Professionally monitored home security is a common recommendation among police agencies and security experts alike. Even real estate agents and insurance companies recommend investing in a security package. Yet millions of American homeowners deliberately choose not to do so. Are they being wise?
Contents
- 1. Monitored Security Is Too Expensive
- 2. Security Systems Don’t Stop Determined Burglars
- 3. Modern Tech Makes Professional Monitoring Obsolete
- 4. False Alarms Are Annoying and Costly
- 5. We Live in a Safe Neighborhood
- The Verdict: Are Objections Legitimate?
No doubt there are plenty of objections to investing in a home security system. The question is whether the objections are grounded in reality or based on outdated assumptions. Let us examine the most common objections and whether they hold up under scrutiny.
1. Monitored Security Is Too Expensive
I do not have hard numbers to prove it, but I suspect that cost is the biggest objection. At a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, professionally monitored home security can be pretty expensive. Furthermore, some homeowners argue that a truly determined burglar won’t be stopped by a security system. They will kick the door down anyway, meaning a homeowner has to pay to have it replaced.
Cost concerns are legitimate. Fortunately, affordable home security packages are the trend among major providers right now. Take Vivint. Their new HomeProtect package is offered as an affordable solution to budget-conscious consumers.
Monthly monitoring will run about $300 annually. If burglars are deterred, that means paying a few hundred dollars to prevent a burglary that could ultimately result in thousands of dollars in losses. It is something to think about.
2. Security Systems Don’t Stop Determined Burglars
Parts of the first objection lead directly into the second: a truly determined criminal isn’t going to be stopped by a security system. That is true, but there is another side to that coin. Are all criminals determined enough to take their chances with a home security system? Most are not.
No security measure will stop crime 100%. That’s just reality. Yet the vast majority of residential burglaries are not carried out by criminal masterminds who aren’t afraid of cameras and sensors. They are committed by opportunistic criminals looking for a fast, easy target and a quick getaway.
Criminology studies consistently demonstrate that devices like visible security cameras and alarm company decals deter burglars. They are psychological deterrents that force a burglar to question whether proceeding with the crime is a wise idea. They do not want to be caught, and home security systems increase the chances of that happening.
3. Modern Tech Makes Professional Monitoring Obsolete
Some homeowners who object to professionally monitored home security go with DIY systems instead. Their logic is simple: they believe modern home security technology has made professional monitoring obsolete. There is some truth to that. DIY home security can be self-monitored. No professional help is required.
As you might expect, there is a very real trade-off that comes with self-monitoring. That trade-off is never being able to forget your home and go about your day. You have to constantly be paying attention in case a phone alert comes through. If you’re at work, that could reduce your productivity. If you are trying to enjoy a day with your family, the distraction could ruin everything.
Professional monitoring leaves the chore of watching your home to someone else. More importantly, monitoring center personnel are professionally trained. They know how to evaluate alerts, distinguish genuine emergencies from false alarms, and contact local authorities on your behalf.
4. False Alarms Are Annoying and Costly
The next objection – that false alarms are both annoying and costly – is also true to some extent. False alarms are an obvious distraction. If they happen too frequently, they can really start to annoy you. And if they involve contacting the local authorities, they can result in you being fined.
Here’s why the objection doesn’t hold up under scrutiny: professional monitoring personnel can distinguish between false alarms and actual emergencies. There is nothing for you to deal with if your system presents a false alarm. Furthermore, monitoring personnel will not contact the local authorities unnecessarily. That means no fines for you.
False alarms are actually more of a problem for DIY homeowners who do not know how to handle alerts. They panic when an alert comes in, leading them to make rash decisions that may not end well. Truly, there is a lot to be said for the training that professional monitoring personnel receive.
5. We Live in a Safe Neighborhood
Some people do not object to professionally monitored home security because of a specific beef against the technology or its capabilities. Rather, they are convinced that they live in a safe neighborhood where bad things don’t happen. We all know how that can work out.
How many times have you seen news reports of a crime: reports in which local residents seem surprised? We have all heard comments like, “Things like that don’t happen around here.” The irony is that the crime in question proves they do.
It is never wise to assume that your neighborhood is immune to property crimes. It’s unwise to assume your home will never be broken into or that you and your family will never be subject to a home invasion. The world is a dangerous place. Criminals are out there looking for soft targets. Don’t be one of them.
The Verdict: Are Objections Legitimate?
You’ve read all of the objections to professionally monitored home security. Now you have to answer the fundamental question: are they legit? I would say some of them are. For instance, cost is a real concern these days. It’s not easy to take on another monthly bill when the budget is already tight. Modern technology overcomes some of the other objections. Today’s home security systems are not the same as they were decades ago.
To me, the verdict is pretty simple. Don’t accept blanket objections without analyzing your own situation and doing some research. You just might find that your objections don’t hold up under closer scrutiny. And if they do, great. Keep on doing what you’re doing. Put off monitored home security until you are more comfortable with the idea.
Key Points
- Professionally monitored home security is widely recommended by police agencies, real estate agents, and insurance companies.
- Cost is often cited as the biggest objection to investing in home security, but affordable packages are becoming more common.
- Most burglaries are committed by opportunistic criminals who are deterred by visible security measures like cameras and alarm decals.
- DIY home security systems require constant attention from the homeowner, whereas professional monitoring allows for peace of mind.
- Professional monitoring personnel are trained to distinguish between false alarms and real emergencies, preventing unnecessary fines for homeowners.
- It’s unwise to assume that one’s neighborhood is immune to crime, as confidence in safety can be misleading.
