Homeowners see daily news reports about robberies, burglaries and violent home invasions. Many have decided to implement some security measures to protect their families and property. The security choices range from self-installed alarms to professionally installed and monitored systems. Across the state, home security are available to design and install customized security systems. Some of the homeowners' options are examined in this article. Benefits and shortcomings of some of the options are described. Self-installation versus professional installation is also discussed.

Just about any do-it-yourselfer can install one of the widely available department store alarm kits. With two or three wireless sensors and a controller, installation takes less than an hour. An area motion detector and one or two door or window sensors are included. A few higher-priced self-installed alarms include the ability to make phone calls to owner-programmed numbers. Some even offer monitoring at an extra cost.

Before placing family's security in a bargain alarm system, homeowners should be aware of some inherent weaknesses in these kits. The two most obvious weaknesses are battery life and the limited number of sensors. The quality and sensitivity of kit-based sensors is at best questionable. Non-professional installers often overlook security vulnerabilities and make mistakes that expose the family and property.

Much better security is available from professional Tennessee home security services. Professionals keep abreast of the technological advances in the industry and the methods being employed by criminal types to get past security systems. Professional installers will mount sensors and controllers that use house electricity for power and fall back on battery power when electricity fails. Security lapses caused by battery life are eliminated.

Almost all Tennessee home security services have professional installation technicians who can spot security vulnerabilities that are easily overlooked by amateurs. Professionally installed systems will use the home electrical power and include batteries as emergency backup during power outages. The problem of dead batteries goes away.

Simple alarm systems are enhanced by monitoring services. There are a few nationally recognized names in home security and some Tennessee home security services are part of these large companies. Large companies have the resources to maintain professionally staffed monitoring centers. Trained security monitors can quickly verify a threat and call local authorities.

Very early in the days of electronic security systems, alarms were hardwired into local police stations. Repeated false alarms and the growing use of alarm systems have forced police departments to stop monitoring home alarms. Monitoring services verify the threat before contacting local police. This adds some to the response time of law enforcement, but isolates the same law enforcement from false alarms.

A homeowner's choice of home security alarm involves several factors. The resident's financial resources, perceived threat and ability to defend his life and property all play into the decision of home security system.