Home Alarm Monitoring - Is It Worth the Cost?

I already gave you some tips on how to choose a home alarm monitoring company.

But, I haven't really told you what are the pros and cons of hiring a security company to monitor your home. That's what I want to talk about in this article.

What are the Cons of Home Alarm Monitoring?

Once your security system is installed, there will be a monthly monitoring fee that you will have to pay. The fee can range from $10 to over $50, depending on what type of monitoring services you sign up for.

Also, there is usually a contract you have to sign that will have you locked into an agreement with the monitoring company for as long as 36 months. The number of months in the agreement can be shorter or longer. As with any agreement you sign, you'll have a very tough time trying to break that contract if you no longer want their services.

You may have seen ads on the internet offering to give you a "FREE" home security system. Well, the ads are technically true. You will indeed get a free security system, but there are some catches. Usually, you'll have to read the fine print to find these catches.

The monitoring company will give you a basic home security system for free. There might be an installation or activation fee you have to pay. This isn't a problem since it's only a one-time payment. Also, if you want a more advanced system, you'll have to pay extra for that.

The way these companies make their money is with the contract you sign, which includes the monthly monitoring fee. The company can afford to give away basic security systems because they make their money on the back end with monthly fees.

So, What are the Pros of Home Alarm Monitoring?

Now that you know how these monitoring companies make their money, you might be wondering is it worth it to hire one of these companies to monitor your home. Well, let's take a look at some advantages.

If you just installed a security system, you want to be able to have some type of notification system activated so that you or someone else will know that an intruder just tried to break into your home.

When your alarm is triggered, the monitoring company will automatically receive notification that there is some type of an emergency in your home. A trained professional at the company will call your house to make sure everything is alright.

If they don't receive an answer or if whoever picks up the phone doesn't provide the necessary information needed, the company will notify local law enforcement to go by your home and make sure everything is alright.

You can also provide the company with an emergency contact phone number if you're not home when the alarm is triggered. They will call you to let you know what has happened and that they notified the local authorities.

As I mentioned in an earlier article, you might be able to save money on your home insurance. Some insurance companies will give you a discount if you let them know that you have a monitored security system installed in your home.

Home alarm monitoring can give you the peace of mind you need to know that someone is "guarding" your home while you're sleeping, at work or you're on vacation.

Find out more about ADT monitoring services by clicking here.