Security Systems: Repost from SAHM

NicoleWI · December 2013

Our new house is already wired for security from the previous owners. We live in a "safe" area, but it's the very edge/furthest end of the suburb-type spaces about 40 minutes from the city. It's a kind of rural-ish area with spread out houses, subdivisions here and there, and there are woods behind our house and some open areas nearby. DH is gone a lot until late and we have a walk-out basement and lots of other doors/windows.

I think we should arm the system. DH thinks it's ridiculous and unnecessary. We've never had a system before and DH hardly even worries about locking doors, whereas I am more cautious. I think anything can happen anywhere and we don't have close neighbors on all sides (we're in a subdivision with larger lots). DH thinks that with the kids, we'll have all kinds of false alarms and it will be a big hassle all the time, on top of being what he thinks is an unnecessary expense. I am not 100% sure on whether it's worth it or not so would love opinions/experiences. Maybe he's right and it would be a big hassle? Would we really be "safer?"

Do you have a system? Do you like it? REcommend it? We're wired by ADT. We don't have a dog. TIA.

FemShep · December 2013

I had security systems in a few houses, although we haven't armed the one on our current house. Even with kids, I never had a false alarm when they were home (although we did have the security system call us to report an alarm once while we were traveling).

You can arm systems differently so that motion sensing only triggers when you're away, not when you're asleep at night (and getting up to take care of LOs). For other items that trigger an alarm, like a broken window, the only time that happened to me was when DH dropped a huge plate, which broke. The alarm is easy to turn off, no police were called (the alarm co. tries to reach you before they send police/fire) and it wasn't an issue.

If your DH is gone frequently, it seems to me that your wishes should carry more weight. The monthly cost is usually low (~$50), you can get a discount on your home insurance, and you may be able to get a special rate through your insurance company as well.

itsmevkb · December 2013

I live in the city of Milwaukee and don't feel the need to have an alarm so I definitely wouldn't even consider one out where you are, but that's me. The only experience I have is house sitting one time for someone who had one and a thunderstorm set off the alarm, the police showed up and it was a huge hassle but that was quite a few years ago (like maybe 15 plus) so I'm guessing they've improved them quite a bit since then. If having one would make you more comfortable then I think why not try it and see what happens? If it's already wired wouldn't you be able to easily have it turned on or off?

NicoleWI · December 2013

I wouldn't get one in the city, either, even though that sounds strange considering the relative crime rates. I feel like our house would be more compact, and neighbors all around, in the city. But, where we are I DO consider it b/c I feel more isolated and the house is more spread out with more places of entry.

82Sonia · December 2013

I have ADT. I like the peace of mind it gives me. We get a break on the monthly rate through our homeowner's insurance company agreement with them and we get a break on our homeowner's insurance for having it armed.

jnnfrrose6 · December 2013

My parents live in a very nice area of town and there home was wired, though they never armed it. Several years later, while on vacation, the house was broken into. My brother discovered it when stopping by the house to take the mail in for them. Random things were taken, including jewelry that can't be replaced, and the police said it looked like someone looking for cash for drugs (my parents don't keep cash around the house, so they grabbed what they could, hence random stuff taken). Needless to say, they have since had the system armed.

We live in town and armed our system as soon as we moved in. It's an older home and we've had a couple false alarms (DH still getting used to turning it off before taking the dogs out, I forgot the alarm code, etc...). I think the relative low price of it is worth the possible headache of a false alarm, but peace of mind when I'm home without DH.

Curls218 · December 2013

We live in a "safe" neighborhood. The previous owner of our house said he rarely even locked the front door. After DS was born DH was so sleep deprived he accidentally left his keys in the front door and we were fine (I was mad when I found out, but no one tried getting in). We did get an alarm system. Not ADT or Sloman's or any of those. It's through a local alarm company that uses a system based in Ohio. We are happy with our decision.

We mostly got it for piece of mind now that we have a child.

