home security system in Marietta (Decatur: real estate market, insurance, house prices)

[utthi]

Hello,

I am looking to get a home alarm/security system for my house in around Marietta area. If any of you have AFA protective security systems as your security system, please can you tell your experiences.

I got quotes from Ackerman and ADT. Ackerman was asking about 1000$ for sensors to my 10 windows and 3 doors with one motion sensor with no contract of their usual 19$ dollars a month. ADT was around 32$ a month with 3 year contract.

I am a first time home owners so if you all could share your wisdom in how to select a home security system, it would help me a great deal. I look forward to all your responses. Thank you and have great day

[neil0311]

Our house had a security system already installed, but we use Ackerman to monitor, using a cellular connection. No problems after 3 years. Not much to tell...no news is good news.

[utthi]

ohsopiggy, I haven't heard about ADT pulse. I will send the ADT quote details in the evening.

[rcsteiner]

We took the long way ... got one of those $200 wireless systems from ADT, stuck with them until our contract was done (actually almost two years past that), then switched our existing (and now owned by us) system to Ackerman.

Smooth transition. ADT was more expensive ($30+/month versus $18.95), but they were quite responsive the few times we had false alarms due to exploring kittens.

[utthi]

I have the following quotes:
for standard 2 keypads, windows /door contacts,
AFA protective systems for $250 installation + 16$ per month (2 year contract)..here I own the equipment also..
Broadview ( 116$ + 38$ per month) ( 3 year contract)..

Has anybody used AFA protective systems ...please can u tell me about your experiences

[sjuraud]

I would say the installation cost is probably worth it if you have a lot of break ins in your area. I've been robbed several times (Decatur). There are probably 2 - 3 break ins a week in that area. Trust me, the $1000 for installation pales in comparison to fixing broken (doors & windows mainly) and stolen items. Most home insurance deductables are around $500 out of the gate anyway. I know it sucks, but think of the alternative. Definitely go with a system that doesn't need to use a phone line though. Not only is there the added cost of paying for the phone line every month, but some thieves know ways to get around those.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by sjuraud

I've been robbed several times (Decatur).

I think the next question might be - why are you still living there after that?

But aside from that - is your security system actually scaring the burglars away before they steal anything, or are they still making it inside and taking things? This might be helpful to the OP in determining what type of system add-ons they need.

[sjuraud]

Well it's not so easy to be able to just leave in this horrible real estate market if you own the house. That area of Decatur has seen some homes hit up to 90% of what they were worth before the bubble (house prices in that area were around 100k - 150k before the crash). Yep, some houses are selling for 20k - 30k on average. So it's just a ridiculous situation. I have no choice in the matter as is the case with most people right now. Yes, on some occasions the alarm has scared them away. It's been set off with cops nearby and they've shown up, but nobody has ever been caught. There's a pervasive problem of "not snitching" in that area. I've had 3 guys trying to break into my house on three different sides at the same time in the middle of the day with a GA Power truck not even parked 100 feet down the street. They didn't do anything but watch the guys trying to break in when the alarm went. Didn't call cops. Nothing. They did run when the alarm when off. They've made it inside twice though. They knew where the main alarm box was in the house and got to it before the 30 second grace period for the alarm signal being sent to the alarm company. They new exactly which wires to cut in that box also. So now that area also has a lock on it and I change the grace period from 30 seconds to 20. My system is the older phone model. One thing they also try is to unplug the phone line from the box outside to trip the alarm and then plug it back in to see if any cops show up. It's a way to test how well you're alarm works. That's why I suggest either the wireless system (needs Internet access) or the cell signal (I recommend that as it won't loose a signal and can't be cut without direct access to the hardware). Anyway, hope this info helps.

[utthi]

good point...I have comcast voip and was planning to use that as all consultants who gave me quotes said they can use the VOIP...do the latest security systems work on cell signals and how do you pay for that..is it part of your cell phoen contract...

a questions aisde one consultant was saying theives can cut open the windows so that the alarm doesn't go off it that possible.....

[jennydowd]

6 years ago, I had an ADT system installed in my house. The house was supposedly "Pre-wired", but it still cost over $1700 to install the system (lots of windows, doors, motion sensors, glass break sensor, smoke detectors, wireless back-up, etc.). I had a 3 year contract and was paying $50/mo. It was extra for the smoke detector monitoring and wireless backup.

A year or so ago, I switched my monitoring over to Ackerman and I pay $25/mo for the same coverage. No contract required, and the wireless monitoring is standard. So far so good.

A few things to note:

1. ADT did some pretty shoddy work to correct a battery back-up issue, and after several visits to "fix" the problem, the system would still malfunction every time there was a power outage and it had to go to battery mode. The Ackerman tech laughed at what he called the "MacGyvered" system and we haven't had one issue since he fixed it a year ago.

2. Brinks and Broadview have both been bought by ADT, so if you go with either of them, you'll be an ADT customer eventually anyway.

Good Luck to you!