10 Realities Of Home Security Systems That Prove You're Better Off Dead Than Owning One

9. Expensive Installations... That Cover Less Than Half Of Your Home

Alarm services rope in customers with juicy ads promising free installations for only the monthly monitoring cost of a dollar a day, but people should consider what they are truly getting before they leap. Sure, a free system is a free system, but if that free system comes only with six sensors and you want all thirteen of your windows protected, you may be in for a shock. Many prospective customers are dismayed to learn that after their six initial sensors their free installation isn't as free as they hoped. Each wireless sensor after the first six will usually tack on $50 to the installation price for a basic door contact. The price of a motion or glass break detector can jack up the price by another $200 each. Cameras, or the ability to use your alarm system with your smart phone, may place the final price around a $1000. So why not just stick to the free stuff? Well, those six sensors really don't cover much. A pull apart contact on a window is not going to go off unless someone opens it, but what if a criminal just breaks the glass instead? For that you will either need a glass break or shock sensor detector, which aren't cheap. Depending on the size of the home, complete coverage could total near $10,000.