Approximately 28% of all households in the U.S. with internet access are also equipped with home security systems. That amounts to about forty-one million homes. About thirty million of them are equipped with systems that also include a paid monitoring subscription. The numbers are important when you consider that cost continues to be a reason so many people do not invest in any type of home security equipment.
In fairness, we need to account for all the apartment dwellers who do not use home security equipment because their leases prevent them from doing so. How many of them would install security cameras and door sensors if they could?
Nonetheless, affordability is less of an issue for the tens of millions who pay for monthly service. So, where do you stand? Is affordable home security a reality for you, or have you avoided getting into the market because of cost?
Paying for the Equipment
It is a given that home security systems do require an upfront investment. That investment is in the equipment. Vivint Home Security recently launched its HomeProtect package available at two different price points. The more affordable of the two offers:
- 3 door and window sensors
- 1 motion sensor
- 1 keypad
- 1 security hub
- The Vivint app
This is obviously an entry level system designed for those who want to get started with a low price point. A consumer could choose the package and build on it by adding extra sensors, video cameras, etc.
As a consumer, you could compare this system with what you might get from a competitor like ADT. Also bear in mind that Vivint professionally installs all its systems. Consumers can get free installation when they sign a three-year monitoring contract.
DIY Home Security
A consumer looking for affordable home security would also want to check out DIY systems. From the equipment standpoint, the prices are going to be comparable. An entry-level system from SimpliSafe will be comparable in both equipment choices and price. The big difference is that the homeowner installs the system himself.
The Cost of Monthly Monitoring
Comparing equipment costs is simple enough. For some households however, affordability is really about that monthly monitoring service. Monitoring generates another monthly bill households have to fit into the budget.
No doubt that monitoring is an important part of effective home security. Whether a homeowner does it himself or pays for professional monitoring, somebody needs to keep an eye on the system. Otherwise, a home security setup is little more than a noisemaker.
A homeowner who chooses to self-monitor can save money every month. But that means constantly having the phone on and push notifications enabled. It means responding every time a notification comes in. Certainly it is doable, and a lot of homeowners do it. But for others, paying for professional monitoring is a better way to go.
It Is a Personal Choice
The point of this post is not to convince you that one kind of system is better than the other. It is to say that how much you value home security is a personal choice. Tens of millions of people now have security devices in their homes. The majority of them are paying for professional security service via a combination of equipment and monitoring.
If you want affordable home security on a budget, there are options for entry-level systems you can install now and then build on later. But if your budget will support a full investment, the options are almost limitless. Today’s home security has a lot to offer.
