HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS

 

 

Protect America was founded over 15 years ago and has served over a quarter of a million customers. They provide a state-of-the-art, reliable home security system at an extremely affordable price. You don't have to deal with any annoying dealers or salesmen in order to purchase and install an effective home security system. No one will come to your home and attempt to sell you more than you need. Instead, the Protect America toll-free service department (1-888-951-5127) delivers good information so you can make an informed decision without the pushy salesman.

Protect America offers a choice of five wireless home security plans to meet your security needs. All plans come with a good list of basic equipment, including a Talking Control Panel, Internal Siren and Door Chime, Battery Backup, One Button Arming, Lifetime Warranties, Window Decals and a Yard Sign.

•  Copper - this package comes with 3 entry point detectors and a Motion Detector. The equipment is free and the monthly monitoring fee is $29.95.

•  Bronze - this package comes with 7 entry point detectors and a Motion Detector. The equipment is free and the monthly monitoring fee is $34.95.

•  Silver - Best Value - this package comes with 10 entry point detectors. The equipment is free and the monthly monitoring fee is $35.95.

•  Gold - this package comes with 12 entry point detectors and a Motion Detector. The equipment is $99 and the monthly monitoring fee is $36.95.

•  Platinum - this package comes with 15 entry point detectors, a Motion Detector, and a Garage Door Detector. The equipment is $149 and the monthly monitoring fee is $36.95.

Generally you'll want to have a sensor located at all entry points and windows on ground level. For most homes, that can quickly add up to more than the 3 sensors provided in the basic Copper package. However, if you live in an apartment or an urban setting, the Copper package may be your best choice.

For most homeowners, we think the Silver plan offers the best value. In this package you get an impressive amount of home security equipment - including 10 entry point sensors - for absolutely no upfront cost. The only fee is the extremely competitive monthly 24/7 monitoring charge of $34.95.

These wireless home security systems are designed to be installed by the homeowner or renter. Directions are extremely straightforward and easy to understand. In case of any questions, the Protect America support staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Providing an easy-to-install wireless home security system allows you to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars from a paid installer.

In addition to the home security monitoring equipment provided in these packages, Protect America offers a long list of additional equipment, including:

•  Motion Detectors

•  Keychain remote control

•  Glass break detectors

•  Flood Sensors

•  Low temperature sensor

•  A variety of X10 equipment

After your home security system is activated, Protect America will send you a certificate of installation. Most insurance companies give a discount on homeowner's or renter's insurance premiums for homes with security systems in place. Providing this certificate gives proof that you have a monitored security system, and can qualify you for their reduced premium rates. This is an excellent way that your home security system can actually save you money.

Protect America sets the standard for home security systems. They offer a variety of packages that provide cutting edge technology and reliable nationwide monitoring. Combined with customer-focused pricing and knowledgeable support, Protect America is your best choice for home security protection.

 

 

ADT has been in business for many years and most people are familiar with this common name in home security. ADT provides a number of home security plans to fit your needs. These plans can accommodate land lines or cellular users, fire detection, or simple intruder protection. With ADT you can speed several hundred dollars or your life savings establishing your home security system, depending on the amount of security equipment you want to fill your house with.

ADT prefers to send an associate for their evaluation of your home security needs prior to installation. Most of the systems are wireless but hard coding is required with certain add-on equipment. Video surveillance is an option with ADT if you want to personally and visually monitor your home as well.

ADT offers a basic home security package for $299.00 plus a monitoring fee of $34 per month. The equipment in this package includes

•  A wireless touchpad

•  3 entry point sensors

•  Motion Detector

•  Wireless keychain remote

ADT is currently offering a rebate of $200 on this package, bringing the initial cost down to $99 instead of the $299 list price. However, most homeowners will probably want more than the three entry point sensors that come in this package, which means additional equipment cost.

ADT provides a good toll-free customer service department (1-866-305-4104) with a knowledgeable staff that can answer most questions.

Overall, ADT provides dependable home security systems with all the bells and whistles that someone may be looking for. Their equipment is designed to meet the needs of anyone, yet comes at a price point that is higher than others. If you have needs for a very unique security system and don't mind spending the extra money required, ADT may be an option worth considering.

 

 

Ingrid Home Security System provides a hassle-free product without the sales pitch or two- to three- year contract. While you have a much higher upfront cost due to your equipment purchase, you aren't signing up for a multi-year monitoring contract.

