DIY Or Use a Professional - Home Security Solutions
The DIY (or Do-It-Yourself) craze is sweeping the nations.
Home redecorating shows fill the air, magazines are bursting with how-to articles, and there is now an entire cable network devoted to do it yourself projects.
Ranging from home improvement to crafts, the channel and its accompanying website have every imaginable theme covered.
However, there are some things, like home security systems, that seem implausible to consider doing yourself.
Well, guess again.
DIY experts offer tips and advice for consumers wanting to save money and install monitoring devices the old-fashioned way: by hand.
When deciding which route to choose (professional or DIY) it's important to look at all factors, not just money saved.
With the FBI estimating that a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the US, with an average loss to homeowners at $1300, there are plenty of things on the line to consider.
Though professional providers have an advantage in terms of monitoring, there are some components to home security that are without a doubt doable by hand.
For example, engraving valuable electronics and replacing flimsy locks and latches.
They say that a burglar won't try to enter a door or window for more than 60 seconds.
Replace your common locks with track or sash locks and keep intruders uncomfortably on the outside of your home.
A traditional entry point for intruders, sturdy up French doors by adding slide-rod locks.
All exterior doors with glass windows should have the kind of dead bolts that require keys for both sides.
Common latch dead bolts are appropriate if the door is solid wood.
But when it comes to home alarm systems, professional may be the answer.
DIY wireless systems kits are available for install, but with professional installation costing no more than $99, the question is, is it worth the money saved? Most DIY kits usually come with a receiver/control-unit, door and window sensors and various motion detectors.
They do not usually come with actual monitoring service, so homeowners will have to find a service provider regardless.
While most service providers will connect previously installed hardware to their company's monitoring services, unless you are handy enough to install (well) an entire system yourself, you may not save that much money (or more importantly, time) by doing it without the professionals.
What does professional service entail? The most basic of home security system packages include: digital keypad, pet sensitive motion detector, monitoring services, and even keychain remotes, that wirelessly arm and disarm your entire system.
Monitoring services depend, but can range from being connected to up to five command centers throughout the US that are staffed with trained professionals.
All service providers will usually promise 24-7 coverage, but customers should check with the provider about company policy in case of a disruption at the command center.
Companies with just one center will need to be sure to have a plan on the off-chance that something goes wrong with their center's monitoring devices.
While installing your own home alarm system is possible, providing monitoring for your home needs to come from a professional service.
If you do install your own system, most providers, as mentioned, will double-check its compatibility with their services.
Home redecorating shows fill the air, magazines are bursting with how-to articles, and there is now an entire cable network devoted to do it yourself projects.
Ranging from home improvement to crafts, the channel and its accompanying website have every imaginable theme covered.
However, there are some things, like home security systems, that seem implausible to consider doing yourself.
Well, guess again.
DIY experts offer tips and advice for consumers wanting to save money and install monitoring devices the old-fashioned way: by hand.
When deciding which route to choose (professional or DIY) it's important to look at all factors, not just money saved.
With the FBI estimating that a burglary occurs every 15 seconds in the US, with an average loss to homeowners at $1300, there are plenty of things on the line to consider.
Though professional providers have an advantage in terms of monitoring, there are some components to home security that are without a doubt doable by hand.
For example, engraving valuable electronics and replacing flimsy locks and latches.
They say that a burglar won't try to enter a door or window for more than 60 seconds.
Replace your common locks with track or sash locks and keep intruders uncomfortably on the outside of your home.
A traditional entry point for intruders, sturdy up French doors by adding slide-rod locks.
All exterior doors with glass windows should have the kind of dead bolts that require keys for both sides.
Common latch dead bolts are appropriate if the door is solid wood.
But when it comes to home alarm systems, professional may be the answer.
DIY wireless systems kits are available for install, but with professional installation costing no more than $99, the question is, is it worth the money saved? Most DIY kits usually come with a receiver/control-unit, door and window sensors and various motion detectors.
They do not usually come with actual monitoring service, so homeowners will have to find a service provider regardless.
While most service providers will connect previously installed hardware to their company's monitoring services, unless you are handy enough to install (well) an entire system yourself, you may not save that much money (or more importantly, time) by doing it without the professionals.
What does professional service entail? The most basic of home security system packages include: digital keypad, pet sensitive motion detector, monitoring services, and even keychain remotes, that wirelessly arm and disarm your entire system.
Monitoring services depend, but can range from being connected to up to five command centers throughout the US that are staffed with trained professionals.
All service providers will usually promise 24-7 coverage, but customers should check with the provider about company policy in case of a disruption at the command center.
Companies with just one center will need to be sure to have a plan on the off-chance that something goes wrong with their center's monitoring devices.
While installing your own home alarm system is possible, providing monitoring for your home needs to come from a professional service.
If you do install your own system, most providers, as mentioned, will double-check its compatibility with their services.
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