DIY alarm systems are great. They’re less expensive than professionally installed systems, easy to move from home to home, and often as technologically sophisticated as any alarm equipment on the market. So why would anyone pay the extra cost for professional installation?
There are actually quite a few reasons professionally installed alarm system are better than DIY alarm system, but first, we’re going to discuss some of the benefits of DIY home security systems.
Benefits of DIY Alarm Systems
There are quite a few DIY alarm companies on the market, and Do-It-Yourself Technology is one of the fastest growing segments in the security industry. Installing a DIY alarm system provides many of the same security benefits as professionally installed with some added benefits.
DIY security is great for renters, lower income families, and first time homebuyers that are on a tight budget. These systems are inexpensive and usually wireless, which makes them easy to install and very easy to move from one house to another. Many DIY systems come equipped with smart home features, like Nest.
DIY Alarm Systems Are Better Than Nothing.
If you’re between DIY and not installing an alarm system, go with the DIY option. It’s certainly better than nothing. However, if you have the option, go with a DIY system that’s monitored by a 3rd party service. The fire alarm protection alone on a monitored system is worth is weight in gold.
If you’re technologically savvy and love tinkering with electronics, you might enjoy installing your own alarm system, but you won’t really know what’s missing until you consult with a security professional.
Why 3rd Party Monitoring So Important for Alarm Systems?
As mentioned above, some DIY alarm systems don’t provide 3rd party monitoring, and instead, have homeowners monitor their own homes via a smartphone app & alerts. Most burglars are in-and-out within 10 minutes, and a house fire can get completely out of hand in only a matter of minutes.
When seconds count, the last thing you want is an alarm system that relies entirely on your being available 24 hours a day. What happens when you’re in an important meeting? Or even worse, asleep in bed with your phone downstairs. Or what happens when your phone dies? This is why 3rd party monitoring is so important.
Problems with DIY Alarm Equipment
There are also technical problems with some DIY alarm systems. Some are made of cheap equipment. Some can easily be bi-passed by burglars. Others are using outdated technology.
But the most significant problem with DIY alarm systems is that every house is unique. It’s unrealistic to assume that whatever you get out of a box is the best alarm system combination of equipment for your particular home. And how do you really know what’s missing?
Benefits of Hiring a Professional Alarm Company
The benefits of hiring a professional alarm company far outweigh the small, one-time cost savings of installing DIY alarm equipment. If you are the head of an established household and plan on staying in your home for the next 5 to 10 years, it’s well worth investing in a professional alarm system.
A security professional will first assess your home for security weaknesses, then take into account the local crime trends of the area, and finally come up with a custom solution designed to meet your family’s unique needs and budget. Most professional alarm companies are installing top-of-the-line security equipment that can integrate with smart home technology solutions like Alarm.com & Honeywell Total Connect.
If something goes wrong with your alarm system, you’ll have a variety of resources at your disposal, but most importantly, you’ll be able to have a professionally trained alarm technician come out a fix whatever has gone wrong. And if you’re not that tech savvy to begin with, having a technician at your disposal is going to save you many headaches down the road.
Hire a Professional to Assess Your Home’s Security (Before Purchasing DIY Alarm Equipment)
Before making the leap into DIY home security, consider asking a professional alarm company to come by your home to provide you with pricing and suggestions for how to set up the best home security solution. If your wireless DIY alarm system doesn’t come with home surveillance cameras, water sensors, carbon monoxide detectors, and 3rd party monitoring, keep looking.
If you live in the St. Louis region, contact Butler Durrell Security to get pricing for a professionally installed alarm system for your unique home.
