Do you ever think about how well your home is protected while you are gone? With a lot of home security myths out there, knowing how to effectively guard your property can be confusing. It doesn’t have to be.
Whether it’s a weekend road trip or a quick run to the grocery store, you want to make sure your home is safe in the meantime. Investing in home security is a great first step.
We address the most popular home security myths and offer tips on how you can safeguard your home while you are away.
1. My pet will set off the sensors.
Fact: If your system isn’t set up by a professional, this could happen. But you have options. You can program motion detection systems so that pets of a certain weight don’t set off the system. Or you can place sensors in high areas where pets can’t jump to (usually 7 feet high) or places around the house they can’t access.
2. My dog is the most effective security system.
Fact: Dogs are not the most reliable way to protect your home from intruders. Many burglars carry weapons for the sole purpose of disabling anyone or anything in their way. For your home’s safety and your dog’s, it’s best to install a home security system.
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Download Now3. My home is too old for a modern home security system.
Fact: Many modern home security systems are wireless, so it’s possible to set up a system without wiring. If you prefer to have the wiring, that’s not a problem. You can have the house wired with the help of a professional.
4. I have insurance. I don’t need a security system.
Fact: Insurance only replaces lost, damaged or stolen items after the theft has occurred. It’s not designed to monitor suspicious activity around your home or notify the police that there is an intruder. What if you are home during a break-in? While insurance can replace physical items after a theft, it can’t replace peace of mind.
5. Home security systems can easily be tampered with.
Fact: Many components of home security systems are wireless, so an intruder would have a hard time trying to deactivate the system.
6. There’s a delay between the alarm being set off and the security company being notified.
Fact: While it is possible for authorities to make it to your home in time to catch the intruders, home security isn’t just about catching criminals in the act. It’s also about minimizing losses and damage to your home. Burglars often target homes without home security systems; in fact, homes without security systems are 300% more likely to be burglarized, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security. Depending on the service, the homeowner can arrange the system to immediately notify police.
7. I live in a safe neighborhood.
Fact: Burglars usually live within 2 miles of the homes they’re targeting, so it’s easy for them to pick up on schedules of fellow residents.
8. My neighbors will look out for anything suspicious.
Fact: While it is a good idea to ask for your neighbors’ help in watching your home while you’re away, your neighbors can watch your home for only so many hours a day. It’s great as an added precaution, but having a security system that can monitor your home at all times is even better.
9. Having a home security system doesn’t impact home insurance rates.
Fact: If you can provide an insurance company with a security alarm certificate, most will offer a discount on your home insurance premium. Monitored alarm systems generally generate larger discounts than unmonitored systems.
To get a quote or to speak with a AAA agent, visit AAA.com/Insurance.
10. Home security is complex and hard to set up.
Fact: Many home security systems have easy-to-operate interfaces that offer a wide choice of settings and configurations that can be easily customized, and you can always get the help of a professional. Don’t know which ones to choose? Here are a few tips on how to set up your home security system.
Protecting your home with a security system doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, as the home security myths would have you believe. With the right system in place and the right kind of help, you can leave your home and sleep at night feeling safer.
Do you know of any home security myths that we missed? Let us know in the comments!
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I live in one of the 5 boroughs of the city of NY. Due to the high prevalence of false alarms even with a central station alarm the police are not likely to respond in a timely manner if they even come at all.
SimpliSafe is the best system to put. You can install yourself. It does not lock you into these crazy contracts that you cannot get out. Safe Home Security would only let you out of their Contract if you Sold your house. Even then you had to send them Proof of the Sale. Many others have ridiculous binding contracts. Beware !
I have had a Simpli-Safe security for 3 years, I should have waited another year as they improved the keypad a lot. It works well & the batteries DO last a good amount of time. What is the AAA discount, does it apply ONLY to a whole system or also to add on’s & updates ?
Valid with the purchase of a new system, the current SimpliSafe AAA member benefit includes a free SimpliCam and 2 free months of monitoring.