaneously.

Final Note

Though getting a security system can be a considerable expense for many households, especially the initial cost of purchasing the equipment and installing the system, the investment is still worth it to protect your home, your loved ones, and your valuables. Moreover, you won’t have to incur the cost of replacing stolen property or medical bills from the injuries or emotional trauma from a break-in.

The peace of mind and convenience of integrating your security system with your lights, smart locks, thermostat, and other features in a smart home is also worth the investment. For more information, please contact Canadian Security Professionals.

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