If you are here, you have probably already decided that you want to invest in a good security system for your house. Now the question arises if you should go for a monitored or unmonitored home security system. Monitored home security systems will give you the peace of mind of knowing that your house is being monitored 24/7 by professional and even if you are busy, any emergency will be dealt with. Whereas, self-monitored home security systems do not incur a monthly cost on your bill as once you have installed the system, you are responsible for monitoring it, from your smartphone or Internet connection.

Features of Monitored Home Security Systems

Monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

With a monitored home security system, the intruder alarm and other sensors like smoke detectors are being monitored by your security service provider’s monitoring centers. They are professional who deal with hundreds and thousands of calls every day and are very skilled at differentiating false alarms to real alarms.

The security company can act on your behalf

If ever an alarm is triggered, signals are sent to the security service provider’s monitoring center who then decide what to do with the signal. They will first try calling you to check if it was a false alarm or not, if you do not respond, they will call the concerned authorities. All of this is done under two minutes to minimize the damage.

Keep in mind that in the case of a self-monitored home security system, you will be responsible for calling the authorities, and if by some bad luck, you happen to be asleep, away or busy, you will be at major risk because eventually no one would be able to act on your behalf.

Signals are never ignored

Whenever a sensor is triggered, it will send signals to the security company. The security company consists of experienced professionals who know exactly what to do in different situations and who to call if there is a real threat. Since your home security system is being monitored 24/7, no signals will ever be ignored. On the other hand, if you have opted for a self-monitored system, chances are, you may not always be available to respond aptly to threats.

Burglar deterrent

Studies show that, houses that are protected by monitored home security systems cause burglars to not commit the crime because then they know that there is a fair chance a signal will be sent before they are able to disarm the alarm.

Different monitoring options

With monitored home security systems, you have the option to choose from different monitoring responses. The company can contact you or if you are not responding, you can nominate key-holders like a close friend or a family member who can verify if you are safe or not. Monitoring options can also include calling the police if there is a break-in or calling the fire department in case of a fire.

In the end, it comes down to weighing the pros and cons of different services. The biggest benefit of having a monitored home security system is the satisfaction you will have when it comes to the safety of your family and house, because you will know that the house is being monitored by professionals and even if you are not available to respond, they can act on your behalf to ensure no damage is incurred.