Top 5 Myths About Alarm Systems Debunked

When considering home security, people generally consider a number of variables: the relative crime rate in your neighborhood, trends in residential crime in general, and even significant changes in your life – buying a home, having a child, etc. But now that wireless interactive alarm systems do so much more, allowing you to stay in touch and in control from your smart phone, the list of reasons to buy is even longer, and more compelling. Who ever thought your alarm system could tell you when doors are opening, or give you the power to control your lights, locks, and thermostats from anywhere? Event-Driven Decision Now a Lifestyle Choice For decades, the decision to buy an alarm system was event-driven, meaning the homeowner experienced a burglary, or knew someone else who did, or they read the crime stats from the FBI: a burglary now occurs every 14 seconds in the US, increasingly fueled by drug use and addiction. With the systems somewhat limited, only one in five households enjoyed the peace of mind provided by a monitored alarm system. Technology Behind Upward Trend But that number is growing, with the development of advanced interactive capabilities. Today, the best home alarm systems are really smart, and the alarm industry anticipates that over the next decade, residential market penetration of alarm systems will increase to one in four homes, or even one in three. That’s the trend, led by companies like FrontPoint, with systems that are safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat. Debunking the Myths Homeowners are getting smarter too, and are more aware about the benefits of home security. I recently found this great article that deals with several of the largest misconceptions regarding the protection of your home and family. It’s a good read – enjoy! Top Five Myths about Home Security

If you've thought about installing a home security system but you’ve heard rumors about them that are holding you back, you could be relying on myths without consideration for the truth. To set the record straight once and for all, check out these five myths about home security systems, and maybe you’ll change your mind. 1. No One Will Break Into My Home It doesn't matter where you live, a burglar can target any home anywhere, and they’re seeking unprotected homes like yours. The FBI reports that there were over 2 million burglaries in 2011, 74.5 percent of which were residential burglaries. If you don’t want your home to become one of the 2 million, then you need to protect it. 2. Security Systems are Too Expensive The idea that home security systems are too expensive is far from the truth. The FBI reports that a victim’s average losses from a burglary in 2011 totaled $2,185. If you’re paying a fair amount for your security system, you could purchase peace of mind for years with the monetary amount of money and valuables you might lose in a single home burglary. This goes without saying that your security system also protects your irreplaceable items and your family. 3. Having One Won’t Lower My Insurance Rates Totally false. Insurance companies know they can save a ton of money on insurance claims when the insured are using an alarm system. You can expect a sizable discount on your payments – on average 15% - just by having a quality alarm system. An alarm system means less chance of a break-in, which means less chance of a claim. This means better rates for you. The monthly cost of the alarm system will be subsidized by the reduction in your homeowners’ insurance costs. 4. I Have Insurance, So I Don’t Need a Security System Many people believe that if a burglar did break into their house, they could simply get their money back through insurance, instead of forking out money for a security system. However, insurance can’t bring back replaceable items, such as family heirlooms or other sentimental valuables, whereas a home security system can prevent the loss of these items. If that’s not enough, most people don’t want to jump through all the hoops and financial stress before receiving their insurance settlement. 5. My Pet Will Set off False Alarms Too many people overlook the benefits of a home security system because they think it will be too much of a hassle, since their pet will set off false alarms. In fact, many home security systems are pet-friendly, and are designed to know the difference between a pet and an intruder. As long as you purchase the right equipment, you’ll be protected from burglars and be free from false alarms.

We really like the list of myths above – and of course there are others. When you are shopping for wireless home security, be sure to check out FrontPoint. Our protection is  the best deterrent to intrusion – especially with safer cellular monitoring and smarter interactive features. FrontPoint specializes in peace of mind: as the leader in wireless home security and the #1 ranked alarm company in the US, that’s our commitment. From Oregon to Texas, from Florida to Maine, in thousands of cities and towns all across the US and Canada, FrontPoint is on the job. We’re just the thing that burglars want to avoid. Just read the glowing FrontPoint reviews, and then give us a call.