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by Rachel Lyon, Editorial Director for The House Designers®
Whether you’re new to home security or you’ve been subscribed to a service for as long as they’ve been available, chances are you’ll be interested in the latest and greatest features. New systems are convenient and integrate seamlessly into your home and life—no bulky and obvious cameras that disrupt your interior design, or feeling like you’re locked in a contract that takes you for a ride. Here are some features you can actually enjoy from your home security system!
Sleek and Convenient Design
If you’ve ever seen a virtual home assistant, you could easily confuse a security system base station for one. You can even choose the color—usually black or white—to suit your décor. Control keypads have the same option, and you can mix and match if necessary. Designed to be unobtrusive, the smaller components of the system that monitor and alert to burglary and hazard conditions can be hidden on walls, bookshelves, or any place that gives them the necessary vantage point to do their jobs. It’s possible to get the protection you want without sacrificing aesthetics.
As home security adapts to our needs, it also gets simpler. Convoluted systems of the past required lengthy professional installation, but now you can do it yourself. That means you can decide where to place everything so it works for you. Wireless systems use Wi-Fi and/or their own cellular signals originating from the base station, so you just have to keep everything in range. Of course, you’ll find helpful guides to ensure you purchase the optimum number of sensors and that everything works to its fullest. If you’d prefer expert assistance, you can often schedule a professional to set up the system for you. In either case, it’ll be the quickest and most painless service installation you’ve ever dealt with.
Multi-Faceted Protection
Technology consolidates features to streamline our lives—just think of smartphones with their cameras, games, and email and internet access. If you can get everything into one device or system, you’ll have fewer things to worry about. Home security now addresses safety concerns of all kinds and alerts you to burglaries with entry, motion, and glassbreak sensors, and to dangerous conditions like smoke/fire and carbon monoxide to protect your family. You can also be notified of leaking water and extreme temperatures to help protect your property from costly damage. If you want video monitoring, just add some cameras! When everything connects to a single base station, you can rest easy knowing that your system will keep track of all the variables for you, and that it’ll tell you of any issues promptly.
And of course, there has to be an app to get the message to you ASAP! While super connected security systems do not require smartphone input—the base station will alert you directly—app control offers a host of benefits. The system can send a message to alert you of potential trouble while you’re out of the house, send a notice that batteries in a certain component need to be changed, and allow you to watch live or recorded video.
As much as everybody loves technology, privacy is always a concern. You want to be protected from intruders, not feel like your security system intrudes on you. Personalized configuration allows you to set your own rules—you can forgo cameras entirely, but good ones can be programmed to shut off with privacy shutters (that you can see!) when you’re home, and to open and record when an alarm sounds. Other optional components can be personalized, too. If you’d like a panic button to immediately trigger a response, you can preset it to call the police or an ambulance. This way, you can ensure the system responds to your wants and needs, just as it should.
No-Nonsense Contracts
The biggest complaint homeowners have with home security isn’t the hassle up front, the lack of options, or the quality of service—it’s getting ripped off. Most companies require long-term contracts that hit you with all sorts of fees and lock you into a price for years. This effectively prevents you from shopping for another deal when your needs or budget change, and the final bill is usually much more than advertised. Remember, nothing is free, and any sale that uses this tactic is likely to take a bite out of your wallet under the guise of something else. Look for a straightforward service that lays it all out and doesn’t try to tie you down with an agreement that lasts beyond the foreseeable future.
Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe™ offers quality security service on a month-to-month basis so you’ll never feel trapped by your decision. They have all kinds of sensors and components so you can set up the system you want for the cost of those pieces and then just $14.99 per month. For that, you get the same 24/7 monitoring center reliability as the other guys, a three-year guarantee on the system itself, and a 60-day money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied. And you can cancel service at any time without a fight or headache. SimpliSafe™ continues to expand their product line to better serve their customers and you can easily connect new additions to your same generation system. Don’t think you’re getting any less for all this convenience—SimpliSafe™ aims to impress and earn your continued business the right way.