Home Security Systems

[Sharpline]

My wife and I are looking for a home security system for our new home.
It has never had anything installed so we would be starting fresh.

Can anyone give me recommendations on what we should be looking for?
I know ADT is probably the largest home security company, but are they the best? Do they offer a good value?

My home is two stories with no basement, I was thinking motion detectors and glass break downstairs with door sensors, but leaving the upper area sensor free (other than fire).
Should I also be considering securing my garage with a motion detector?

[bluker1]

I have a friend who owns company that installs them. PM me if you want his number.

[Great-Kazoo]

My wife and I are looking for a home security system for our new home.
It has never had anything installed so we would be starting fresh.

Can anyone give me recommendations on what we should be looking for?
I know ADT is probably the largest home security company, but are they the best? Do they offer a good value?

My home is two stories with no basement, I was thinking motion detectors and glass break downstairs with door sensors, but leaving the upper area sensor free (other than fire).
Should I also be considering securing my garage with a motion detector?

FWIW: ADT is being absorbed by COMCAST or supposed to be.

[trlcavscout]

FWIW: ADT is being absorbed by COMCAST or supposed to be.

Nope, Comcast launched their own home security systems, monitored and non-monitored. Control from your cell phone or PC. All the available options and runs WiFi so
Less wiring.

[Great-Kazoo]

Nope, Comcast launched their own home security systems, monitored and non-monitored. Control from your cell phone or PC. All the available options and runs WiFi so
Less wiring.

I know you're dialed in with CC, however that guy who called me said they were absorbing adt. Either way for the money they want per month, not incl deposit, equipment, contract etc. I could lease a new 4x4

[<MADDOG>]

Stay away from ADT. My suggestion is to find one of the "smaller" contractors who can build you a package to what you want. Much like our guns, you get what you pay for.

FWIW: ADT is being absorbed by COMCAST or supposed to be.

ADT will hold its own, and Comcast would have have bought it when it split from Tyco if it were as you say. And as someone who knows that industry from a 1st perspective, ADT makes it's money off monitoring, service calls, & upgrades, and not the equipment (they actually take a loss on the components). Bottom line, once you have their panel on your wall, your f'd.

[funkymonkey1111]

Kwando had a guy (from another thread) that installed what looked like a cool setup--control from your phone, etc.

[kwando]

I will send you my guy. I recommend a sensor for the garage door, how often have you left the house and don't remember if you've shut the garage door. The system my guy installs is a full fledged automation system. Can expand to controlling lights, shut off water main, open close garage door, etc.

I also recommend all main floor windows and doors to be sensored. Motion is a plus as well.

ADT you are paying for a tech to install their equipment. They want it back if you cancel, but there are ways around this. (Say you are moving). Monitoring is 2-8x the actual cost, because you are paying for a tech to come out to fix it. My monitoring company charges less than $15. Response time is the same!

[Marine24]

Kwando: I'd be interested in the information as well. Mine is already wired with main and basement windows and doors sensored, plus motion and glass breaking sensors. Automation piece sounds good, as well as putting a sensor on the garage door.

[kwando]

You will be surprised how often I've had a friend get a tool, pick up a package, etc when I'm not at home. I leave it in the garage, when my buddy is outside I disarm my alarm remotely and open the garage door.

You can set rule for when the doorbell was rings to take a pic of who is at the door. Endless!