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Old 08-02-2017, 05:27 PM   #1
Scrambler
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Default Home Security options/suggestions

Who do you use?

Roughly how much do you pay per month?

Happy with the service? Hate it? Wish you could get out of it but you are under contract?

I am shopping around for home security in Calgary. I've always lived in condos/apartments/highriese/etc for the last decade and a half so I have never really had to put much thought into this. Now I will be living in my own detached home for the first time with my wife and daughter so some added peace of mind would not be bad, plus having this seems to reduce the home insurance premium too so the cost is to a degree somewhat off-set.

Any fellow CP'er suggestion/advice would be welcomed. TIA!
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Old 08-02-2017, 05:49 PM   #2
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I have a front door and a back door. So far no one has broken in, so I think I'm good.
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Old 08-02-2017, 06:27 PM   #3
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Put up a $2 sign saying "protected by ADT Security".
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Old 08-02-2017, 06:50 PM   #4
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Get a dog. More expensive, but more rewarding than a keypad.
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Old 08-02-2017, 09:11 PM   #5
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I use ADT. I pay $50/month. For that price I get 2 door sensors, 3 motion detectors, 2 keyfobs to arm and disarm, and access to the ADT Pulse mobile app.

I am very happy with the service. I had a break-in last year, and ADT handled it very well, got the cops there very quickly and I love that they have a guarantee that if you get robbed while your system is armed, they'll pay $500 of your deducatable.
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Old 08-02-2017, 09:42 PM   #6
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$50 per month is insane. I was looking at a system that was 800 up front and 23 a month and it included a lot of stuff. So far I just have cameras, so no monthly cost.
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Old 08-02-2017, 10:23 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague View Post
$50 per month is insane. I was looking at a system that was 800 up front and 23 a month and it included a lot of stuff. So far I just have cameras, so no monthly cost.
So in 30 months you'll be even cost wise. $800 upfront is crazy.
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Old 08-03-2017, 07:24 AM   #8
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ADT charges upfront for the equipment too, unless you're renting it from them, which is a bigger hassle altogether.
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Old 08-03-2017, 07:29 AM   #9
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$50 a month is insane? This isn't 1989. $50 a month doesn't even cover 1/6th of my phone, cable and Internet.

Doesn't cover my timmies in the morning.

$50 a month is very reasonable for the security you are getting.
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Old 08-03-2017, 07:38 AM   #10
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Check with your insurance company. Most will give you a good deal if you have an alarm that monitors intrusion, fire and water. In my case, the discount is more than the alarm monitoring fee. I use to have a self monitored automation/alarm system through Insteon, but that wasn't good enough for my insurance company. I use to be critical of alarms, but I really like the home automation stuff. I can check/change house temp from work and close the garage door of I forget.
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Old 08-03-2017, 09:33 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by Iggy City View Post
Put up a $2 sign saying "protected by ADT Security".
Where do you buy this $2 sign?
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Old 08-03-2017, 10:39 AM   #12
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Where do you buy this $2 sign?
Steal it from someone paying $50/month that doesn't protect people from stealing their signs

All jokes aside, I also have ADT, paying around the same per month, and I also have some security cameras (Arlo). Once my ADT contract is up, I'll likely stick with the security cameras.

A little overkill? Maybe. But the sense of security it brings is priceless.
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Old 08-03-2017, 11:43 AM   #13
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I have a nest cam that we currently use as a baby monitor but we are thinking about getting another to put in our living room.

$250 to buy and $10 a month for 10 days of video history.
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Old 08-03-2017, 02:28 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by me_dennis View Post
Steal it from someone paying $50/month that doesn't protect people from stealing their signs

All jokes aside, I also have ADT, paying around the same per month, and I also have some security cameras (Arlo). Once my ADT contract is up, I'll likely stick with the security cameras.

A little overkill? Maybe. But the sense of security it brings is priceless.
Lol, but if all else fails:

https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_no...+security+sign
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Old 08-03-2017, 08:49 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pseudoreality View Post
Check with your insurance company. Most will give you a good deal if you have an alarm that monitors intrusion, fire and water. In my case, the discount is more than the alarm monitoring fee. I use to have a self monitored automation/alarm system through Insteon, but that wasn't good enough for my insurance company. I use to be critical of alarms, but I really like the home automation stuff. I can check/change house temp from work and close the garage door of I forget.
This. My discount from the insurance for a monitored fire/flood/freeze sensors was about 10% of policy. Made a reasonable dent in the monthly alarm monitoring fee.

This thread had some good advice / thoughts:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=160283
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Old 08-03-2017, 10:55 PM   #16
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Windows laminate and obtaining a sticker from someone who has a legit alarm system (they usually get like half a dozen or something of those stickers) is what I do.

Film is cheap and crazy easy to install without bubbles after a tiny bit of trial and error (took me about 3-4 tries to figure it all out). The secret is spraying a slip solution, then squeegeeing out the bubbles that will get trapped behind the film. Baby shampoo and water is great for this and inexpensive vs the giant ripoff some companies charge for the spray. If someone wants to break in, making it annoying for them helps deter them.

Options range from:

- Heat reflecting ones to reduce heat in your home
- Clear film most people don't even know is there if installed correctly
- Opaque film for true privacy
- Decorative film

Note: Privacy film which functions like a 1 way mirror are great during the day, not good at night. Usually, these are the heat reflector ones.
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Old 08-04-2017, 01:30 PM   #17
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I have a front door and a back door. So far no one has broken in, so I think I'm good.
In what is surely karmic feedback for my flippant answer, my wife just called me and said she wants me to investigate installing (or having installed by someone professional) an outdoor camera system that will record for security.

Consider me humbled.
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Old 08-04-2017, 01:43 PM   #18
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In what is surely karmic feedback for my flippant answer, my wife just called me and said she wants me to investigate installing (or having installed by someone professional) an outdoor camera system that will record for security.

Consider me humbled.
If all you want is a camera, get a Skybell HD.

https://www.amazon.ca/SkyBell-Silver...rds=skybell+hd

I had one installed as part of my security system package, but it runs independently and can easily be installed by yourself. So far it has been great for me. You can set it for motion activation and/or button. It works with your existing doorbell wiring and gives you a notification on your phone.
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Old 08-04-2017, 01:53 PM   #19
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If all you want is a camera, get a Skybell HD.

https://www.amazon.ca/SkyBell-Silver...rds=skybell+hd

I had one installed as part of my security system package, but it runs independently and can easily be installed by yourself. So far it has been great for me. You can set it for motion activation and/or button. It works with your existing doorbell wiring and gives you a notification on your phone.
I'm just starting my research now, but I think we would want a 4-8 camera system.
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