There’s no doubt that we at Freshome love helping you enhance your home’s aesthetics. From eye-popping wall art to dynamite floor selections, we believe your home should make you proud. However, we also know that a home is more than just a collection of things. A home is the one constant in life, where one should always have a sense of safety and security.
Unfortunately, the reality is that there will always be people looking to disrupt that security. While we can’t change the way of the world, we can take steps to protect our belongings and the people we love against malcontent.
Thanks to the rapid increase of innovative technology in recent years, protecting your home with a security system is cheaper and more accessible than ever. However, making the right decision on which company you should trust to protect everything you love can be a real headache. At times, it seems easier (and more fun) to simply go with Kevin McCallister’s Home Alone security plan.
Thankfully, we at Freshome understand the importance of safeguarding what’s most important to you. After poring over piles of reviews and rankings, reviewing official United States FBI and Department of Justice crime statistics and speaking with law enforcement officials on home security, I have found that Frontpoint is the best in home security and a name you can trust to give you peace of mind.
Freshome’s Best Overall Pick: Frontpoint
Freshome’s Honorable Mentions: Protect America, Livewatch, Simplisafe and ADT
How I chose the best home security system
I spent well over 60 hours digesting dozens of reviews, customer reports, and official crime statistics to see what names are the most trusted in home security. I also spoke with customers of some of the leading companies to get a grasp on how each company views customer service. Finally, I consulted law enforcement officials and conducted an interview with a Police Department Detective with over 25 years of law enforcement experience to gain critical insight into the real-life threat that home security systems work to prevent.
Over the course of my research, I found that the preferred security system greatly varies depending on the customer. For example, a twenty-something bachelor in a single bedroom loft is going to have a completely different home security expectation than middle-class parents of four. The former will most likely look for a cellular based DIY option that is easy to relocate, and the latter will likely look for a more professional, anchored approach.
Contrary to popular belief, I found that the super-rich aren’t your typical criminal’s primary target. In fact, the most burglarized households in the United States make an average income of $35K a year. In other words, those less likely to be able to afford a comprehensive security system are at a higher risk.
This revelation immediately altered my approach from finding the “best security system,” to finding the “best security system for those who need it.” While there may well be million-dollar security systems capable of creating a minefield of infrared lasers to snatch up even the sneakiest of burglars, ultimately these solutions don’t help those most likely to be in the crosshairs. Frontpoint strikes the perfect balance between cutting edge technology, unmatched customer service, and reasonable prices.
Other home security systems to consider
While Frontpoint was the clear winner for the best overall home security system, I found in my research that other companies excelled in key categories, and may be more appealing to customers with specific needs. Furthermore, if you are considering a DIY home security system, be sure to check out our best DIY Home Security System review.
The Best Affordable Home Security System
Protect America
Click Here to Visit Protect America Website
Can you say, “No up-front charges?” With an extremely reasonable starting monthly fee of $19.99, free start-up equipment, and a free relocation kit, Protect America is easily the best security system in its price range. Possibly best of all, the installation is completely DIY, ditching the “cable-guy factor” offered by a company like ADT. The only thing holding this company back from the number one spot is that its most affordable packages don’t offer the convenience of cellular monitoring.
The Best Home Security System for Relocating
Simplisafe
Click Here to Visit Simplisafe Website
Life happens, as do relocations, which could spur headaches for security system owners. Thankfully, there’s Simplisafe. Simplisafe costs a bit more than others up front, but after the initial cost, you actually own the equipment. To boot, Simplisafe offers extremely affordable monthly monitoring, and ditches landlines and wall holes for a 100 percent wireless service, making it the clear choice for the frequent mover.
The Home Security System with the Best Tech
Vivint
Click Here to Visit Vivint Website
Although it’s not quite like something out of a Bond movie, Vivint definitely features some of the best out-of-the-box technology in the industry. Including a touchscreen control center, 100 percent wireless sensors, cellular phone monitoring at all price points, and optional Z-Wave technology, which helps you regulate and manage your home’s energy usage). All in all, Vivint is pricier than the competition, but offers professional installation on one of the most technologically advanced systems, remaining a great option for those who can afford it.
A full review of the best home security system
Regardless of our income, we all deserve to feel secure in our own homes. The necessity of peace of mind cannot be oversold in today’s world, and your home security should give you the same sense of stability as the four walls around you.
Despite a plethora of excellent competitive options for home security systems, Frontpoint truly stood above the crowd from the get go. From its acclaimed customer service, to its DIY installation and cellular based system, Frontpoint proved itself to be the premier option for home security, while still remaining affordable.
From the beginning, I placed a lot of weight on each company’s customer service. In the case of a false-alarm tripping, or especially in the case of a break-in, the last thing you want is a difficult or even argumentative person on the other side. Frontpoint’s defining attribute is its customer service consistently ranked heads above the competition. In fact, I’ve never seen as much unanimous positivity for one company on the internet in my life.
