home security / alarm system
We are in the midst of the a full renovation of all mechanicals. The contractor has asked us to make decisions on home security / alarm system since the electrician wants to finish up wiring and then seal up the walls. Can you please provide any recommendations on alarm / security systems? Budget is limited…
We are in the midst of the a full renovation of all mechanicals. The contractor has asked us to make decisions on home security / alarm system since the electrician wants to finish up wiring and then seal up the walls. Can you please provide any recommendations on alarm / security systems? Budget is limited for this element since its been spent elsewhere. Please give us lower cost ideas if you have them, and any recommendations on what not to do are equally helpful. THANKS!
A wireless alarm system is better. I have just moved from France to Philadelphia and installed very easily my wireless alarm system in my new home. I bought it on http://www.alarmania.fr . May be you can buy something which is similar at a good price.
Best regards,
Rico
I’d also add that you are better off getting your smoke detectors installed on the alarm rather than hardwired by the electrician.
As to pricing, I think most sales guys make it up as they go along. You will get widely varying quotes. Get the wiring broken oout separately on the quote and you can pick and choose options like touch screen keypads vs. conventional etc.
ADT is horrible. I finally was able to extricate myself from them after writing a letter to the president of Tyco.
I went with a local guy, Alarms R Us, who has very knowledgeable techs and whatever bells and whistles you want (I have phone wired service with a cellular backup).
You could call them at 718-236-1166 and ask for Bob.
Thanks so much to everyone for the input, its extremely helpful. To anyone that did respond, how much is the initial outlay we should expect to pay a company to wire the house and set up the installation? This is your classic 4 story, 20×45 rowhouse with two exposures.
I’m pretty sure ADT is an acronym for Another Dumb Technician. Another caveat I always tell people is to stay away from the big name alarm companies their customer service is almost as bad as their technical expertise. That said, if you find an outfit with their own central station (there are quite a few) you can negotiate your monthly monitoring rate.
We had ADT and it was the absolute WORST! their service was atrocious and we paid them $700 just to STOP and cease “service” —
we now have a big cute (and mean sounding) dog.
your walls are open, a once in a lifetime opportunity. wire for everything, you cant go back.
You have the walls open. Now is the time to do it right. Wireless is a final resort, not the preferred method. If your machine dies you can use a washboard, but you’ll be happier in the long run with a new washing machine. Wireless is cheaper for a reason.
Brooklander does make a good point. You don’t want your GC / electrician doing this work. You want a licensed alarm company. They’ll be cheaper as well. Most good alarm outfits do several kinds of low voltage wiring so you’d be well served to talk to them about wiring your TVs, home theater, phones, data, etc.
For my money you want a Honeywell system. It’s user friendly, great price point, and it’s not proprietary so almost any company can service it. You could also simply have them pre-wire now and install equipment later after that tax refund comes in.