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This spotlight article was crafted with the help of Quyen Tong of Smith Monitoring.
Your home is your refuge, but the unfortunate reality is that outside threats do exist. Taking advantage of a security system and home alarm service will give you peace of mind and reassurance that you won’t have to handle a breach in your home’s security alone. We sat down with Quyen Tong from Smith Monitoring, a Texas Security Systems Best Pick, to find out how to protect your family and your home from intruders.
Keep Up with the Trends
Home security is one area where staying up to date on technological advancements is well worth your time. Security systems have been around for several decades now, so if you’re still using your home’s original system from the 1990s, that equipment may be on its last legs.
Quyen recommends upgrading older equipment. By doing so, she says, “You’ll get the latest technology, and you’ll have better peace of mind that the system isn’t going to fail because it’s old.”
An important development in security technology is the switch from systems that communicate with the monitoring service via analog phone lines to systems that use cellular networks. Older security system equipment may only be designed to work with a phone line, so if you’d rather use the more reliable cellular system, you will need new equipment.
As you interview companies and narrow down possible new security systems, Quyen recommends asking if the security company uses a dedicated cellular tower for system monitoring. A dedicated tower ensures the fastest response time in the event of a home invasion or other emergency.
Automate, Automate, Automate
At first glance, home automation can seem like overkill. It’s not that difficult to flip a light switch or lock a door. But in the hustle and bustle of daily life, these small tasks can easily fall by the wayside, and that’s exactly what a potential intruder counts on.
Smith Monitoring offers smart home services to automate everything from the thermostat to the lock on the front door, and all of it can be controlled from your smartphone. Using your smartphone to check that your home’s doors and windows are locked—and then locking them remotely if you did forget—is an effortless way to increase your home’s security. Quyen adds that another bonus is the energy savings you’ll reap from an automated thermostat.
Using your home automation system to turn lights on and off while you’re away is another important step in deterring criminals. According to Smith Monitoring, outdoor and indoor lights “give the impression that there is someone at home, making your home less vulnerable as a target of robbery.”
It’s not fun to think about someone breaking into your home, but the aftermath of a home invasion—or zombie encounter—is much more traumatic. A home security system is a worthwhile investment in your peace of mind and the safety of your family.
This spotlight article was crafted with the help of Smith Monitoring, a Security Systems Best Pick in Dallas and Houston. While we strive to provide relevant information to all homeowners, some of the material we publish may not pertain to every area. Please contact your local Best Pick companies for any further area-specific advice.