Keeping your home safe and secure for your family and friends is arguably the most important aspect of being a home owner. One of the most vital instruments in keeping your home safe is a burglar alarm. If you should be unfortunate enough to have your home broken into, either when you’re in or out, a burglar alarm can serve as an alert for neighbours or yourself, or just act as a deterrent for intruders.

Basics

Buying a burglar alarm isn’t as simple as just choosing the first one you see; there’s a range of devices that offer different features and functions to help you protect your home. An alarm system can set you back anywhere from £50 to £150. For £50 you can purchase a basic alarm kit, which usually includes a PIR motion sensor and door contact alarm system. As this system works on wireless technology, batteries will need charging regularly.

Premium

If you’re willing to spend a little extra, a premium home alarm kit is another wireless system which incorporates a brilliant alert feature to set it apart from the basic kit. You can programme the system with up to three phone numbers, and if the alarm is triggered, it will attempt to make contact with one of the three numbers. This means that if you’re out when someone tries to enter your home, you will know instantly, rather than being greeted with an unpleasant surprise when you return.

For Families

For families, there is an alarm kit which gives you even more security features than the premium kit, helping you to tailor the functions around busy family life. The external alarm is bright yellow, so any potential intruders know you’ve got an alarm system in place. It features the same telecommunication system as the premium kit, but coupled with an Exit-Entry system, allowing you to programme your alarm to activate itself after you leave. At £150 to £200, it’s a little more expensive but the extra features make it great value for money.

Monitored

Monitored alarm systems are arguably the most thorough and extensive burglar alarms. If the alarm is set off, the staff at the alarm company will be notified and the relevant action taken. They are normally contacted by phone, but if the main phone line is cut, a back-up wireless contact system will ensure the staff are notified. Monitored alarms can cost between £400 and £650, with a monthly fee of £15.

Installing a burglar alarm system doesn’t just benefit your security and peace of mind – having anti-theft measures is a great asset when dealing with insurance providers. If you have an alarm system installed, the insurance companies take that into account when doing a risk assessment on your property, and as such your insurance premium will decrease. When selecting your system and installation company, make sure the company you choose is a registered one. There are many regulations that need to be adhered to when installing an alarm system and companies should carry out a site survey before installation. It is recommended that you get at least three quotes before purchase.

Article supplied by Ashley, who writes for VHL Property Maintenance covering London.