Ways To Protect Your Montgomery AL Home
Because more and more Montgomery AL homes are being burglarized, especially in the recent quest for gold items, more and more homeowners are taking steps to protect their homes and their families. According to the Insurance Information Institute, intruders will generally bypass your residence if they would be forced to work in the light, have to take more than four or five minutes to break in, or if noise will be a factor.
Although 80% of homeowners with burglar alarms rated them rated them as effective, the financial cost for this peace of mind is not inexpensive. Consumer Reports magazine says the owner of a Montgomery AL home should expect to pay $1-$2 per square foot and at least $25 monthly for monitoring. Start-up expenses also need to be investigated. Before purchasing or leasing any system or monitoring service, make sure that you get multiple quotes, know the type that is best for your house, and check the contract for specifics concerning early cancellation fees and company liability limits. You can also read online reviews and ask for references for present and past owners. Homesecurity.com offers tips on assessing types of systems, choosing what is best for your home, and comparing the prices of alarm companies.
The most effective security system is actually the least expensive--the monitored burglar alarm. The following list summarizes some options along with the pros and cons of each.
- Wireless home security system: inexpensive, runs on batteries and will alert you to fire and gas emergencies as well as burglaries. Needs to be monitored to keep the batteries charged; if it does not call authorities, it may not be effective against burglary in rural areas.
- Home burglar alarm system: makes a lot of noise letting neighbors know to call authorities. Drawback: if neighbors are at work at the same time you are, there may be no one there to call for you. Also, burglars know how to disarm these and go on about their behavior.
- Home security camera: lets you see what is going on at your Montgomery AL home from work as long as you have access to a computer. Drawback: the system can be expensive, and if you are supposed to be working, you may not have the time to pay attention to your home.
- Motion Detector (Lights) Alarm with Telephone dialer: this alarm connects to a telephone socket and will automatically dial a preset number if motion is detected within 20 feet. It will also set off a 125 decibel siren, although you can select the silent alarm option. The only drawback to this one is that you have to remember to set the alarm when you leave the house. This is the cheapest and most effective option, especially when combined with door and window contact sensors.
- Driveway alert: uses a weather-proof, infrared motion detector that sends a signal to a base unit located inside the house. The base unit then sets off an alarm. Drawback: A smart crook probably won’t come down the driveway.
- Door and window contact magnets: sensors featuring a magnetic seal that detects movement if a door or window is disturbed. Not particularly effective by themselves, but very effective when installed as part of a monitored system.
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