How to Determine How to Monitor Your Home Security System

There are only a few ways of monitoring a home security system. How do you determine which way is right for you?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine what your home security needs are. While this may sound simple, it is an important step in the process of determining how your security system will be monitored.

2. Decide what type of home security system you are going to use: video surveillance cameras, motion detectors or window and door sensors?

3. Learn what options are available for monitoring your chosen system. A wired or wireless system can be monitored by a security company or can be set to alert you on your cell phone when something goes wrong at your home. Surveillance cameras can be monitored digitally or on closed-circuit TV by you or by a security company.

4. Decide whether you want to monitor your system yourself or hire a home-security company to do it. If you choose to hire a company, learn their history, what warranty they offer, whether they offer a free relocation service, whether they offer 24-hour monitoring and what additional services they offer. If you choose to monitor your system yourself, keep in mind that if something goes wrong, you will have to take a more active role in getting the police involved than you would need to if a security company monitored your system for you.