It’s not all about the customer service, though. A security company has to put its money where its mouth is and offer protection at a sensible price. Frontpoint follows through, offering the most comprehensive and technologically advanced system in its price point on the market. By offering fully wireless cellular DIY installations and a free relocation kit, Frontpoint is able to offer the same technology as a company like Vivint does, at around half of the price.
In the age of the dying landline, it was imperative that the best company offer a cellular solution to home security. Not only does Frontpoint offer 100 percent wireless and cellular security at all price points, its top two price tiers have a built-in a failsafe, called “Crash and Smash Protection,” to keep criminals from tampering with your security center and impeding the arrival of help. With no landline to snip, a criminal may smash the entire control panel, which triggers a backup signal and is sent to the monitoring headquarters. Pretty nifty, right?
Plans Breakdown
Frontpoint offers three plans, the Protection Plan at $34.99/mo, the Interactive Plan at $44.99/mo, and the Ultimate Plan for $49.99/mo. The Protection Plan covers the basics of Frontpoint’s security, offering wireless and cellular technology, intruder protection, life safety, (think: “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up,”) and fire and environmental protection, including carbon monoxide and flooding.
The Interactive Plan, hailed as the “best value” on Frontpoint’s site, maintains all of the Protection Plan and adds its patented “Crash and Smash Protection,” email and text alerts, remote mobile access and control, light control, an image sensor which snaps a photo whenever motion is detected, and geo-location services to let you know you left the house without arming your system.
Finally, The Ultimate Plan builds upon the already comprehensive Interactive Plan. It peppers in live video streaming, motion activated video recording, HD and Night Vision capability, automated door locks, and energy management technology.
After reviewing the complexity of each plan, I must agree with Frontpoint and say that the Interactive Plan is most likely the best bet for most people.
Overall, Frontpoint has a viable option for basically any security need, and to top it all off, it offers an unheard of 30-day free trial. After countless hours of research, I found that the best and most efficient word to describe Frontpoint is unmatched.
Who is it best for and who should skip it?
Frontpoint is ideal for people in virtually all walks of life. Its comprehensive coverage makes it appealing to large families, and the free relocation kit and cellular based system make it a perfect fit for the frequent mover.
The company’s three plans all revolve around a 36 month lock-in contract, which can put some people off. Competitors like Simplisafe have thrived by offering complete freedom to customers and offering no contracts, but with a system for easy relocation, I don’t believe Frontpoint’s three year contract is a deterrent to most customers at all.
However, like anything dealing with protecting assets, one size never fits all, and home security, much like home insurance, is nothing if not individualized. Those hoping for a full professional installation or total freedom from contracts will most likely not be happy customers. Also, Frontpoint’s 3-year equipment warranty is pretty lackluster when compared to runner-up Protect America’s lifetime warranty.
To put it simply, Frontpoint is best for the person looking to protect those they love, and the things that really matter. It’s not the best for the guy looking to save a buck and protect his original Zeppelin LPs. Not everyone will be happy with it, but for the majority, there is no better option at such a competitive price than Frontpoint.
What made Frontpoint stand out?
- Unmatched Customer Satisfaction
- DIY Installation
- 100 Percent Cellular and Wireless System
- Crash and Smash Protection
- Rapid Response
- Unrivaled (for the price) Home Automation
- Free Relocation Kit
Where did the competition fall flat?
- Protect America – Protect America came in at a close second, but offered good, not great customer service.
- Simplisafe – Innovative by not offering any annual contracts, Simplisafe’s greatest downfall is also its biggest asset. Purchasing the equipment up front means more freedom, but is a luxury many lower income homes can’t afford.
- Livewatch – Livewatch’s low-key one year contract is a huge positive for the company, but its not-so-sterling customer service history drags it down. Thankfully, the company is on a rebound and reviews seem to be turning around.
- ADT – Easily the most recognizable name in home security, ADT simply falls short on being too big to compete with more flexible companies.
Choosing the right type of home security system for you
- DIY – Do it yourself. It’s that simple. Those who chose the DIY security road typically want the freedom to do what they want. It’s also likely that the customer has had some less-than-stellar experiences with professional installers.
- Professional – The age-old system that brings the installer to your house “sometime between 8 and 4.” Typically, the professional route means the customer is too busy to be bothered with self-installation.
- High-tech – If home automation, mobile controlled locks, and energy saving thermostats are important to you, high-tech may be the route to go. Typically much pricier than the competition, high-tech systems are typically installed by trained professionals.
Burglary: it’s not about your income
It’s not unusual for someone in a lower income bracket to convince themselves that they are safe from the threat of burglary. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The latest statistics from the United States Department of Justice show that although overall burglary is on the decline, (possibly thanks to an increase in home security options,) the average American is still very much at risk.
