Home Vigilance...

Contractors and homeowners are more likely to equip new construction with security systems right from the start, and retrofitting older houses is also on the upswing, Petrusha said.

A large part of the trend toward security is likely due to technological advances that, over recent decades, have made security systems both more affordable and easier to use.

A current price range for a home system is between $400 and $1,500, said Marty Walker, president of Superior Alarms Inc.

The fact that many advocate for the effectiveness of the systems hasn’t hurt either.

“In 2006, your chances of being burglarized in California were one in 10 as a homeowner,” Petrusha said. “With a security system, it goes to one in 250.”

While improved products, lowered prices and startling statistics have convinced many residents that home security is the way to go, the decision to install a system often remains a personal one.

Maybe the client grew up in a home with a security system, was burglarized or knew a neighbor who was burglarized, Walker said.

Walker believes the No. 1 reason people decide to have a system installed is the sense of uneasiness they experience when leaving their home, with only a locked door separating their valuables from an intruder.

“It’s just kind of an insecure feeling,” Walker said.

Others want protection while they’re at home — both when they’re awake and asleep.

Regardless of the motive, Petrusha and Walker agree there are a few things homeowners should consider before investing their hard-earned dollars in a home security system.

Doing one’s homework can lead to an appropriate decision regarding the level of protection a person expects.

In the field of security, selecting a local company may provide the benefit of local monitoring.

When an alarm goes off at a residence, a signal is sent to a central monitoring center. The homeowner’s information and the cause of the alarm is accessed by a company employee who calls the residence and asks for a password.

If there is no answer or the password supplied is incorrect, authorities will be dispatched to the house and the homeowner or someone on a list of contacts will be contacted.

When monitoring happens from inside the area, “(dispatchers) know where Scotia or Westhaven or Buhne Street is. You talk to someone in Modesto or L.A. and they’ll have no idea,” Petrusha said.
Companies with 24-hour monitoring offer the most complete protection.

Speaking with others who have done business with a company may reveal invaluable information about its reputation. Professionals advise asking the number of years a company has been in business and the level of expertise of its installation technicians.

Before choosing a company and system, homeowners should evaluate when they want to use the system and the amount they are willing to spend. Some systems are meant to be used only when no one is home. Others have features to protect a home while residents are inside.

If choosing a basic system, perhaps choose one that arms doors and has a motion sensor, for example. Ask if the system can be upgraded at a later point to include windows, surveillance cameras and other special features, Petrusha advised.

Depending on the level of protection, some insurance companies offer discounts on homeowner’s insurance if a home is equipped with a security system.

Another area of interest for those not extremely concerned about intruders may be carbon monoxide or fire protection. Detectors can be installed to be triggered by carbon monoxide, heat or smoke.