If you want to save money on home security, then the best way to do this would be for you to cut out all of the unnecessary add-ons. While you do need the essential components of a security system, you don’t need to pay for all of the additional extras. It’s usually these extras that add a great deal of expense to your package too, so by being aware of them, you may be able to save yourself a small fortune.
What’s Necessary with a System?
When buying a home security system, you need to look at the following as being essential:
- Door and window sensors
- Glass break sensors
- Central control panels
- Window decals
- Smart applications
- Doorbell cameras
- Outdoor camera
- Motion Lights
One thing to remember is that if you have a door and a window sensor, there’s a good chance you don’t need to have a window sensor in every single room. You probably don’t need several outdoor cameras either, and if you do opt for the outdoor camera, you can opt to have it in black and white over color. Finally, one major question you need to ask yourself when the time comes for you to ask yourself is if you need it professionally installed, or whether you can get away with a DIY system.
Shop Around
Another thing you need to do is make sure you shop around. It’s imperative that you get the best prices, and that you understand how prices as a whole can vary depending on the brand or the model. If you know that you want an outdoor camera then there is nothing wrong with that, but at the same time, you can probably search Amazon to see what’s available. You can even get camera kits that you pay for by the sensor. You can also pay for window kits by the sensor, so be sure to keep things like this in mind.
Watch for Discounts
Watch for special pricing, deals and discounts. In addition to the best prices, customers should always be wary of what discounts are out there so you can get the best deal. Monitoring companies to see if they can give you a prepayment discount if you pay for a year’s worth of monitoring can be good if you are disabled, or a senior citizen.
Lowering your Home Insurance
You can also look to see if it is possible to lower your home insurance by taking out a home security system. Having a home security system is often the best way for you to get a discount when the time comes for you to get the system you’re looking for. Check with your provider first to see if you can take advantage of any good deals and weigh up the cost savings versus the price of your system. Things like this are often overlooked, but if you take them into account then you will soon find that you can get the system for cheaper than you might think. By doing this, you can also get a better system than you might be able to afford because the cost savings will compensate for some of the steeper price tag.
Monitoring
Finally, you need to give some thought to whether or not you are going to get your system professionally monitored or whether you need a solid DIY system. DIY systems are good because they work through smartphone apps. If someone opens the door while the system is armed then you can set it so your smartphone makes a loud beeping sound. You may also find that the alarm at your home sounds too, making a loud noise that will alert your neighbors. With that being said, it won’t come with features, such as calling your local police department. If you have a very close-knit neighborhood, however, things like this can be very beneficial to your safety as a whole.
If you choose to have a monitored system then this can be a good investment. The cost can vary quite a lot per month, so try and ma[ke sure you opt for an affordable monitoring service where possible. Companies often offer different tiers too, so give thought to this. A lot of people overlook their contracts when taking out monitoring, as some providers offer a yearly contract that renews every year. One downside to this is that it will become a bit of an issue if you ever decide to sell your home. If you have a year left on your contract then you may find yourself paying high fees as a result.
Don’t Get Stuck on Brand Names
If possible you need to avoid getting stuck on brand names. If you do then you can save a great deal of money. Brands spend a lot of money on advertising and they do this to try and get you in at the higher price point. “No name” products can save you a small fortune because you don’t have to invest as much in marketing or PR. When paying for a security system, a lot of your money will go into the website interface and the smartphone app. The real cost isn’t the purchase price either, it’s the tie-in price that you pay to stay as part of the system, it’s also for cloud storage that you will pay monthly. Some companies will charge you a fee for the camera too and you will pay more for this if you opt for a brand name.
If you can keep things like this in mind when the time comes for you to invest in a home security system then your life will become much easier. You may also find that you can make solid decisions based on the features you need rather than the features you think would be useful. If you don’t want to get caught up with sales tactics, make a list of your essentials before you go ahead and start browsing.