MammaBear81 · December 2013

I have ADT, and I love it, mostly because we have it set to "beep beep beep" when any of the doors or windows are opened.. comes in handy when your kids are big enough to figure out how to open the outside doors

. Now I use it because DH works nights and I don't like being alone (no the 6 kids don't count!). We live in an extremely safe neighborhood, we often leave our doors unlocked, I'm only really concerned when we are home, as opposed to many people who are worried when they aren't home. I don't care if people steal our stuff, it's just stuff, I care if someone comes to try and harm my family.

shannm · December 2013

I live in a quiet, middle class, blue collar, hard working neighborhood. Not crime ridden but not flashy to attract thieves either.

About three years ago, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, my husband and I returned from grocery shopping with my DS. I carried a bag of groceries in, noticed the powder room fan was on, saw the backdoor and door jam literally laying on the kitchen floor, and out of the side of my eye saw person in a gray sweatshirt with a hood jump my back fence.

If I was a minute later, he (maybe she?) would have been upstairs. It terrifies me to wonder what the person would have done to me and my family if he/she had felt trapped upstairs when we came home.

So for 29.99/mo, I pay ADT to arm my home. Maybe the sign in the front yard makes thieves think twice, I don't know. But, if someone decides to enter my home, at least I will get a heads up. Also, the fire detectors are linked to it so if something happens when I am at work or away for a few days, I will be notified.

In sum, it is worth it to me.

NicoleWI · December 2013

MammaBear--that is exactly how I feel about it, too!

Meery82 · December 2013

We live in a subdivision in a nicer neighborhood. If we didn't have a big, mean looking dog, I would insist on a security system. I am someone who keeps the doors locked at all times. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but better safe than sorry. The dog sounds like a monster whenever anyone approaches our door. I can't imagine that wouldn't scare someone off!

groovygrl · December 2013

Our last home was equipped and we never armed it. our theory at the time was that most thieves strike when you're not home & if they really wanted to get it, they would find a way to enter that wouldn't trip it or would dismantle it.

However, in the current house, I found myself feeling very unsettled when MH went away. So, we decided to have the system installed & we use it every night & I set it in the AM when we go away/to work. It also comes w/ a fire alarm that is wired to the company which was set off by my turkey drippings on T-giving and I got a call from the company and it was embarrassing but I really like that feature b/c if a fire occurs when you're not home, unless a neighbor sees something, it would likely be too late for anything to be done.

I like having it when I'm alone & also when we're out during the day (the city we lived in before had a rash of burglaries during the weekdays for awhile where ppl would ring the doorbell & if no one answered, they'd kick teh door in to get in). However, unless you are prepared to wire every single window, etc, technically ppl can still get in w/out tripping it if they know what they're doing. So you also will want to understand what parts of your house are actually wired before you activate.

and we had our first false alarm this morning when DS tried to go into the garage to get something from my car, though i got down to disarm it before it called the company.

glaw · December 2013

We are about to move to our new home when we finally finish the remodeling and yes we are definitely getting a security system. Like mammabear81 said I want to feel safe when I'm home alone with my babies. That's more important to me than the risk of smthg being stolen while I'm gone. And DH works late smtms and weekends so this gives me a huge piece of mind. Plus I grew up with a security system and my parents still have one. We live in a large urban area and lots of people have these systems. It sounds like you are afraid of being isolated and I would definitely get a system in your situation.

csbucher · December 2013

I was told that the the police no longer respond to ADT alarms in our area. Not sure the exact resaon, but guessing there were too many fade alarms.

groovygrl · December 2013

csbucher said:

I was told that the the police no longer respond to ADT alarms in our area. Not sure the exact resaon, but guessing there were too many fade alarms.

This was a surprise to me, I did a quick google, and saw there are a number of places where they won't respond unless it is verified, but I think they still will respond to the panic feature and the fire alarm feature...plus if the alarm goes off, the homeowner could call 911 right away if possible, though obviously it wouldn't always be possible. Good to know though...

sdlaura · December 2013

Like a PP, I would maybe consider it if we didn't have dogs. Or if we lived in a more spread out area (rural areas scare me more than cities). But we are in a safe neighborhood where the houses are pretty close together, and several of our neighbors are either retired or work from home, so I feel very safe.

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