0
0
You count yourself among those considering installing a home security system. You have looked at all of the options, both professionally installed and DIY. You have also looked into 24/7 monitoring. You cannot make up your mind for one simple reason: you don’t know if monitoring really makes a difference.
An unmonitored home security system is kind of worthless unless it makes a lot of noise. It turns out that this is what security systems did before remote monitoring with a thing. They made a lot of noise. The only question you really have to ask is whether or not one system is better than the other. Is monitored home security better than a mere noise maker?
To answer that question, let us discuss the main difference between the two strategies. Both have the same intended goal; they just reach that goal differently.
Noise-Making Alarms
A home security system that only makes noise is really just an alarm. It is a lot like your car alarm. If someone attempts forced entry into your home, the system is triggered, and a siren begins sounding. There may or may not be external speakers to amplify that sound. At the very least, a blaring siren will wail inside the house.
What’s the point? To make enough noise to alert neighbors to the problem. The hope is that someone figures it out and calls the police. The police then respond and do what they do. In principle, it is a very workable system. At one time, it was the only system.
The big difference between noise makers and monitored alarms is as simple as who gets the alert and calls police. Monitored alarm systems definitely have a big advantage.
Monitored Home Security
A monitored home security system is connected to a remote monitoring center via internet or landline. If you were to purchase a new security system from Vivint Smart Home, their remote monitoring center would provide the necessary coverage. You would pay a monthly fee for the service.
In the event someone attempted unauthorized entry, your system wouldn’t rely on neighbors hearing the noise. Instead, it would immediately send an alert to the monitoring center. A trained security specialist would immediately respond to the alert according to a set protocol. If necessary, they would notify the police.
Who would you rather have responding to your alarm: a neighbor or a trained security specialist? Therein lies the difference. Around-the-clock monitoring guarantees that a trained specialist is always paying attention – whether you are home or not.
Separate Installation and Monitoring
One of the things that confuses consumers is the mistaken belief that you can only get 24-hour monitoring with a professionally installed system. But that’s not the case. Almost all professionally installed systems come with monitoring, but most of your DIY packages can be supported by monitoring as well.
You can choose your preferred installation method separate from the monitoring equation. That said, it is a good idea to research monitoring services in your effort to decide which security system to buy. Even the best security system on the market is limited in its ability to protect you if the monitoring that supports it is substandard.
Of course, there is always that middle ground between professional monitoring and making noise. You can monitor your home security system yourself. Doing so is better than relying on the noise making strategy, but not nearly as good as 24-hour professional monitoring.
What is the difference between monitored home security and noise makers? The person who identifies an activated alarm and calls the police. It is no more complicated than that.
