As a local security provider, we work with our customers to help them find the security equipment that best suits their needs. Of course, doing this helps make the alarms we install as effective as possible. However, careful alarm design also has another, often-unexpected benefit. Choosing the security products and system design that fits you best can also greatly reduce the cost of your installation! In this post, we share some tips to help you experience cost-effective home security.
First, we’ll share how choosing the proper alarm system can cut down on your cost right out of the box. We install many different “flavors” of security systems, and we always try to help customers make a cost-effective choice in this manner. From there, we’ll look at the effect alarm system design can have on a system’s overall price tag. Then, we’ll examine how you can combine different security services into one interconnected, full security plan. Creating ways to integrate your home’s security measures can go a long way towards lowering costs. Finally, we’ll focus on how installing our equipment can actually save you money in a couple unique ways. Now, let’s see how choosing the best alarm system for your home can provide both security and cost savings.
The QOLSYS IQ Panel 4 comes with our interactive Alarm.com cellular dialer already built in, creating a significant savings for many of our customers.
Choose the Security System That Best Suits Your Needs
At Northeast Security Solutions, we do not take a “one-size fits all” approach to security. Rather, we work with customers to determine what they need out of their security equipment. From there, we recommend an alarm system that works best for their application. Doing so helps customers get the best security available to them. Additionally, it often helps out their wallets as well! Choosing the best alarm for your home comes with both security and monetary benefits.
For example, many customers have existing alarm equipment in place when we install their new security system. In these cases, we try to choose a system that can utilize these existing contacts. After all, “taking over” your existing security equipment means paying for less new equipment to get your system up and running. In many cases, this means installing an alarm with the capability to take over hardwired alarm zones. Other existing alarm systems include wireless sensors. In these instances, we try to install security equipment that communicates with these previously-installed wireless devices.
Finally, choosing an alarm panel that includes modern features can also help you save money. For example, our preferred alarm panel, the QOLSYS IQ Panel 4, comes with our Alarm.com cellular dialer already installed. This dialer allows customers to control their security system with a smartphone. Therefore, you can use your phone to control your alarm throughout your house instead of purchasing and installing multiple keypads. It also provides instant security-related text alerts and notifications. Since most of our customers use this dialer to monitor their alarm, utilizing the QOLSYS security platform saves them the money of buying a panel and dialer separately. Next up, let’s see how effective alarm design can also lower your security system’s cost!
Design Your Alarm System Layout Efficiently
Several months ago, we completed a post sharing Smart Security System Design Tips for potential alarm customers. In that post, we discuss the importance of choosing both the right alarm panel and the right security sensor layout for your home. Of course, carefully designing your alarm’s equipment placement always adds security. Additionally, creating an alarm that does as much as possible with a limited amount of contacts can also pay dividends by keeping money in your pocket.
Glass break detectors, such as this one by Interlogix, can detect the sound of breaking glass throughout an entire room.
For example, we offer individual contacts that secure a home’s doors and windows. In fact, just about any security system design begins with creating a plan to secure every exterior door. However, we often secure the rest of a home using other means than installing a sensor on every single window. For example, motion detectors can detect motion within a 30-40 foot range. Additionally, glass break detectors can also detect breaking glass within roughly 20 feet of the sensor’s location.
These sensors allow us to secure large areas of a home with a much smaller number of sensors than we would normally need to install in order to individually contact each and every window. For this reason, we attempt to remain as efficient as possible when desgning an alarm based on our customers’ budgets and security needs. Next up, some tips to integrate different types of equipment to help create cost-effective home security.
Create a Fully-Integrated Home Security Plan
As your neighborhood’s one-stop security shop, we like to plan ahead when it comes to installing multiple layers of security. Unfortunately, many alarm companies do not provide a full umbrella of security services. This can lead to increased costs in the form of using many providers to install multiple types of security that could have all been connected. In particular, our Alarm.com cellular dialer mentioned earlier allows us to create burglar alarm, surveillance, and smart home security devices that all work together.
In addition to allowing you to control your security system remotely, our cellular dialer also acts as a Z-wave smart home hub. The term “Z-Wave” refers to a mesh network providing communication between the hub and smart home devices that operate on this network. As one of the most popular smart home platforms, having a Z-Wave hub in place gives you many options to add smart security devices! Of particular importance, our Alarm.com smart cameras allow users to view both live and recorded video on a computer or smartphone. Furthermore, these cameras provide live video notifications, allowing you to check in on any unexpected activity in real time.
Additionally, keypad smart locks add security by allowing you to lock and unlock your doors remotely, or provide users a code, rather than a key, to unlock your doors. Furthermore, our customers often install Z-Wave light bulbs to allow them to create light schedules and make their homes look occupied at all times. Finally, we also offer environment-related smart devices, which we will describe in detail in the next section detailing security equipment that pays you back.
Installing an Alarm.com smart thermostat allows our customers to save energy and money by tracking and controlling their home’s temperature remotely.
Install Equipment that Pays You Back
Of course, we believe that installing home security represents a great investment for any family. After all, an alarm system delivers priceless security and peace of mind for any family. However, we often surprise customers by saving them money by installing additional equipment. How does this work, exactly? Well, we’re glad you asked! For starters, our Z-Wave environmental devices often pay customers back quickly through energy savings. For example, our Alarm.com thermostat (pictured) allows customers to control their home’s temperature remotely. Moreover, the unique Alarm.com Water Valve and Meter even shuts your water upon detecting an issue. For example, excessive water use that could signal a leak or other malfunction will cause this reaction.
Finally, our customers often experience insurance savings based on the types of equipment that we monitor. Right off the bat, homeowners generally receive insurance rate discounts based on having their security system monitored. Adding monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detection often triggers an even greater savings. Installing environmental detection, such as the types of sensors detailed above, can also boost insurance deductions. All of these devices help alert you about and secure your home against different types of threats. Therefore, taking full advantage of our many security offerings can increase security and decrease security costs at the same time!
Putting it All Together and Experiencing Cost-Effective Home Security
We hope that this post helps you create a cost-effective security plan for your own home! Additionally, we encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have about the material in this post. We will happily answer any security-related questions you may have. Furthermore, we invite you to take advantage of the free site surveys that we provide for both new and existing customers alike. We offer complimentary security audits and equipment quotes to help you create a security plan that fits your budget. While on site, we can address any and all of your security concerns. Moreover, we can also make suggestions of our own based on our observations of your property.
Perhaps you have some security equipment in place, and wish to take advantage of the tips provided here. Or, maybe you do not have much in the way of home security, and you want to get started while also staying cost-conscious right from the beginning. Either way, we are here to help. Together, we can create a complete home security plan that keeps you, your home, and your family as safe and secure as possible, without breaking the bank!