With Ingrid Home Security, you purchase and install all your own equipment from the options provided by Ingrid. They offer a basic package for $299 which includes the following:

•  Two keypads

•  8 entry sensors

•  Keychain remote

Additional equipment can be purchased as needed. Most of their equipment is current technology and they have a good selection of wireless options. After you select the equipment you want from the options provided by Ingrid, you'll await delivery, after which you'll install all the equipment in your own home. Once installed, you contact Ingrid to begin your 24/7 monitoring.

The monthly monitoring fee is $29.99, which is competitive with the top home security systems in our review.

While you must pay upfront for all your equipment, the convenience of no long-term monthly contract is noteworthy. With Ingrid, after you pay for the equipment you pay-as-you-go with the monthly monitoring as needed.

Ingrid Home Security is a no-frills home security system provider. If you don't want a multi-year monitoring agreement, and don't mind spending hundreds of dollars upfront to purchase your home security equipment, Ingrid Home Security is worth your consideration.

 

 

Brinks Home Security system generally provides the same system as out higher selections but at a higher price and without the convenience of a wireless installation. Brinks does a good job of charging for options that should be standard. Before the customer realizes it, they are paying significantly more for home security than they ever imagined. Brinks even charges for a warranty on their own product.

The Brinks home security system is hard wired so you need to anticipate damaged walls and wiring concerns. The Premium plan provides a keypad, three sensors, a motion detector, interior siren, control panel, a yard sign and decals. Installation starts at $155.00 and the additional sensors that most homeowners will need are extra. Brinks can monitor for fire and carbon monoxide but those services are extra on top of their monthly fee of $31.99.

Through our research we found dozens of complaints regarding frequent false alarm problems with customers. Many reported a number of occurrences of the police arriving at their homes at any hour for no apparent reason. Some were even charged by local fire and police departments for false alarms.

Brinks requires that you establish auto-pay for their monitoring service either monthly or quarterly. If you want to add a warranty on their system, you'll be charged an additional $6 per month. Unfortunately, if you don't pay for the warranty your home security system will not be covered should any of the equipment malfunction or break.

We think you'll find that Brinks will charge you more than their competitors for the same (or lower) level of service. They'll automatically deduct their fees from your bank account for 3 years, and a warranty on their product will cost you extra. We recommend you choose one of our higher-rated systems, without all the extra charges and fees.

 

 

US Alarm provides four different wireless home security systems. A big selling point of this product is the interactive monitoring that allows home owners to know what's going on at their home, at all times, through messages sent to email or cell phones regarding doors opened, alarms disengaged and more. You may activate or deactivate your system externally as needed.

The system comes with a three month warranty. After that it will cost you out-of-pocket if something malfunctions or quits functioning.

The four packages in question range from basic to very advanced and the functionality of the interactive monitoring is only available on the higher priced packages. The number of sensors provided in the standard package is minimal; most homeowners will need a more expensive plan that provides a greater number of entry point sensors. Some of the plans require upfront equipment costs.

Unfortunately, US Alarm has done a poor job of providing thorough information on their website. Instead, they want you to locate a dealer, invite a commission-driven salesman to your home, and convince him that you don't really need all the extra equipment that he'll want to sell you. While US Alarm does provide a good selection of equipment to protect your home with, we don't like their method of delivering this information to you.

Instead of dealing with a salesman in your home, we recommend you choose one of the higher-rated home security systems in our review. They make the process of choosing the best home security equipment less cumbersome, less expensive, and less time consuming.

 

 

Alarm.com is a relatively new company founded in 2000. Unfortunately, although they are a relative newcomer to the home security field, they have a lot to learn. Alarm.com provides a very unfriendly website with only the bare minimum of information. You soon realize that you're forced to locate a dealer and a respective salesman, which will lead to an appointment and too much of your time listening to a long and painful sales pitch.

Alarm.com does provide a system that allows you to control your home security system through a website or a PDA. Alarm.com's system alerts users of activity that is occurring within the home, such as doors opening and closing. No land line is required for installation and usage but that may not be a good thing. A lot of questions seem to exist about the consistency of service if a cell phone is used.

Through our research we also found a lot of unhappy customers using Alarm.com's home security system. Repeated complaints of response time issues related to customer service questions surfaced. And perhaps most alarmingly, we found several instances of notification delays - such as a 6 hour delay from the time the alarm was tripped until the company notified the police. That kind of service level in a monitored home security system in unacceptable.

We recommend trying any of the other home security systems in our review before Alarm.com.