As a homeowner, you take pride in making the best of your home. From lawn care to decorating and everything in between, you want your space to feel comfortable, cozy, and reflect your personality in every detail. With such pride taken in your home, keeping your loved ones, your house, and your belongings safe is a top priority. 

If you are new to home security, you might not know where to start. With all the technology available, there are numerous ways to customize the perfect system for your home and family. Read on to discover how to choose the best home security system for you, how much it costs, and how to get the most benefits from the system you choose.

What Type of Security System Package Do I Need?

The type of security system you need depends primarily on your preferences, what level of protection you desire, and home size. ADT offers completely customizable programs to fit your needs. For example, our most popular packages are broken down into three categories:

ADT Offers Three Home Security System Packages

  • Secure Home

  • Smart Home

  • Video & Smart Home


ADT Secure Package

This package includes all the essentials to help secure your home. Professional installation, 24/7 monitoring, and a full security system are provided, including your digital keypad, door and window sensors, and motion sensors. You can choose between five, seven, or 10 total pieces of equipment to accommodate your specific needs. Your home is also monitored for fire, flood, and carbon monoxide. 

ADT Smart

With the smart package, you get all the essentials that the secure package offers. This popular option also allows you to turn your home into a smart home, where you can control your lights, lock and unlock your doors from anywhere, set the thermostat, and more. You can also opt to set alerts, schedules, and automations. In addition to the protection that is provided with these features, you do not have to worry about pushing up the thermostat when leaving in a hurry for work. 

ADT Video & Smart Home

With the complete protection option, you get everything listed above. In addition, you can live stream from mobile devices and record and save video clips from your security camera footage.

What Size Security System Do I Need?

Not all security systems are created equal. A small apartment may only need a small system, while a large house and surrounding property could benefit from a larger system. A sizable home will require a system that covers all doors and windows and can monitor the grounds. This type of system will need to have the appropriate equipment to handle all the necessary monitoring. 

Completely customizable options allow you to design the perfect home security system for you and your living space. Within the most popular options listed above, you can choose a package with the number of equipment pieces you want. For example, a more basic package includes five to 10 pieces, while a complete smart home package includes nine to 15 pieces. This opens up the possibility of adding more motion sensors, smart home configurations, and security cameras, depending on your preferences.

Cost of a Home Security System

Factors like equipment price, plan type, and installation costs should all be considered when building a custom home security system. Costs are broken down into two categories:

  • Equipment 

  • Professional monitoring 

Equipment Costs

For the equipment purchase, you will have two options: You can purchase the equipment outright plus the cost of installation, or you can just pay the installation fee and include the equipment in a recurring monthly charge. If you are looking to pay less upfront, paying for the equipment monthly can help offset the initial expense. Equipment prices start as low as $10 per month. 

Professional Monitoring Costs

The next cost to consider is the professional monitoring service. Monthly monitoring fees include 24/7 emergency response and will assist in the case of burglary, fire, flood, carbon monoxide, and more. Prices can range from $29 to $60 per month. 

Any add-on equipment, such as extra door sensors or external security cameras, may be useful to your home safety goals, and you will need to have a powerful enough hub to accommodate the equipment. Whether you are opting for basic coverage or comprehensive coverage with smart home automation, a plan can be customized for you and rolled into one monthly charge, including equipment and professional monitoring service. 

Breakdown of Home Security System Costs

Here is a breakdown of all the factors necessary to design your ideal home security system, all of which can be rolled into a monthly charge:

  • Professional installation 

  • Smart home automation 

  • Professional monitoring 

  • Security equipment 

  • Continuous video monitoring and storage 

  • System activation 

Professional Installation

A professionally trained representative will visit your home to properly install all of the equipment, preventing you from getting involved with the wires and possible drilling needed at setup.

Smart Home Automation

If you opt for a package that includes smart home automation, part of the setup process will include connecting home automation equipment like smart locks and smart lights. 

This will give you the ability to have control over your home and set up routines, such as turning all the lights off and turning the thermostat up when you leave for work. Having this level of control with your smart home functions can help save on utility bills. 

Professional Monitoring

You will need to pay a monthly fee for 24/7 home monitoring. However, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing someone is keeping an eye out on your home and will alert you of any suspicious activity. 

