Home security system?

[dmann]

My sis and BIL are looking into a home security system for their townhouse and none of us know the first thing about them.

Anyone have any experience or recommend any sites where we can educate ourselves and compare systems/providers?

TIA-
DM

[Panopticon]

I have ADT at home, Sonitrol at work, & my neighbors have Brinks. All is OK.

Avoid 'Slomins Shield'. Poor service, sleazy salesmen, and a contract that could result in a lien on your home. They want $1100 - $2000+ for the system but they'll waive that IF you sign a contract for 5 years of monitoring {60 x $25-35/month}. Their 'contract' is basically a second mortgage on your house and you waive your rights to sue them {forced arbitration}. If you default, for ANY reason, they hit you for the balance of the monitoring contract PLUS 60% of the sale price, legal fees, and late fees. And they have been known to slap liens on homes to enforce collection.

Not a nice company.

[Mac1337]

We had monitored home security system. In the end we gave up. Arming and disarming the system got to be too much, especially with kids, guests etc. I am of the belief that it is the outside that needs to be monitored(when you are home of course). Once someone is inside it is too late. Right now I have a few motion sensors around the house and plan on installing a few cameras. The photographic evidence is priceless.

[mjgkramer]

My experience, or I should say my then 85 year old mother's experience, with ADT was terrible. She lived alone in a mobile home next to a fairly bad area so felt a bit insecure. As usual she asked my advice as to which security monitoring company and as usual she ignored my recommendation. I had had very good experience with Guadelupe Valley Telephone Co-op (GVTC) Security but she insisted on going with ADT because the salesman had been so nice.

The first problem she discovered after the installation was that the discount on her home insurance that the ADT salesman told her she would get did not happen because she was in a mobile home. The installer did not make sure she knew how to operate her system, so she couldn' t use it. I looked at the manual and found out that they had not documented what they had installed on which channel. While I was trying to figure it out, I was unable to find the sensor on the window next to her front door soI called ADT to tell them of the missing sensor . When they told me that was not possible, I asked that they come out and check it themselves. They said they would but it would cost us a $50 service call. After some serious discussion, they agreed to check the system at no cost if the sensor was missing and indeed discovered that it was missing. My mother decided to terminate the service since she had been lied to about the insurance, couldn't operate the system, and had such difficulty over their poor installation.

I'm sure this was an isolated incident, but I wouldn't used ADT if the service came out of their San Antonio office.

[Chupa Chupa]

I've had ADT for ten years. Service is OK. I went with what was the "free" system at the time plus an extra control panel for the bedroom and a glass break in the basement. The pre-wire guy forgot to wire for the glass break so ADT put in a wireless one. It's been a major PITA causing 99% of my falsies. I keep it off now since the doors are wired anyway.

One thing you should investigate is if your jurisdiction's police dept requires you to register your alarm. Ours does and if you are not registered they will not respond to an alarm going off after one false alarm. If you are registered they will respons to all alarms but charge $50 per visit after the 3rd false in a calendar year.

[dmann]

Thanks for the info so far. I appreciate it.

My BIL travels for work and is gone M-F 48 weeks per year. My sis is home alone with their 3 1/2 year old and just wants some added security when they are alone. (Yes, they have talked about a dog but it is more than my sister can handle right now. )

She lives in a subdivision with many townhouse units packed close together so I don't know how much she can do outside the house.

Keep the thoughts coming!
DM

[goosegunner]

Best upgrade I did to my system was key fobs to activate the alarm. Makes it easy to set, just hold the button as you exit.

I have a hard wire system with wireless upgrade. We have yet to have a false alarm in ten years of use. Wired doors and motions on each floor. No motions in the garage(big false alarm problem)

I know it won't keep people from breaking in, but I like the fact that you know that no one is in the house when you come home.

gg