Home Security Systems - they're not as complicated or expensive as one might think

Last week I had a home security system installed. I have had this thing a little over a week, and I already feel like I wonder how I ever lived without it. Really. I'm very surprised by this.

I always thought security systems were for paranoid worry-warts. And granted, I have fit into that category the last couple months, no doubt. Regardless of that, now that I have a security system in my home I feel like I wish I could pay for everyone I know to have a security system in their home. That may be an exaggeration - but I have been accused of caring too much. :)

Peace of Mind

The amount of rest I've been able to get since I had the security system installed is more than I expected. Since my house was broken into a couple months ago, I've been hard-pressed to get an un-medicated good night's sleep. (yay for Melatonin pills :) But, being aware that I don't want to become physically or psychologically addicted to any such thing, I knew I needed to do something more.

Every little noise I've heard around my house the last few months sent me into a near (if not full blown) panic attack. Houses make noises. They settle. Whatever. It's what they do. Quite literally I have noticed a 100% change in my reaction to house noises since the security system was installed - I have no jumpy increased heart rate/breathing anymore. None. Amazing.

Less Complicated Than I Thought

In getting a security system installed, I was able to find a smaller, local company, a friend of a friend who owns and operates the company (Advanced Wiring Solutions).Big companies can have their place in general. But in this case, any contact I had with the big security companies was less than favorable, in my opinion. As for the company I went with - the guy I emailed, who I talked to on the phone, who gave me an estimate, who did the installation - was all the same person. I like that kind of personal service.

And I like being able to ask any questions I have along the way. Before, during, even after the installation - I have one point of contact. And after learning how it all works and being able to ask all the questions I wanted and, I am less worried about false alarms (my biggest concern about a security system) than I had been.

Think About It

I've blogged about other thoughts and advice I would have given myself if I could go back - advice I would give to my friends. Here's one more piece of food for thought. I would encourage anyone to at least think about a security system in their home.

I had thought such thing would cost thousands of dollars. But I was able to get a system installed for less than $600, and monitoring service for less than $30/month that I can cancel any time if I want to (no long-term contract!). That's a rough estimate, for my relatively-small house, and every house is different. But that kind of ballpark estimate is all I wanted when calling the big security companies, and they wouldn't even talk to me about that much on the phone. I just wanted to know if it was in the ballpark of what I would or could afford. But now that you all have the rough estimate that I wanted all along, think about this: what is your peace of mind worth?

Thanks to Chuck at Advanced Wiring Solutions who installed my security system - you rock.