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What is free or zero down security system for you? For me, there is no such thing as free lunch. In terms of alarm system in your house, free means more expensive. You pay more money for maintenance, your total cost of ownership is higher, upgrades come at high price and the level of protection is low.

I will start with the most important – the level of security. Free security systems come with one to two door contacts and one motion detector. Such security system is designed to cover the most common points of entry in an average house. Most common break in points are front door, rear door and main floor windows. The rate of entry through these points constitutes 79%. That is exactly what zero down security systems intend to cover. That means that 21% of homes with “free” security systems stay unprotected. Burglars are smart. They enter where the chance of having a security system coverage is lowest – second floor, garage doors, side doors, basement, etc. That means, with a zero down security system, your house is almost completely unprotected. Here you can find burglary entry point statistics.

What if you want to upgrade your security system to provide you with complete coverage? Complete coverage for me is protecting all points of entry, protecting rooms with the most valuables in and having cellular backup communication. The price of such upgrade with an average $0 down alarm company will be relatively high. Providing you with such upgrade, the alarm company will cover their free security system installation costs. They will also make profit on an installation. Yet, your monthly monitoring rate will stay the same.

The total cost of ownership – the cost of having and maintaining your security system – also comes in expensive with $0 down. When you think of a security system, do you also think about maintenance? One hour of a technician on residential site could cost you $120? Do you also consider that you pay at least 8% interest rate on your “free alarm system”?

According to statistics, the rate of false alarms is almost 50% of all registered alarms. One false alarm with police dispatch costs from $100 to $150. Around 30% of residences will get a false alarm in a given year. To simplify, your total cost of having a free alarm system will equal to: (monitoring rate per month x 36 months) + $150 false alarm charge + $100 technician on site fee.

Now does Alfa Security install “free security systems”? We can but we do not – nobody buys free lunch from us. Are you still interested in a $0 down security system? Consider the following:

• your house stays unprotected for just $25 a month for consecutive 36 months
• your total cost of having free security system will be higher than having a custom designed security system from us
• you pay high 8% to 12% interest on a free security system

If you really want to protect your house, do not buy a “free alarm system”. Make a wise investment – protect your home with a custom designed solution from Alfa Security.

See more detailed burglary statistics from an FBI website. Also see tips on enhancing your house security apart from having a security system at home.

With the festive season fast approaching, we are left with many decisions and preparations to make before packing our trailers and making our way to our holiday destinations. Ensuring the security of family and property is a key priority at this time.

Statistics clearly show that criminal activity increases during the holiday season and it is therefore imperative for homeowners to take the right precautions and not let their guard down.

There are several handy tips to bear in mind which can help alleviate the risk to family and property. The first and most important step to take is to ensure that your alarm is in working order. People tend to forget that an alarm system, like a car, has parts that age and wear out and therefore should be serviced at least once a year.

Spectacular thunderstorms during the summer months, can also wreak havoc on alarm systems. As a result of this, clients should regularly check their systems in case of lightning damage. Homeowners who have house insurance should also consider that in the event of a burglary, their insurance company will, in all likelihood, question whether they have properly maintained their alarm.

December is traditionally a busy period for security companies, so homeowners should try and test their alarms at least three weeks before going on holiday. Testing should be done anytime (ideally between 0800 and 2000 hours Mon-Fri) and if a fault is discovered, it can be immediately reported to the security service provider’s technical team.

Additional security tips to follow include:

• Advise your security company if you are going away and ensure that you supply all the necessary information regarding nearby emergency contacts, in case of an emergency

• Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property

• Stop all newspaper deliveries and ask a friend or neighbour to collect your post. A bulging post box is a real giveaway that you are not at home

• If hiring a house sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly

• Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving home

• Ensure that all your outside locks are a minimum of four lever locks or double cylinder security locks

• Never leave a key in the inside of an outer door which has glass panels or glass near the door lock

• Having security gates fitted on outer doors is a highly effective security measure that gives you an extra line of defence

• Sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail. Make sure that sliding doors cannot be lifted vertically

• Full fencing and sturdy gates are a good deterrent

• Have good exterior lighting, preferably on a timer

• Do not leave ladders, spades or tools outside, as they can be used to break into your house

• Clear signage indicating that you have security also helps to discourage

Burglars

Another important security tip is to be discreet when preparing to go away. People should where possible pack their cars in their garage. Homeowners should also never leave a message on their answering machine stating that they are out of town.

The festive season should be a time of relaxation and giving but let’s ensure that we are not giving our belongings to criminals on a golden platter.