With inflation outstripping wage growth, most of us are trying harder to find ways to save money.
We might cut down electricity usage and avoid unnecessary expenses. Perhaps, you consider a home security system as a luxury you can’t afford.
However, when the well-being and safety of your loved ones are so important to you, you might consider a reliable home security system as a valuable investment – especially when it can lower your insurance premiums and actually save you money.
We’ve prepared a list of this and other advantages to installing a good security system.
Peace of mind
It is undeniable that we live in a dangerous world. In Australia alone – where I live – there are more than 200,000 burglaries every year. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, 20% of burglary victims will have their homes broken into more than once.
If this happens to your family, it can take a long time to recover from the trauma.
Burglars are finding ingenious ways to steal cars without even entering the house, making security gates a worthwhile investment
And it’s a similar story in the UK and other advanced economies.
Your loved ones should feel safe inside your home and consider it as a safe haven. While alarm systems do not guarantee 100% security, they can still make a huge difference.
Protect your assets
We also want our family to live a happy and comfortable life. That is why we spend most of our waking hours trying to provide for them.
It can be devastating to have all our hard-earned possessions taken away from us in one night.
Burglars are finding ingenious ways to steal cars without even entering the house, making security gates a worthwhile investment.
Burglars often take items with sentimental value to us too. What if they steal the last piece of jewellery that a departed loved one gave you? What if they take a mobile phone filled with pictures of your kids growing up?
When you install a reliable security system, you can prevent this from happening. It is better to be prepared and spend a little over your budget than be regretful in the end.
Visual documentation of the crime
Burglars themselves have told that CCTV cameras (along with barking dogs) are the best deterrent. And where they don’t deter, they can visually document the crime and be used as evidence in a criminal prosecution.
Monitor your home
We often worry about home security the most when we’re away on holiday or a business trip. Luckily, security systems and surveillance cameras can now be monitored remotely from your phone and send alerts if a break-in is suspected.
If burglars see CCTV or motion detectors installed around your property, they’ll probably remove you from their hitlist
If alerts are triggered then you can visually verify if there’s an intruder and alert the police if so; if you don’t get an alert, then you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.
Discourage burglary attempts
Burglars only need about eight to 12 minutes to accomplish their goals. However, when they hear the blaring siren of your security system, they usually make a quick exit without taking much or anything, knowing that the police are just a few moments away.
You can mount motion detectors on your windows and doors. When someone comes near them or tries to damage an entry point, the sensors will either light up or sound the alarm.
Before committing the crime, burglars usually observe the house they are targeting. If they see that you have CCTV or motion detectors installed around your property, they will probably remove you from their hitlist.
Thieves prefer to commit crimes in darkness and cameras and light triggering motion sensors pose a big problem.
Protection during a fire
Investing on a smoke alarm is also necessary – especially when you live in a bushfire zone or you have elderly people in your house. When someone forgets to turn off the stove, you can be alerted and take preventative action.
But what if the smoke alarm goes off and no one is in your home? What if no one hears the alarm?
Well, you will be delighted to know that there are smoke alarms that can be connected to a third-party monitoring company. So even when no one is at home, someone can alert the authorities and dispatch firefighters to your house.
Lower your insurance premium
When you improve the level of security of your home, you can get lower home and contents insurance premiums. When your insurance company sees that you are taking preventative measures in securing your home, they will consider your house as less of a risk.
You can even ask for a discount on your premium.
Emergency medical assistance
If you live with elderly loved ones or with relatives who suffer from certain medical conditions, you can find systems that can be customised to include medical emergency features.
Your loved ones can wear a pendant that can be connected to the security system. In the event of a medical emergency, they just have to press the button on their pendant and a medical team will be dispatched to your home right away – giving you peace of mind when they’re at home alone.
Home security systems are definitely a valuable investment. To enjoy maximum benefits, you can contact a security specialist and ask them about other safety features you can install, such as roller shutters, security doors and infill grills.