I’m looking into getting a DIY home alarm system and was hoping to get some recommendations. I’m currently in a rental so something that isn’t permanently installed/cause damage by being installed is ideal. I may or may not want it monitored (depends on price really) but I definitely want an audible alarm as well as push notifications to my phone. I’m thinking of door sensors, a couple of glass break sensors, and one or two indoor cameras.
So for anyone that’s done something similar, tell me about your setup and what you do and don’t like about it.
For what it’s worth, my son set up Simply Safe at his home. All wifi, seems to do what you are looking for. Easy install. He has cameras, window sensors, etc. Monitoring is an option, I’m not sure if he has that though. We have ADT, and I don’t see an advantage.
The big advantage of Simplisafe (and possibly other DIY setups with which I’m unfamiliar), is that you avoid the deceptive come-ons, overselling and lengthy monitoring contracts that the big national companies like ADT are known for.
Typically, they try to hook customers by offering cheap or even free equipment. Then there are add-ons which you supposedly must have, which are not free. The real money is to be made in hooking you into expensive multi-year monitoring contracts, which are difficult or impossible to get out of, even if the local franchise has done a lousy job.
Check on the DIY reviews, looking at ease of setup, quality and location of monitoring and ability to go month-to-month on monitoring so you can drop it readily if it isn’t working out.
Basic equipment depends a lot on your home and what you want to protect. A combination of door entry sensors and strategically-placed motion detectors may be all you need. There are a few nice gadgets like water leak detectors if you’re concerned about a washing machine hose coming loose while you’re away from home.
Based on a horror story that happened to one of my clients, I would recommend, if you’re going to do it, include every ground level door and window (either by sensor or motion detector). Be aware, however, motion detectors are typically off line while you are home, if you set it to “stay.” (which you probably have to so you don’t trigger the motion sensors yourself). So, although IANA Alarm Expert, I would recommend sensors and/or glass break detectors for every possible entry point.
You can have motion detectors operational on the ground floor at night while you’re home, if it’s felt unlikely that Spider-Man will get in through an upper story entrance point.
Oh, and a panic button or two makes a nice accessory for a DIY system.
I agree with all that. We declined sensors on our second floor windows. Yes, you can set motion detectors to be active while you’re home, but some people don’t know they have to think about that. (but once you do think about it, it’s obvious). But for some homes, that’s not practical. Personally, I’d rather not worry about the alarm if I’m heading to the kitchen at midnight for a snack.
We have Simplisafe and it was very easy to set up. They have been very responsive (perhaps too responsive) when we’ve set off a smoke detector. They offer temperature alarms and water detectors too, which is nice. Very affordable.
Thanks for the replies so far. I hadn’t heard of Simplisafe and will look into them. A coworker recommended Ring’s system, and it sounds like it can do a lot of the same things.
A traditional alarm company like ADT isn’t appealing to me for several reasons. I don’t want to get locked into a contract, I can uninstall and move the equipment to my next home when I move, I can add onto the system as I go, and I can avoid monthly charges with some systems.
I probably won’t do motion detectors. I have a cat, which I’m sure would manage to set it off while I’m away, and like Procrustus wouldn’t want to worry about forgetting to turn it off before I leave the bedroom and set it off accidentally.
We have Frontpoint, which is basically a 2x more expensive version of SimpliSafe. All-cellular DIY installation, you buy and own the equipment, and you pay a monthly monitoring fee. Not sure why I went with them; I think SimpliSafe wasn’t available in the area yet, or maybe Frontpoint was just the one I found first.
It’s been almost 10 years now we’ve had it and it’s never been set off by anyone or anything that wasn’t us.
Seconding the recommendation of SimpliSafe. Inexpensive, easy to set up, portable to a new location, many options, etc.
And when @Jackmanii says:
… “they” refers to ADT and other hardwired systems, not SimpliSafe, which was also mentioned in the previous paragraph. SimpliSafe does not do hard sell, and is flexible with its monitoring options. We have generally not needed monitoring, except when we’re away for long periods, and they let you suspend the service indefinitely and only turn it on when you need it.
Yeah, I’m not sure the risk of burglary is great enough to justify burglar alarms. But, they also monitor things like CO2 and smoke. And we do find it comforting to know that our perimeter hasn’t been breached when we’re away. We sometimes, but not often, arm it when we’re home. We do have the “chime” set so we can hear when a door or window opens. That’s nice when you have teenagers. We also use the app to access our cameras pretty frequently. (you might also get a discount on your homeowner’s insurance)
All the crime that occurs on my property occurs outside. Yard tools disappear, that kind of stuff. I have a camera out there but even if I catch someone stealing a rake or a shovel, it’s not worth confronting them over a $20 tool. I’ll just buy another one. Enjoy, you thieving motherfucker! Someday you’ll steal from someone who cares a lot more than me and you’ll get yours.
I haven’t had any issues with and generally feel safe in my neighborhood. However I am adjusting to life without a dog, whom I had considered my alarm system The cat has gotten real good at doing cat things in the living room that wake me up in the middle of the night, and I think I could get back to sleep easier knowing no one had tripped the alarm. But also part of why I don’t think it’s worth to have the system monitored, as I do overall feel safe in my home.
I guess it depends on the price. We’re gone a lot (or were, pre-COVID) and the fact that someone would call the fire department or police if needed was a nice feature.
Question about SimpliSafe - do you have to pay for a monthly subscription to get push notifications on your phone and remotely control the alarm system?
The cat has gotten real good at doing cat things in the living room that wake me up in the middle of the night, and I think I could get back to sleep easier knowing no one had tripped the alarm. But also part of why I don’t think it’s worth to have the system monitored, as I do overall feel safe in my home.