If you’re looking for simple ways to make your home more secure, adding a security system is a good place to start. These systems send you instant notifications when unusual events occur in your home, increasing your family’s sense of security. However, when you start looking for a home security system, it can seem overwhelming trying to choose feature sets, service contract terms, and camera placement. One of the key decisions you need to make early on is whether to have your home security system installed by yourself or professionally.
Reading the pros and cons of each type of installation may not be enough to help you choose. To give you actionable insights, BGR conducted an exclusive interview with Gene Petrino, Senior Advisor to Survival Response LLC as well as a retired SWAT Commander and ASIS Certified Protective Professional (CPP).
When cost is an issue, his advice is to always look beyond the initial cost of installing the security system yourself or by a professional and be sure you understand the additional and ongoing costs. “Compare monitoring fees, contracts, equipment ownership, warranties, maintenance costs, cellular backup, battery backup, video storage fees and what happens if you decide to change providers later,” he said. Additionally, Petrino said you shouldn’t just select the cheapest option, which “is not necessarily the best value. Security is an area where proper placement, reliable equipment, professional monitoring and quality installation can justify paying more.”
Best Reasons to Consider a DIY Security System Installation
If you haven’t looked at DIY home security systems in several years, you might be surprised by the major improvements they’ve seen in that time. “DIY systems have become very capable and can be a great choice for many homes, especially for smaller properties with relatively simple security needs,” security expert Gene Petrino told BGR. “They can also offer lower upfront costs and greater flexibility.”
Petrino highly recommends taking the time to imagine the exact layout and equipment you will need before purchasing items for your DIY home security system installation. He said DIYers should walk around the property and try to look at everything through the eyes of someone who wants to gain stealth access. “One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make is purchasing cameras, sensors and other devices and then deciding where to place them,” Petrino said. “Identify likely approaches, vulnerable doors and windows, hidden areas and routes someone could take to move around the property.” If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, consider hiring a professional.
With good planning, you may even be able to turn inexpensive webcams into a DIY home security system instead of purchasing a kit. However, Petrino said it’s important to remember that using a DIY installation means you’ll have to do a lot of the troubleshooting and monitoring yourself. If you’re not comfortable with the steps required to manage the system after installation, he said it may be more efficient to request installation and subscription from a professional security company.
When to Choose Professional Home Security System Installers
As you walk through your property and consider the different potential entry points that the security system needs to monitor, you might decide that designing your own DIY security system is beyond your comfort level. “A professional installation becomes more valuable as property or security requirements become more complicated,” said Gene Petrino. “A trained professional should be able to identify vulnerabilities that a homeowner might overlook, determine the appropriate location of the sensor and camera, and ensure that individual components work together.”
If you are concerned that home security cameras record poor quality images, you may want to stick to professionals who can guarantee higher quality images. They won’t just focus on using high-quality cameras when looking to provide the best possible images, Petrino said. Locating the cameras correctly is a big help. “Poor placement can result in great images of the top of someone’s head, an obscured face, excessive glare or an image too far away to identify someone,” he said.
Unfortunately, some professional companies may try to take advantage of novice homeowners by selling them too much equipment, resulting in a system that is much more expensive and complex than it needs to be. “If someone tells you you need another camera, sensor, service or upgrade, ask what specific vulnerability it addresses and what happens if you don’t buy it,” Petrino said. “There should be a clear safety reason for this recommendation.” Getting multiple project quotes from professionals can help you manage this problem.