The truth is, the high-demand items criminals are looking for, such as cell-phones and other electronic appliances, are likely to be found even in lower income homes today. These lower income homes are far less likely to have a state-of-the-art security system than someone near the top 10 percent, making them more susceptible to a successful burglary.
Sadly, each victim loses an average of over $2200 in a burglary, which can spell financial ruin for a lower income household.
Emotional toll
Still, in most cases the financial loss is nothing compared to the feeling of violation after falling victim to a home invasion. Unfortunately speaking from experience, I can affirm the fact that financial losses are forgotten long before emotional trauma following a home invasion.
To gain some insight on the matter, I spoke with 25-year law enforcement veteran Detective Dean Watson with the Washington, North Carolina Police Department on his experience with rising low-income crime rates and how the right security system can help prevent financial devastation.
“Generally, burglaries are crimes of opportunity. Criminals seek out easy targets that they can get in and out with little or no chance of being seen or caught.” – Detective Watson
All research indicates that this is undoubtedly the case. The majority of burglaries happen during daytime work hours, when occupants are least likely to be home.
“In today’s society, everyone is a potential victim of a burglary. Criminals are out to get the quick dollar and will get it from whatever source they can regardless of the individual’s income.” – Detective Watson
According to the detective, the type of home security is important in apprehending the suspect, saying:
“Audible alarms help to deter criminals but do little to help identify suspects. Video surveillance helps in identifying suspects as well as areas where evidence such as fingerprints may be located.” – Detective Watson
Overall, the statistics and Detective Watson say that the presence of a security system is effective in deterring criminals.
“Cheap [security] systems or expensive, professionally installed ones are better than no system.” – Detective Watson
Common plan and add-on options
Although the specifics of each home security company will vary, most offer similar add-ons and upgrades. Here’s a look at some that may be worth the extra cash.
- Home Automation
- Motion Sensing Cameras
- Video Cameras
- Mobile Monitoring
- Wireless and Cellular set-up
- Carbon Monoxide Detection
- Lock Controls
- Text and Email Alerts
- Mobile Control of Security System
What makes a great home security system?
There are countless factors that make a home security system “great.” Ideally every detail in your security plan should align with your own idea of protection. Here are seven key features that every great security system should have.
- Excellent customer service – The last thing anyone wants is to deal with a non-understanding person in a call-center following a home invasion. A great security company recognizes that trust begins and ends with customer relations.
- Rapid emergency response time – In the event of a break-in, ASAP takes on an entirely new meaning,
- Mobile monitoring – Keeping an eye on your home whenever you’re away is no longer a luxury, but a cornerstone in every great security system.
- Affordable monthly fee – Because the point of a security system is to not get robbed.
- Cellular based, not land-line based. – It’s no longer 1995, and land-line-only systems simply don’t work anymore.
- Safeguard for false alarms – There’s nothing more frustrating than having to explain to police officers that you are not a home invader. But most importantly, false alarms can remove emergency personnel from real emergencies.
- Remote control of system – This just makes sense. You shouldn’t have to vacation knowing that you forgot to arm the system at home.
Final thoughts
Your home is yours to love, decorate, redecorate, and cherish. But most importantly, your home is yours to protect. Whether you’re reading this article because you’ve already fallen victim to home invasion, or you’re actively trying to prevent it, you are on the right rack.
Despite the variance in each company’s methods, and the individual nature of home security, I was able to find Frontpoint to be the best bet for a safer home. With the most comprehensive coverage and best technology available at a price even the most frequently victimized can afford, I believe that Frontpoint is the best route to security.
Above all else, I encourage you to dig into the specific needs of your home and the expectations you have from a home security system. While safeguarding significant financial investments is important, it’s key to remember that buying a home security system is about experiencing peace of mind for you and for those you love.
Sources:
– Interview: Detective Dean Watson, Washington, NC Police Department
– “The best home security system,” Reviews, 2015
– “Home security systems reviews,” TopTenReviews, 2015
– “What’s the best and most affordable home security system?” A Secure Life, May 2015
– “10 best home security,” Consumers Advocate
– “The best home security system,” The Sweet Home, June 2015
– “The best DIY home security system,” Reviews, 2015
– “Frontpoint Security Reviews: Our Top Pick Explained,” A Secure Life, August 2015
– “Protect America,” Best Home Security Companys
– “Vivint Reviews: Is High-Tech Worth High Dollar,” A Secure Life, June 8, 2015
– “Frontpoint Security,” Credio, 2015
– “Home Security Equipment Warranties: How Important are they?,” A Secure Life, 2014
– “Frontpoint Consumer Reviews and Complaints,” Consumer Affairs
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