Home Security For First Time Home Buyers

Amidst the excitement of purchasing your first home thoughts often go to interior design or landscaping updates. All too often new home-owners neglect to consider protecting their investment until they come home from work to discover that the HDTV or Grandma Minnie's treasured bracelet have been stolen along with their sense of security.

There are a few things that you can do to protect your investments. First and foremost you should have a good home insurance policy. This is often a requirement of mortgage loans. Insurance can help replace the monetary loss resulting from burglary but cannot restore the sense of loss or the feeling of insecurity after being the victim of this form of tragedy.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The best form of prevention is a home security system with monitoring services.

One of the most important things to consider when selecting a home security system is the company's monitoring centers. A company with only one home security monitoring center may not be able to offer you complete coverage if they find themselves the victim of a power outage or a natural disaster. ADT home security provides customers with five monitoring centers which can immediately take over if a center goes down so that you can rest assured that your home is protected 24 hours a day.

Another consideration should be communication with the monitoring center. With the increase in wireless communication

and the decrease in the use of land-lines look for a home security service that can also provide monitoring using cellular towers such as ADT SafeWatch Cellguard.

If an emergency is detected at your home the monitoring center will typically call you to ask for the security code. This will tell the monitoring center that you and your family are safe. An impressive feature in home security systems is two-way voice communication linking you directly with a dispatcher no matter where you are in your home.

A loss of power should not mean a loss of home protection. Make sure to look for a home security system that has a battery backup. This will ensure that you and your home will still be protected during a power outage.

Often the knowledge that your home is protected by a home security system is a deterrent for the petty thief. Even the smallest detail should not be overlooked when considering a home security system. Almost all home security services will provide you with yard signs and window decals which warn potential intruders that you home is being monitored.

Look for equipment accessories such as keychain remote access. This handy little device can make the difference when you are rushing out the door and forget to arm your home security system. It can also be used to disarm the system upon your return. While many of the security service providers charge you for this handy addition this device is a standard included in ADT Security Services.

Many people may be unaware that a home security system can protect you during other emergency situations. Some home security systems can be upgraded to include sensors for monitoring smoke, heat, carbon monoxide, water, and freeze such as the ADT monitoring system.

Keep the nightmares at bay by researching home security services before signing the closing documents on your dream home. It will give you the peace of mind that not only is your home protected but that someone is looking after you and your family.

Bruce Kelly, the author of this article, is an ADT adviser with Security Choice, an ADT Home Security authorized company. ADT is the Nation's leading provider of security alarm systems. Protect your home and loved ones today with America's most trusted security company, ADT.