During the holidays, when you know you’re going to have a house full of easy-to-snag gadgets and gifts, your thoughts might turn to how you can protect your belongings.
Home security systems can provide a feeling of safety and relative certainty in an uncertain world. But buying a home alarm system, monitored by an outside company, is a big decision.
In addition to the cost of system installation, you will likely have to pay monthly fees for monitoring.
And if you want to add more components than those included in the basic package — even just a door or a window or two — your price can balloon quickly.
Before you sign on the dotted line, here are a few things to consider.
Shop around
Whether you hire a large national company or a smaller local company — and there are plenty of each in Snohomish County — interview a few to compare your options, said crime prevention officer Aaron Snell with the Everett Police Department.
“You can find information about the system you really want,” he said. “Sometimes they try to over-sell you, and sometimes they may under-sell you.
“It’s kind of like buying a car. You can to go out and test drive different vehicles.”
Contracts, costs
ADT offers a $99 installation special that includes two door sensors, one motion sensor, a system keypad, panic button, fire button and a keychain remote.
To get the deal, you must sign a three-year contract for monitoring at $42.99 a month.
Evergreen Security Systems of Everett offers a similar system that also includes a monitored commercial-grade smoke detector for $1,300, plus $29 a month for monitoring.
No contract is required, but most customers sign one to lock down monthly monitoring costs.
If you want to lease a system from Evergreen Security, you can get one for a third of the cost with a three-year contract, plus monthly leasing and monitoring fees.
Additional door or window sensors cost $80 each with the ADT package and $125 each with the Evergreen Security package.
Why the big cost difference between the two companies?
Evergreen Security owner Bill Murray said his systems don’t require contracts or involve early termination fees.
His systems include service calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He charges lower monitoring fees to help customers save money in the long term.
“You’re paying more at the outset, but it’s a value,” Murray said, adding that most of the systems his company installs are hard-wired and built to last.
“Companies like us are focused on the long haul.”
The fine print
Consumer Reports warns homeowners to check contracts for early termination fees. Some companies charge up to 80 percent of the contract’s term, even if you move.
Don’t rely on promises made by advertisements or security consultants.
Consumer Reports warns that claims are not legally binding unless they’re written into your contract.
If you do get a system, be sure to let your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance agent know. You could save up to 20 percent off your annual bill.
Landline or cellular
Most basic systems require you have landline phone service.
If you don’t have or want a landline, you can sign up for a cellular security system, which should work just as well but will usually cost more.
With ADT, a cellular home security system with two door sensors and one motion sensor costs $399, plus $47.99 a month for monitoring.
Users of the cellular system, also known as Pulse, can control the system with mobile devices and receive text alerts.
With Evergreen Security, the installation cost for a cellular system goes up to $1,500 and has a higher monthly fee of $39.
Communication between the system and mobile devices costs extra.
False alarms
In many jurisdictions police may charge you for false alarms. In the city of Everett, you get two free false-alarm visits within a six-month period. Fees are $25 for a third false alarm, $50 for a fourth and $100 thereafter.
Police can order you to disconnect your alarm system if it becomes a nuisance.
Most false alarms are caused by user errors, but pets, poorly installed equipment and faulty equipment can cause problems, too.
When you’re interviewing home security providers, be sure to ask what safeguards are in place to protect you from excessive alarms and fees.
Response times
Home security alarms usually do not immediately summon law enforcement to your house.
When a burglar trips an alarm, the home security company first tries to reach the homeowner — and others, depending on the protocol you set up — to see if the alarm is false.
Response times after a burglary has been verified can take a few minutes or more than 20 minutes. If you live far away from services, it can take even longer.
Because false alarms are common, they don’t usually jump to the top of law enforcement’s priority list, especially if other crimes are in progress, Snell said. (This is a good thing: Remember, too many false alarms and you pay.)
“We believe having a monitored secure system is good thing,” Snell said, adding that alarm systems are good for deterring burglars, even if they don’t keep them out entirely.
“If nothing else, it makes them hurry and expedite the process of them taking what they are going to take,” Snell said.
Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037, sjackson@heraldnet.com.
Resources
ADT: See www.adt.com or 800-238-2727.
Evergreen Security Systems, Everett: See www.evergreensecurity.com or call 425-348-3850 or 800-466-3850.
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