Do I Really Need a Home Security System?

Small, hometown communities, like the ones you find in Ashland County, tend to feel just that - safe and secure like a hometown should. The crime rate is low in our cozy rural-ish community, so when it’s all said and done, do you really need a home security system?

The answer, we believe, is yes, and not just because we install them. Here’s why we’ve invested in our own homes’ security systems, and why we believe it’s important for other homeowners in Ashland County and surrounding communities, too.

Protect Your Home from Burglars

Okay, this might seem obvious, of course this is the number one reason to install a home security system. Even though our rates of crime tend to be lower than the state and national averages, burglary and theft still happen. According to Neighborhood Scout, your chances of becoming a victim of a property crime in Ashland, Ohio are 1 in 61, slightly less than the state’s chances of 1 in 55. 

Homes without any kind of security system are 2.7 times more likely to be burgled, according to "Securing Home and Business" by Simon Hakim/Erwin Blackstone. Having an alarm on your house alone can deter a potential burglar from entering your property. However, if the signage alone on your property doesn’t keep someone from entering, your home security system provides you and any loved ones inside enough notice that there’s someone suspicious on your property, which gives you time to get to a safe location while your alarm system notifies authorities.

Protect Your Home from Fires and Carbon Monoxide

Alarm systems protect your home in more ways than one. Modern alarm systems are able to detect the presence of smoke and carbon monoxide. They go beyond traditional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors by notifying you and local authorities, so that the proper help can be dispatched immediately to assist you in the case of an emergency. These alarm systems can detect both smoke and unusual sources of heat within your home. It only takes 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a raging fire, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Don’t forget about the pets, too! If you aren’t home and a fire breaks out, the chances of your pets surviving are low, but with a home security system to alert your local emergency authorities, there’s hope they will be rescued.

Protect your home and property with a security system that can save precious seconds and reduce your exposure to harmful gasses.

Monitor Your Home Remotely

Video surveillance is a standard component to most home security systems these days, which makes it possible for you to monitor your home remotely from the convenience of your smartphone. Cameras positioned inside and outside your home give you prime visibility on areas that are most often accessed and traveled so you know what’s happening. 

This is particularly useful to keep an eye on those teenagers who are left home alone when you are out on a date night. Bedtime, children! No, really, I see you! Bedtime! 

Ease Your Mind for Home-Alone Family Members

If you are out of town a lot or work shifts that require your loved ones to be home alone for any period of time, a home security system can be your eyes when you aren’t able to be there. Video surveillance technology incorporated into your home security system allows you to monitor the activity around your property, know when and who is entering or leaving your home, and relieve anxiety around all of the unknowns while you are away from home.

Home security systems do more than give peace of mind to the person who is away; if your spouse or children are home alone, they can rest assured that the house is secure and protected while you are away. They don’t have to worry about the strange bump in the night or be spooked by the dancing shadows out the window because the alarm is set. 

If you have elderly parents who live alone, a home security system can help you monitor their safety as well. Many home security systems tie in video surveillance and other security features into your smartphone so that you can access video feeds and receive push notifications no matter where you are. These security systems can also provide your loved one with a medical alert pendant they can wear to notify you and healthcare systems if they experience a medical emergency.

Reduce Energy Usage with Home Automation

Your new home security system does more than protect your property from potential trespassers, it also can reduce your energy consumption. Security systems can allow you to automate and program nearly every aspect of your home that uses energy. Raise and lower the temperature of your thermostat. Turn off and on interior and exterior lighting. Power down the coffee machine you forgot to turn off. These tricks and tips can keep your energy bills low and give the impression that someone is home, even when someone is not.

Lower Homeowners Insurance

Homes protected by a security system are eligible for a significant discount on their homeowner’s insurance, which most homeowners purchase to protect their property and possessions. Most homeowners generally receive a 10-20% reduction in their homeowners insurance when they have a functional alarm system installed on their property. If you install a security system, don’t forget to reach out to your insurance agent to notify them of this additional protection.

There’s more to protecting your home than living in a safe neighborhood. We all want to feel safe and protect our loved ones. You can do that and more with a home security system. Our team at BCU Electric has taken advantage of these technological advancements, and we believe in their abilities to protect our homes and provide us with the peace of mind to go about our lives. Contact BCU Electric to learn more about these comprehensive and adaptable solutions to home security. We take pride in our role of securing and protecting Ashland and surrounding areas.