Choosing Between Self-Monitoring and Professional Alarm Monitoring

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(Newswire.net — March 27, 2018) — Although you can buy several types of do-it-yourself camera systems to place around your home or business, sometimes it is better to hire a professional alarm monitoring company to ensure the safety of your belongings and the people in your home or office. Security cameras and apps are excellent in some instances, but they just don’t offer the same coverage or insurance that everyone will be safe and sound. They also don’t insure that your belongings are going to stay put. There are two types of security monitoring systems: self-monitoring type and professional monitoring.

Many factors go into determining which type of monitoring is right for you, but don’t be guided by price alone. If you don’t get the right kind, then you are just throwing money out the window and making yourself and your home vulnerable. To find out which one is right for you, take all things into consideration.

What is a self-monitored alarm system?

It used to be that only wealthy people could have security cameras and that it involved someone coming in to install all types of wires and cameras around the home. Thanks to technology, the average Joe can now purchase a smart home monitoring system that can link to their mobile device. Once you set up an app, you can watch things going on both inside and outside your home. If you have someone watching your children during the day, indoor security cameras allow you to have a 24/7 livestream of what is going on while you are away.

You can also set up security cameras to send you either text message or email alerts when the alarm has been triggered, which is a huge convenience and can allow you to call the authorities to check on your home when you can’t be there.

Self-monitoring security cameras do have some disadvantages over professional alarm monitoring systems, however. Although you get alerts, there isn’t anyone actively watching over your home. Usually, by the time that you are alerted, the damage has already been done and the criminal has made off with your treasures.

Professional alarm monitoring systems

Professional alarm monitoring systems provide the advantage of someone monitoring your home or office around the clock. A company can offer factors that the self-monitoring systems don’t. If you have an emergency at work or home, you can contact them directly for help. You can also set up an access code so that if you are under duress, it is a secret code to get help, but will seemingly disband the alarm to appear as if you called the emergency service off.

Studies show that up to 70% of all burglaries are ignored by police stations due to the high percentages of false alarms. When you have a professional monitoring service, they won’t ignore your need or call for help. They make sure to address the alarm every time it goes off, and to ensure that it is real and not false.

One of the biggest disadvantages to a professional security system is that you have to pay a small monthly fee for someone to monitor the activities inside and outside the house. But the peace of mind that you get from having someone on the other end of the line is essential to knowing that your call for help won’t be ignored. If you are locked out of your home or office, a professional alarm monitoring system can also be shut off through your mobile device. Just like a self-monitoring alarm, you can both activate and deactivate the alarm from your handheld device.

Self-monitoring alarm systems have grown in popularity exponentially over the past decade. However, although they are less expensive and are awesome for the do-it-yourselfer who doesn’t want to pay a monthly fee, they might provide a false sense of security. Since most alarms are ignored by fire and police stations due to the frequency of false alarms, making sure that you have someone else monitoring your home or business will ensure that you’ll get the help you need when you need it. It is best to pay the small fee to ensure that your most valued treasures are safe.