School me in home security options and prices

[vanisleflamesfan]

Winchester pump action 20 gauge, rifled shotgun (4+1) loaded as follows: slug, 2/0* buckshot, slug, 2/0 buckshot, slug. $659.95 one-time payment (plus $75.00ish for ammo). No monthly fees.

Alternatively, if you don't like that, or if you aren't a great shot (although with the rifling you will be...) load it as follows: 2/0 buckshot, slug, 2/0 buckshot, slug, 2/0 buckshot.

Or hey... it's your family's security in question: 5 rounds of 2/0 buckshot. The choice is yours!

And hey, really splurge and get a .357 for the wife and load it with .38 specials. $435.95 and $30.00ish for ammo. One time charge, no monthly fees!

* #8

[GoinAllTheWay]

/\/\/\
I like the cut of your jib.

[Fuzz]

Not entirely useful if you aren't home, though.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Solution: Never leave your house.

[Northendzone]

set up the entrance to your house like something from one of those temples from raiders of the lost arc.

have faith when you leap from the lions head and for those who do not - well, you can use it as an excuse to expand your social cirlce

[photon]

See getting robbed as an opportunity to get all new stuff.

[annasuave]

Does it help to know the Mrs. is a tech junkie who can't understand why modern homes don't come with stuff like Echo or Google Home pre-installed? Who wants to turn on light switches with their hands like a sucker, when you could just tell the house to turn them on?

Would your recommendations for home security change if you knew Rico had to contend with a strong geek factor? At the very least, I want to be able to see who's ringing my doorbell on my smartphone.

[ricosuave]

Thanks for all the tips, will investigate further. Looks like there are some reasonable, inexpensive and quality options out there.

[csnarpy]

Ahem....

https://www.bbb.org/edmonton/busines...and-complaints

Be careful with Vivant please.

[Northendzone]

^ not to say that Vivint is great, but I'd have to think almost all alarm companies have the same type of complaints against them.

I know we were with counterforce for about 10 years prior to Vivint and when we cancelled they continued to take payments from us despite the fact we sent an email cancellation and had to wait 60 days. In addition they stopped charging us for two months, then restarted. It took them 60 days for them to process a credit.

[csnarpy]

Counterforce was just as bad.

Vivant is the same company as APX. APX went out of business because of bad business practices and the owner just turned it into Vivant. TBH I'm fairly shocked they are still around but with the economy on its ass, crime is at an all time high and pop up security is flurishing.

All I say is buyer beware, especially if you want to cancel. To me they mirror Direct Energy but overall worse.

As a Alarm tech, I look at the installs and pretty much get pissed at most other companies. But there are definitely a few I'd recommend.

I'll always push ADT, as I work for them - lol, but our techs are prob the most experienced overall. AEsecurity are a solid company as well as Certified. There's a few others out there but you'll find almost all companies are just, to put it plainly, sh*t.

[N-E-B]

Get a big dog

[DoubleF]

Windows laminate.

Slowing down a thief is primary (ie: Locks, windows laminate etc.)

Security system reduces the time a thief has in your home.
A video monitoring system helps to identify someone in case someone robs you.

I read a reddit a while back. Dogs don't work. A good B&E guy will walk around with dog treats. Security system just means they have a few minutes instead of a bit longer to meander a home. They'll still get some stuff. Windows laminate literally makes it take 3-5x longer before the thief can get in the typical way (unless they kick in a door)

[dino7c]

lol if you walked in my house un-invited with dog treats my dog would #### you up and then eat them

don't pay the fee just snag the sign from some other sucker...if someone is really worried about an alarm the sign will scare them off


Another bonus is other companies won't bother you when you have a competitors sign up...alarm sales people are the worst

[calgarywinning]

Most people go big box solution with the people that have the marketing money like Alarm Force, etc.

They get you hooked in on cheap equipment, improper install and a monthly contract that will never end.

This is another area where finding a specialist who is serious about security pays off in spades. They know how to get eliminate opportunity, create limited time and setup a proper system that will protect you when you are home or away. Yes, it will not eliminate crime, but greatly reduces yourself as a target.

Paying for the equipment in advance greatly reduces the monthly monitoring fee's hugely. And within 3-4 years the investment pays off.

[ricosuave]

^ so where would you find a specialist?

[Northendzone]

I'd be interested in seeing a stats with respect to home break-ins:
# of break-ins in a year for Calgary
# of break-ins in a year for homes in Calgary with alarms (wopuld be nice to have a summary by alarm company)

I guess I figure most home break-ins are done as a crime of somewhat easy opportunity, versus a real pro would might spend time defeating a system

[jeffporfirio]

Who did you choose or go with?
I'm also in the market for a system.

[Iceman90]

I had 2 break-ins last year, before I decided it was time to get a security system.

The police officers who came to my first break in told me that it's common for burglers to come back after the initial break in. They now know the layout of the house, where the weaknesses are, and where you keep your stuff. 3-4 weeks later your insurance will have replaced everything and they can come steal it all over again.

I got an alarm system installed after the second break in. I am using ADT and am happy with their service. The cost is $50/month for the monitoring and gear, which I feel is reasonable. The few times the alarm has gone off with a false alarm their staff has been thorough and pleasant to deal with.

My system has 3 motion detectors, 2 door sensors, the panel (not a touch screen) and 2 keyfobs I can use to arm and disarm remotely. I also get access to the ADT Pulse mobile app so I can arm and disarm from my phone or tablet.

The system has a 3 year contract and ADT owns all the gear (I am renting it from them). There are pros and cons to this, but I'd rather rent the gear so it can be swapped out for newer models if needed later. If I own the gear I have to pay to replace it when it gets obsolete.

I am happy with ADT.

United Alarm wanted to charge me $2/month for access to the app - which is crazy to me as there is no cost to them.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

Who did you choose or go with?
I'm also in the market for a system.

Haven't decided yet