Everything changes when you become a dad. Your entire perspective changes and your whole world suddenly revolves around someone else (or multiple little people).
You’ve spent a lifetime navigating this world, and it’s not as scary for you anymore because you’re grown enough to understand how things work. You understand dangers and how to avoid them.
But when you start looking at life through the lens of a child again, the world becomes a very scary place.
You see dangers that you hadn’t seen before, and you worry about protecting your family.
Fortunately, great home security is so advanced today that it’s easy to protect your brood while they’re at home.
From doorbells to a house alarm and cameras, the number of home security products out there has become dizzying.
But don’t worry…
This guide will help you navigate the best home security products, so you can choose the right solutions for your family. You could also visit 24/7 Home Security to find the best security systems in the market.
Multipurpose Home Security
ADT is the old standby security system provider, and they’re still among the best. But if you’re looking for an alternative that’s reasonably priced and extremely versatile, consider the newer SimpliSafe system.
This overall home security system starts at just $230 and has a $15/mo. subscription fee.
One of the best features of this system is that they actually verify that each alarm is legitimate, and this leads to faster police dispatch times.
DIY Home Security Kit
There are a few DIY kits out there that can accomplish similar results as an all-inclusive package, like what you’ll find with ADT or SimpliSafe.
And if you’re looking for this type of system, Honeywell’s Smart Home Security system is a great choice. The system comes with a main hub that’s equipped with 1080p live streaming and has a 145-degree viewing angle with free cloud storage.
The system also has facial recognition, so you can set up alerts to let you know when the kids come home from school. And if an unidentified person approaches your home, you can get an alert with a snapshot of that person’s face. Talk about having complete control and awareness!
The base system retails for $399.99, and this system works by alerting you, so there aren’t any subscription fees.
There are also many accessories you can add to the package, including various motion sensors.
Basic Home Security
If you’re looking for a DIY system that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Honeywell Smart Home Security system, you may be happy with the Scout Alarm system.
This is a modern system that works with Alexa, but in many ways, it’s no-frills. As such, it’s super affordable. The Scout Alarm retails for $129 for the base hub and $29 per window/door sensor. It’s $49 for a motion sensor and $40 for a water sensor, which is helpful for safety if you have a pool.
And you might be surprised to learn that ADT has one of these systems too. As you might expect, it’s in the pricier range, but the benefit is that you have the option of professional monitoring (that starts at $15/mo.)
The SmartThings ADT starter kit starts at $550 and includes a 7-inch panel, two window/door sensors and one motion detector. There’s also an available expansion kit that includes a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a water leak sensor.
A La Carte Home Security
There are a number of home security products on the market that offer various features. So if you don’t want to invest in a comprehensive home security system, or if you want to enhance your home security system, any item on this list would make a great choice.
Video doorbells
There are plenty of video doorbells on the market to choose from, but among the best are RemoBell S, Ring and Nest Hello.
The RemoBell is the most affordable at $99, but it’s definitely the entry-level option. At $199, Ring offers more advanced features that are on par with Nest Hello. But Nest Hello is the best option if you’re already using the Nest system.
Security Cameras
There are two types of security cameras you can get for your home, wired or wireless. And if you’re monitoring the outside of your home, wireless is usually a good option. But a wireless security camera inside your home may introduce a new security threat through hacking.
Wireless monitors and indoor security cameras are susceptible to hacking, which means that someone with ill intent may be able to see inside your home.
But this doesn’t mean you should skip the wireless cameras inside. There are some benefits to them, especially if you want to monitor your home while you’re away. You just need to be aware that hacking is a possibility and take measures to protect yourself. One way you can protect yourself is by setting up a guest network and protecting it.
You should also know that the level of encryption used from the device itself also matters, and this is why you should never buy a no-name wireless security camera. You could be leaving yourself exposed to hackers, and you’d never know.
So if you do want a wireless home security camera (for indoors or outdoors), here are some of the best:
- Wyze Cam
- Ring Spotlight Cam
- Google Nest
- Amazon Cloud Cam
When you choose a better-known brand, you know that the product is held to high security standards. The brand’s reputation relies on it.
And if you want a wired camera, you won’t have as many concerns. But you also won’t have the flexibility to see what’s going on in your home from a remote location.
Another advantage of a wired system is that you’ll still have a visual if you lose wifi connection. There are many great systems out there, but Swann is among the best. This is a wired system that includes night vision and heat sensing to detect people and things that are difficult to detect. It’s also weatherproof, so it’ll work in all conditions.
Motion sensor lighting
If you don’t have the budget for a fancy smart home security system, all isn’t lost. You can still go with a tried-and-true choice like motion sensor lighting.
This simple and inexpensive security product will deter most criminals – because criminals usually work in the cover of darkness and don’t want to be exposed.
This could possibly get irritating if you can see the light within your home, though, because anything that moves will set it off. So if you invest in motion sensor lighting, you may also want to invest in blackout curtains.
But this is one security solution that will cost less than $50 and give you, at least, some peace of mind.
As a dad, you probably feel a responsibility to protect your family. But the good news is that you’re not alone in this job. Technology has come a long way, and there are hundreds of home security products on the market to help keep your family safe from intruders.
As an added bonus, many of them can also help you keep an eye on your teenagers while you’re at work.
From full-service to a la carte, there’s a security solution that can meet your family’s needs and budget.