Taking the Humbug out of Home Security

In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, when a ghost first confronted Scrooge, the old miser refused to believe it was real. In his mind, Marley’s ghost was more likely to be the effects of a bad potato he had eaten than an actual ghost. As the night went on and Scrooge encountered more ghosts, he continued to question, but by the end, he determined the ghosts weren’t just a bunch of humbug. In home security, some “humbug” myths have surfaced that have deterred people from installing security systems. Here are a few of the home security myths and why they may not be as true as one might think.

1. Home Security Systems Are Not Effective

Some people believe there’s no point in getting a home security system because they believe home security systems don’t work. Whether an alarm goes off or not, the burglar is going to finish the job they came to do. However, a study by UNC Charlotte indicates this is not always the case. The researchers gathered survey responses from people who had been convicted of home burglary. 83% reported they would look for signs of a home security system beforehand. Of these, the majority responded that if they had reason to believe there was a home security system, they would move on and look for an easier target. True, this does not mean installing a home security system will guarantee no one ever burglarizes your home, but it decreases the probability significantly.

2. I Don’t Need a Home Security System

Another common home security myth is that if one lives in what is considered to be a nice area, it makes it so you don’t need a home security system. Unfortunately, living in a nice area doesn’t mean it’s immune. Draper is generally perceived to be a nice area in Utah, but its crime index (ranked on a scale from 1 to 100, with 100 being the safest) is only 28, and there are approximately 906 property crimes per year. If you live in an area with an even lower crime index, that is all the more reason to get a home security system. If you are unsure of your city’s crime index, you can find information here.

Others may say they don’t need a home security system because their dog is their home security system. However, even well-trained dogs can become engrossed in a good enough distraction, and having a dog as your primary defense could be dangerous for your dog if the burglar has intentions of inflicting harm if anything gets in their way. This isn’t to say that having a guard dog is a bad idea. Home security is best when you are using multiple strategies, and a guard dog could be one of them.

3. It Costs too Much

Historically, if you wanted to get a home security system, you had to install a permanent system into the home. It was messy and expensive. Then, you had to pay the monthly fees for monitoring on top of that. This has contributed to the current belief some have that a home security system is too expensive. Though the initial installation can be pricy depending on what company you go through and what products you install, monitoring plans are becoming more affordable.

At WISE Home Solutions, we offer plans with no up-front cost for your devices and the installation. If you need to move during your contract, since modern home security systems are minimally invasive compared to those of the past, your system and monitoring agreement can move with you. If you decide it is important for you to have a home security system and would like more information on how WISE can customize a plan for you that is affordable and effective, call us at 844-904-9473 or request info online.