Security Equipment

When you receive a free quote for your custom package, you’ll be provided a breakdown of equipment costs like security cameras, sensors, and control panels. You can pay a monthly fee to lease the equipment for a certain time frame, or opt to purchase the equipment upfront. Equipment costs will vary depending on your specific needs, home size, and desired level of security.

Continuous Video Recording and Storage

A few options exist for continuous video recording. Some security cameras only begin recording when triggered by a motion sensor. However, with a professionally monitored service, you can have ongoing video recording. The next factor is how long you want to store the video footage. Options are available for continuous video recording with storage plans ranging from seven to 30 days. 

System Activation

An activation fee may be included with installation. If you have existing equipment – even if it is not ours – we may be able to help you save on total installation costs by reactivating an existing system. 

What Makes a Home Security System Worth It?

A company-monitored home security system is installed with every safety measure considered. A digital keypad is added inside, allowing you to set a special code that must be used upon entry to disable the alarm. If an intruder were to break into your home, an alarm is immediately triggered, and the company monitoring your home will contact you for verification or dispatch law enforcement if your safety cannot be verified. 

Sensors can also be installed on doors and windows. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can opt for a system that’s connected to your landline or one that reaches ADT through cellular technology. 

Ultimate home protection has been enhanced by modern technology and involves smart home equipment. This means you can lock and unlock doors, control your lights, and even set your thermostat from virtually anywhere with your phone. In addition, you can access indoor, outdoor, and doorbell camera feeds through an app regardless of your location.

Benefits of a Professionally Monitored Home Security System

While DIY home security systems do exist, you may be wondering if the cost for a professionally monitored system is worth it. Many find that having a professional team protect their home 24/7 provides the peace of mind needed to feel safe and secure. 

Leaving security to the professionals means more time for you to focus on what matters most. One of the top qualities that professional systems provide is an alarm triggered by motion sensors that will scare off potential intruders. 

Even if you are away, your security company will contact you if an alarm is triggered to check for false alarms and alert authorities if they cannot reach you or confirm the safety of your home. Another perk of monitored home security is that battery backups are in place to account for any potential power outages. The heightened security of having a professional team on your side means constant coverage of key areas of the home, like entryways and windows. 

A burglar alarm is not the same as a professionally monitored home security system, however. While a burglar alarm may go off and potentially scare off an intruder, if you are out of town or away, you may not even be aware that the alarm was triggered. Furthermore, the time delay before authorities are called may result in enough time for a thief to take valuables. 

A home security system can also alert you of other potential dangers, which can be beneficial whether you are home or away. Environmental dangers like fire, flooding, and carbon monoxide are all monitored with a professional service.

Considerations When Choosing a Provider

You want to choose not only the best system for you but also the best provider. At ADT, we take pride in offering top-quality service to each of our clients, but we understand wanting to explore your options. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when considering which provider to choose from.

How secure is my home prior to adding a home security service?

Doing a brief assessment of your current security is important because it can help you decide what is most important for you and your home. For example, do you street park, or do you park your cars in a garage? If you have cars in a driveway or on the street, you may find that surveillance with a street view will offer the safety you desire. 

Do I plan to move within the next two years?

If so, you are certainly not excluded from professional home security, but you will want to find a provider that offers to move your service when relocating. 

Do I live in a flood zone?

If flooding is a strong concern in your particular area, you will want to ensure that your provider offers flood monitoring. A flood sensor should be installed in subterranean areas like the basement, as well as ground-level areas like the kitchen or living room. Leaks, broken pipes, and backed-up drains can also be detected with an effective flood monitoring system. 

Is my home considered large and/or multiple stories?

For larger homes, such as those over 3,000 square feet, as well as homes with multiple stories, you will want to ensure your provider can offer protection covering multiple entryways and spaces. The Video & Smart Home Package with ADT, for example, can host 15 pieces of equipment. 

What does my ongoing schedule look like?

If you or your family travel often, you can benefit from features like live streaming from your mobile device. You can check-in if you have unexpected visitors or get a glance of what is going on around your home at any moment. Smart home controls also allow you to turn down the air conditioning for visitors like dog walkers or housekeepers, then return to prior settings when they leave. 

Take the Next Step

ADT security packages are custom-designed to help protect your home in a way that works for you and your budget. Whether you want just the basics or all the bells and whistles, ADT can customize a system to help protect you, your loved ones, and your home. 

Get your custom free quote or give us a call at 800-818-3238 for more information.

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