The pros and cons of a home alarm system

Home alarm systems have come a long way since their inception. Once operated by electromagnetic contacts, batteries and bells, home alarm systems can now be accessed from anywhere in the world through a smart device. But are these sophisticated systems worth it?

The pros of having a home alarm system

• You will have greater peace of mind knowing that your home has additional protection, including the ability to alert you of problems while away from home.
• If the system you choose is designed to alert the police, you will have a fast response to criminal activity.
• You can connect your alarm system to smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, getting a fast response from the fire department as well.
• In studies, criminals have indicated that home alarm systems deter them from breaking in.
• Even when criminals attempt to break-in despite signs being posted about the system, they tend to flee once the alarm goes off.

The cons of having a home alarm system

• Not all criminals will run away when the alarm goes off, and some know how to get around them.
• You have to develop new habits — setting and unsetting the alarm. If you forget to set the alarm, your house is unprotected. You can cause chaos for yourself, neighbors and response teams if you forget to unset it.
• False alarms can result in fines. If the police department responds to the alarm but nothing is wrong, you can be charged. Even if it wasn’t a false alarm, you might still be charged if there was no sign of criminal activity
• If you have a system that is through a service, you could face a high installation cost with additional monthly fees.
• If you choose to go DIY, there is a greater likelihood of there being blind spots in the system as well as security leaks — very problematic if your system includes cameras.

So, is having a home alarm system the right choice for you? Chances are good that despite the cons, having some type of system is better than having none at all. Even better, having an alarm system could get you a discount on your homeowners’ insurance policy. Speak with your insurance broker to learn more.