To Get Adt Or Not To Get Adt, That Is The Question

[saemo]

So we just bought a house and this ADT guy came over to discuss home security and my husband felt like we should get it.  In the back of my mind, I was wondering if there were something we could do on our own that would be just as effective.  My main concern is that all of our bedrooms are upstairs and it would be hard to hear if anyone quietly broke in downstairs.  I worry a lot more about my children than I do about things being stolen.  That wouldn't be fun either of course, but not nearly as bad as a kid going down for a drink of water and there's someone in our house.

 

It's about $36 a month with a commitment of 3 years.  Considering we haven't even seen yet how bad all of our bills are going to be on top of a mortgage, this makes me cringe.  I also worry about accidentally setting it off, especially if the kids are home and we're not.

 

So what do you all do?  I think a dog would be pretty expensive too, but would definitely wake us up.  Maybe more than we want to wake up. 

 

Suggestions? 

Just get an ADT sign and set it in your front yard. . Seriously, half the battle is getting the bad guys to not have any interest and move on.

If you want the peace of mind of knowing what's going on in your yard while out, get a Belkin NetCam, which has a built in motion sensor. The camera will email you a photo of what caused the motion sensor to go off. One time expense for the camera. You'll need an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or an android device to run the app that manages/monitors the camera. Wireless internet access in your home, and a place to put the camera. (It is an indoor camera that you will need to point out a window.)

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Try this:

http://simplisafe.com/

 

This is a do it your self home security that you set up your self there is no contract and from what I recall it is about 14.99 (http://simplisafe.com/help-center/pricing) bucks a month. It is a wireless set up so you don't need a land line and it works just like ADT and it is cheaper in the long run. There is up front cost to get the equipment ranging from 229-579.

 

I was going to tell you about Ooma to just for kicks. You only pay tax on your monthly phone bill which is about 3 bucks. Not that you were talking about phones, just throwing it out there.

[MorningStar]

Try this:

http://simplisafe.com/

 

This is a do it your self home security that you set up your self there is no contract and from what I recall it is about 14.99 (http://simplisafe.com/help-center/pricing) bucks a month. It is a wireless set up so you don't need a land line and it works just like ADT and it is cheaper in the long run. There is up front cost to get the equipment ranging from 229-579.

 

I was going to tell you about Ooma to just for kicks. You only pay tax on your monthly phone bill which is about 3 bucks. Not that you were talking about phones, just throwing it out there.

Cool!  Thanks for the info!  Is Ooma available most places?

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Cool!  Thanks for the info!  Is Ooma available most places?

Yeah it is a box that cost about 149.99 and you hook it up directly to your internet. Then you plug a phone into that. So as long as you have internet you can use Ooma. You don't even need a computer.

 

I tell you. that is the best money I have spent, it is so nice not having a 30 (or more) dollar phone bill every month. It's funny when Comcast calls to get me on a phone program. "I have Ooma". Oh. OK, well, let us know if you need something.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Mola Ram Suda Ram

[jasonincognito]

You need to watch out for long-term contracts with security companies. Many of them try to lock you in for far longer than you might want to be with them, especially if you find out their service is terrible. I've heard of contracts as long as three years, and that require many months of advance written notice before being extended for a year or longer. Please don't sign any contracts like that - yikes!

 

I've had a good experience with the folks at Alarm.com - they have dealers everywhere, my contract was just month-to-month, the price was $39 a month before tax, the entire system was wireless (so no landline phone needed), and there's a nifty app for your mobile phone to control the whole thing with. I've been with them for more than four years now and recommend them highly.

 

Forgive me,

Jason

[Iggy]

My neighbor put up security cams on the four corners of her home - one was directed at her front door which is under cover of a roof porch. The camera was on the corner of the house out in the sunlight. When her house got burgled, the two burglers showed up as shadows! AND her door wasn't even visable. The burglers cut the wires to two of the cams - BUT on the one that is on the front of the house - that caught them so at least the police had them on camera. Her door & the jamb and wall are wood. They chipped out around the knob, jamb and wall. Three of us neighbors chipped and paid for a metal door frame. I gave her a metal wrap around the door knob protector and one for the jamb. 

 

Our doors are metal- but the jamb is a softer metal and of course the wall is wood. Door knob lock sets do not recess very far into the jamb. Get a dead bolt. IF you have a window close enough where if it is broken, the dead bolt can be reached - install a keyed dead bolt. We keep a key on a CHAIN hanging from the hinge. Also our front and back doors have different keys. So the front dead bolt key is the same as the back door knob. 

 

We live in a manufactured home and the frames of our windows tend to hurt the hands if you are pulling yourself up from outside to climb in. We took hacksaw blades- coarse teeth and secured them onto the inside of the window frames. Now one will really cut and hurt their hands when they try to climb in. 

 

Both husband and I are hard of hearing - take out our hearing aids and unless it is a tsunami warning alarm directed directly at our house - we can't hear it. In two months we are having warning lights installed in our bedroom. The door bell rings - the light will pulsate. The doors/windows connections are separated, the lights will pulsate. Lights going on, unfortunately, don't wake us up. Lights pulsating do. 

 

We are also going to have motion sensor FLOOD lights installed outside, AND the neighbors want them to light up the entire area around our house and include their yards - windows - front doors - etc. They will pay for the bulbs even! We are so very tired of our gas being siphoned out of our vehicles, and of two of our neighbors being burgled - one of which was a house invasion as the poor elderly couple were home and in bed at the time. 

 

Morning Star - let your neighbors know when you are going on vacation or going to be gone for more than 12 hours. My across the street neighbor went away for a long weekend and none of us knew it - both of his cars were still there. We saw a gal going in and out of his house - but we thought it was either his sister or gal friend. Both are skinny and blonde. Had he let us all know he was going to be away and that no one had permission to be there - I would have called the police when I saw her go around back and exit the front. 

 

Another thing you might consider is installing security bars over your windows. They may break the windows - but they can't get their hands/arms in to unlock the doors. Dead bolts with key lock inside prevents them from removing items. Take the keys on the hinges with you when you go on extended trips. 

 

Talk with your local police force regarding door knobs, key locks, window protections, etc. They will tell you which are the best and which are NOT. Spend the money on quality and safety. 

 

I have that portable door jammer. We use it when we travel and stay in motels/hotels. Right now my neighbor who got burgled is using it. She doesn't need it really, because of the new jambs, dead bolts; but it gives her peace of mind at night when she is in bed. Her teen son will be home in a few days from his summer vacation w/Dad - so then she will return it. 

 

I also have a spray bottle with half ammonia & half water in it. . Had a bear try to climb in my bedroom window once. Ranger told me that ammonia water in the face is more effective in chasing them away than screaming, shooting with a pistol, bashing her in the face with a club. It is also VERY effective in keeping a human from getting any closer. Have used it on a gal who flat refused to quit pounding on my door and get off of my porch. I had thrown a glass of water in her face and nothing. So while husband blocked the front door - I went and got the spray bottle. THAT did it. It shut her mouth long enough for Hubby to take her by the arm and guide her down the steps. By then the police were there and they took her off. In two months the restraining order we got will end, hope she won't come back. 

[MorningStar]

Thanks, Iggy!  I think I trust one neighbor enough to tell them we're going somewhere, but my next door neighbor has his son living with him and told me when he was living with his mom, he joined a gang.  He was also burglarized himself when overseas and I wouldn't be surprised if his son and his "friends" had something to do with it.