4 Signs it’s Time to Upgrade Your Home Security
Discover the most common reasons why people choose to upgrade their home security systems. You’ll learn what signs to look out for in your own home and discover new opportunities for enhancing your protection.
Home security is necessary to help ensure your assets and family are kept safe from the risks of crime. With that in mind, it is important that you have the right systems and services in place so that your home is fully covered.
It is inevitable that at some point in time, you’ll need to think about upgrading your existing systems or installing new ones – if you’ve just moved home for example. In order to help you with this, we’ve listed the five most common signs that cause our customers to consult us for the right help and advice.
The most common signs for upgrading your home security systems that we’ll cover in this article are:
- Replacing obsolete security systems
- Better functionality and integration through advanced technology
- Implementing monitored security services for enhanced coverage
- Changes to the home (e.g., extensions)
But first, let’s look at some of the facts about home security and residential crime in the UK.
Common facts about home security
The average cost of a burglary in the UK is £3,030 per household. At a time when our monthly budgets are being even more tightly squeezed thanks to rising inflation, the added cost of lost assets and damaged property can be a major concern. It’s also worth bearing in mind that better security protection can help to reduce your insurance premium quote in some circumstances.
Also, a burglary occurs every 106 seconds (ONS) and 58% of burglaries occur when someone is home, and most burglaries (around 30%) occur between 6 PM and midnight. This means your home is more likely to be targeted while you’re there – which may come as a surprise considering most people would consider this to be a deterrent.
A survey by the insurance comparison site Confused.com, has found that (61%) of Brits believe that having an alarm system installed could be a measure to help stop their house from being burgled but reveals that this might not be the case if the system is old and could actually entice a burglar to that property.
Which leads us neatly onto the first of our common signs that it’s time to upgrade your home security systems…
Replacing obsolete security systems
How do you know when your intruder alarm system or CCTV & Video Surveillance are obsolete or outdated? There some common signs, and if any are applicable to your home security, it may be time to speak to a security expert.
The first question to ask is, is your home alarm system even on? We’ve seen cases where homeowners have admitted to not arming their alarm systems for a number of reasons – including them not actually working. Naturally, you can’t expect your home security system to do its job if this is the case.
If your intruder alarm or CCTV isn’t operable, you should speak to a security expert as soon as possible about repairing or replacing it.
Check the condition of your equipment too. As we mentioned above, a damaged or old alarm can actually be a draw to potential intruders, rather than a deterrent.
Another question to ask is, does your intruder alarm system still rely on wired connectivity? This may be a sign that it is outdated, as modern systems now rely on digital connectivity. This enables your equipment to communicate wirelessly, which is safer and also gives you access to features such as control wherever you are using your smartphone.
Monitored security systems that still rely on a landline are in urgent need of upgrades, as BT is currently closing its analogue network. As soon as your local exchange is switched off, your wired system will no longer be covered by professional monitoring. You can learn more about BT’s PSTN network and why it is closing here.
Better functionality and integration through advanced technology
Home security technology has advanced rapidly over the past decade. The good news is it has to lead to security equipment becoming more accessible and more widely adopted – think about how many more of your friends and family now have some form of security installed in their homes compared to even five years ago.
The even better news is that modern systems are designed to make protecting our homes and our families simpler and more flexible. If your alarm system still relies solely on a control panel in your home, you could be missing out on the added benefits that smarter technology has to offer.
We’ve already mentioned how you and others in your household could manage and monitor a modern intruder alarm or CCTV & video surveillance system wherever you are with the help of a handy smartphone app. It’s also now easier than ever to integrate different technologies (like those mentioned above) and manage them from one place.
Many of our customers have made the switch to a system that integrates both intruder detection and CCTV thanks to these advances. They now benefit from better protection and visibility into what is happening in their homes whether they’re at home, at work, or even on holiday.
Implementing monitored security services for enhanced coverage
The adoption of monitored security services has also grown in line with more home security systems being installed. Monitored security connects your home security system to a professional alarm response centre (ARC), giving you access to 24-hour security coverage from professional operators.
Don’t worry if you’ve not heard of monitored security, this helpful guide will give you all the information you need to learn how it works and discover the benefits.
There are certain requirements for remote security monitoring to be enabled, which is why you’ll need to ensure your system is up to date and professionally installed – at CIA, all of our home protection packages come with monitored security services as standard.
Once your home is connected, you can rest easy knowing that if an alert is raised, operators will be on hand to respond. It’s also worth knowing that police place a higher priority on confirmed alerts they receive from professional monitoring centres.
Monitored security services can even help to reduce nuisance false alarms and also notify you when your system incurs a fault and needs repairs.
Changes to the home (e.g., extensions)
A common reason to reconsider your home security that we often see overlooked is a change to the layout of your home. Has your home recently undergone an extension, for example? Even if your garden has been redesigned or maybe you’ve installed a new fence or shed, this can affect the effectiveness of your existing home security system.
Changes to your property can create blind spots or gaps in your coverage that will need to be addressed to ensure your property and your peace of mind stay protected.
This is another area where modern security systems are proving to be useful, as wireless connectivity makes it easier to change and scale your security system. Whether that means moving a detector to another location, adding another one, or swapping it out for an upgraded version. You’ll have the flexibility to make the necessary changes without having to replace your whole system.
How can CIA help protect your home?
At CIA, we offer simple home protection packages with options to suit your specific needs. All of our packages include the latest security equipment and professional monitoring as standard – we operate two NSI Gold Accredited alarm response centres in the UK. We can also take care of installation and maintenance for you!
