The modern home security environment is populated by tons of high-tech devices that were little more than dreams decades ago. Everything from smart door locks to intelligent cameras that can recognize the faces of every member of your family is now on the table. But just because the device is available and compatible with your system, that doesn’t mean you actually need it.
That is the big question when investing in home security equipment. Do you need all the latest gadgets No. And in fact, we still have access to some pretty low-tech means of securing our homes against burglary and other property crimes. Nonetheless, some of today’s high-tech devices are pretty handy.
3 Devices With Limited Benefits
This post was prompted by a piece recently published on the CNET website. Author Tyler Lacoma offered his take on a number of home security add-ons he deemed ‘worthless’. I don’t know if I would use the same terminology, but his point is well taken. Based on his post, here are three home security devices with limited benefits:
1. Motion Detectors
Motion detectors do exactly what their name implies: they detect things moving around a given space. They were a mainstay of first- and second-generation home security systems that were hard-wired into the electrical panel. People appreciated them as a lower-cost alternative to more expensive CCTV cameras.
Today, cameras are cheap. So are window and door sensors. Arming every first-floor window and door alerts to unauthorized entry. Meanwhile, a selection of interior cameras will do more than just detect motion. They will also record the intruder’s activities. So what real purpose do motion detectors serve anymore?
2. Panic Buttons
Another mainstay of the traditional home security system is the panic button. While such a button can prove useful, it is very possible to have an effective home security system without one.
As Lacoma points out in his piece, nearly every modern cell phone is equipped with a panic button feature. Most of the time, the lock screen does not even have to be deactivated. You can call 911 with a simple tap or a verbal command. You can also call an emergency contact with a smart speaker.
3. Wall-Mounted Touchscreens
The third device with limited benefits is the wall-mounted touchscreen. I cannot argue that having a touchscreen is handy. I find it easier to control and program my system on a larger screen. But I do not absolutely need to have one. Everything I can do with a touchscreen I can also do with my phone.
I don’t go so far as Lacoma to say that these three devices are worthless. They are not. Each of them has its own value proposition. But if I am working with a limited budget, these devices would be way down my priority list. I would rather put my money into other things first.
Cameras and Sensors
My top priorities from a security standpoint are video cameras and sensors for the windows and doors. The sensors offer an alert mechanism if anyone tries to break in. Cameras also alert to break-ins, but they offer an additional benefit: deterrence.
Studies have consistently shown the criminals are nervous about security cameras. It makes sense. A camera recording a burglar’s every move makes his job harder. His chances of completing a successful burglary without being identified are lower compared to hitting a house with no video cameras on-site.
I’m investing in cameras before I am purchasing motion sensors. I also want enough cameras to give me sufficient coverage before I invest in their touch screen mounted on the wall by my door. But that’s just me.
Incorporating Home Automation Features
I am also more interested in spending my money on home automation features rather than devices with limited benefits. I am thinking of things like automated lighting, a smart thermostat, smart locks, automated irrigation, and automated window blinds.
Each of these device categories is more important to me than having a panic button or motion sensors. Consider the potential.
A panic button has but one purpose. And with any luck, I would never have to use it. But think of the potential that comes with automated lighting. I can program lights to mimic human activity when I’m on vacation. I can create lighting scenes that adjust lighting based on my daily routine.
Installation and Monitoring
A financial priority for some homeowners is the combination of professional installation and monitoring. That’s not my cup of tea, but I know people who would rather invest in such services from brands like Vivint Home Security. Professional installation and monitoring are a higher priority than devices with limited benefits.
Professional installation could be a big thing if you want to invest in home security but you are not tech savvy. While today’s systems don’t require cutting into walls and running power lines, they do require that you know your way around a wireless network.
As far as monitoring goes, letting professionals do it alleviates a homeowner of the responsibilities that come with self-monitoring. Fully trained professionals keep an eye on things 24/7. That’s a comfort to some homeowners who have neither the time nor the interest to monitor their systems themselves.
You Get to Decide for Yourself
Although there are plenty of home security devices that are nice to have but not absolutely necessary, the beauty of it all is that we all have the ability to decide for ourselves what we want. Maybe you want a complete system with every possible bell and whistle. More power to you.
On the other hand, there are homeowners like me who prefer to invest in more powerful devices while putting those with limited benefits farther down on the priority list. We can all have what suits us best. There is no right or wrong way to design a home security system.
Do you need every device on the market? No. You are free to pick and choose those devices that are important to you.
