Second home security in St. George, UT (Mona, Riverside: renting, crime)

[azeotropic]

I hope to buy a "winter" home in St. George to escape Michigan winters. I'll probably live in St. George for about 4 months out of the year. Are there any second home owners on this forum that can make recommendations about how to handle home security for those times when a home is vacant? Of course, I'm also concerned with this issue for my home in Michigan. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[irman]

Somewhere you need not only be secure, but for 8 months, you need to maintain the outside also.
So a service that does it all, maybe the answer ?

Have you checked in to that yet ?

[Chickrae]

Do you plan on renting it out at all, or just leaving it vacant? Maybe you can pay a property management company to check on it and then get a lawn service person to take care of the outside. I am not sure. We have property management company take care of ours, but we are in a different situation because we are renting ours out until we move there next year.

[azeotropic]

Irman and Chickrae - thanks for your responses. For my Michigan home I have a lawn service cut the grass. That's half the battle. I need to find someone to clear sidewalks and driveway of snow in winter to help make it look occupied. In St. George, the homes I've made offers on are in HMA areas that cover front yard maintenance. That helps to keep it looking occupied. But I think I need a mechanism whereby I will be informed if something happens.

I am thinking about a property management company look after my Utah home since it will not be occupied for much of the year. I'm considering the possibility of renting it, but since it's only empty for a maximum of 7 or 8 months, I doubt that will be successful.

Security is a smaller issue for my Michigan home since I've been in my neighborhood there long enough that I can trust my neighbors and can easily keep in touch.

Thanks!

[dcisive]

I'll be perfectly blunt and honest with you. I work in that industry. I have studied many of the pros and cons of all the security systems out there, and to put it as plain and simple as possible, in most jurisdictions ADT, Brinks, Protection One and all of the rest are very ineffective at best. Why you ask? They all are using inexpensive and ancient technologies to get the job done. Motion detection has the highest rate of false alarms in the industry. They all use them. They also promote wireless technology which has further weaknesses.

I happen to work for a company that tends to cater about 98% to the commercial marketplace, where they can NOT afford an intrusion. If you get an intrusion with ADT or the rest you:

#1: won't have a clue why it went off, just that the circuit got triggered.
#2: It's too late as the intruder is already IN the home taking your stuff and knows they have X amount of time before law enforcement even considers coming on that call. Keep in mind statistically over 95% of alarm calls are false, and believe me, law enforcement KNOWS this. IN some citys they have ordinances in force that don't allow them to go on a alarm call UNTIL it has been verified. This required guard service, yet another expense and lost time allowing the burglers time to clean you out.http://www.sonitrolofutah.com

Fact: Sonitrol is the ONLY verified security system in existence. PERIOD. We can confirm someone is trying to break into your home PRIOR to their entry, allowing law enforcement time to get there and put the cuffs on the intruder. If you're curious you can check this out at
It would cost you considerably to get this type of system in your home, but I can say with confidence it's the ONLY way to go if you would rather the burglar end up in jail then with your stuff and your home damaged. Just check it out

[insertusernamehere]

From the winters I have spent there, St. George seems like a very safe city. Just get to know your neighbours. If they live there full time, that is your best defence against break-ins. You can buy web cams to view the inside and outside of your home via the internet, so when you are in Michigan you can view the cams and vice versa if you install cams in your house in Michigan. The cameras are not expensive.

[golightlygirl]

Crime is so low here. I don't know the stats for home robberies but I'm sure you can find them. My neighbor has a lawn service and I know he and his wife often look after the properties for absentee owners. there are a few gated, security neighborhoods, Stone Cliff, Entrada and The Ledges. Depending on the amenities of your home here it could make a nice little profit as a vacation rental.

[bbwindy]

Get to know your neighbors. Most would be happy to "keep an eye" on your place. We have a 2200 sf. lovely home to sell, and would be happy to send email photos if you are interested. Way under $300,000, great neighborhood, convenient to schools, shopping, medical, Wal-Mart, Costco, etc., etc., etc. E-mail if interested.

[markg91359]

Talk to Monarch Property Management, 352 Riverside Drive, St. George. (435) 628-3950