There's a lot to think about
when it comes to home security systems.
There's pricing, features, equipment,
and, of course, monitoring.
But the way people watch the system
that's watching their house is changing.
Especially as DIY becomes more popular,
we're able to monitor our own systems.
This is called self-monitoring.
But before we dive into what is self-monitoring
and what are the best systems,
don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel
to catch new videos every week.
We also have full playlists on popular brands
like Ring and SimpliSafe
if you wanna learn more about those.
Let's get into it.
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Self- and professionally-monitored systems
let you know when something is happening in your house.
But instead of getting a phone call
from a monitoring professional,
self-monitored systems alert you through an app.
Without these notifications or the app itself,
your system's more like a car alarm for your house.
It might scare off an intruder for a second
or alert the neighbors,
but ultimately it's up to you
to make the call for any emergencies.
Self-monitored systems generally have fewer
or no fees at all per month.
Those systems you see that have professional monitoring
generally cost about $10 to $50 a month
for those monitoring fees.
But, like anything, there are pros and cons
to being the only one watching your security system.
While both professional and self-monitored systems
let you call off emergencies,
it's a lot easier when you're the only one
who has to press the button.
Plus, false alarms can be an expensive problem,
especially if you live in a city
that charges fines for multiple false alarms.
If you're a renter or a frequent mover,
self-monitored systems might be a good choice.
You don't have to call customer service
or the monitoring center
every time you change addresses.
It's all up to you in the app.
There are some problems
with being the only one in control of your system.
Whether it's a fire or an intruder,
when your system goes off,
it's up to you to act.
If you work well under pressure
or keep a close eye on your apps,
this might not be a problem.
But it is really nice to have a trained professional
on the other side of a scary situation.
Your system is only as strong as your cell signal.
If you're out of town or even down the street using data,
you might not be able to connect
with your security system in an emergency
or get the alerts you need.
Warranties vary, but things go wrong with technology
all the time.
And if you're self-monitoring,
it's up to you to fix or adjust any problems
your equipment might have.
Some professionally monitored systems
come with professional installation,
which means if something goes wrong,
there's someone there to fix it.
That's not really the case
with self-monitored systems.
So which systems allow self-monitoring
and which ones are the best?
We have a full lineup
of the best self-monitored systems on SafeWise.com.
We've got a link in the description below.
But I'm gonna give you just a taste in this video.
Kangaroo costs about $100
and has a pretty unique sensor
that doubles as a contact sensor
and a motion sensor,
which, if you live in a small apartment,
like I do,
you got limited space,
so it comes in handy.
But that said, it's a pretty basic system.
It doesn't have any third-party compatibility,
and it has really limited smart features.
Ring has a basic five-piece security kit
for about $250.
But what really makes us sing about Ring
is all its cameras.
As of this video, Ring has up to eight video doorbells
and several indoor and outdoor camera options.
But while you can self-monitor with Ring,
all the best features come with Ring Protect,
its subscription service
that also includes professional monitoring.
So it's $10 a month
and comes with a lot of extra goodies,
especially for all those cameras.
But it ceases to be a self-monitored system.
At about $300, Abode is one
of the more expensive picks on our lineup,
but it's stellar for home automation.
It works with a ton of third-party equipment
and can make automations with all of your smart home gear.
But, like Ring, all of its best features
require a subscription,
which also includes professional monitoring.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, though.
Now those are just three out of the five
of our top picks for best self-monitored systems.
You can catch the full lineup in our description below
and see more from our best home security systems
on SafeWise.com.
Now don't forget to like this video and subscribe,
because we have an upcoming video
on more self-monitored systems.
I just got a Hex Home
that I'll be installing soon
and making a video about,
so stay tuned for that.
Thanks for watching and stay safe.
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