After you have identified the perils from which you seek to protect your log home, you have a few more important decisions:
- Professionally installed vs. D-I-Y. Who will install your security system typically depends on its level of sophistication and whether there will be remote monitoring. Know that “free”or deeply discounted professional installation costs are usually offset by higher monthly monitoring fees.
- Remote monitoring and control. A washing machine hose bursting when you're at home is a mess. A washing machine hose that bursts when no one's home can be catastrophic! Choosing to have a remote monitoring company being alerted when problems arise can generate a quick response (such as calling the police for a possible burglary) and notify you as well. Some solutions allow you to address certain perils remotely, such as locking doors, closing a garage door left up, turning on/off lights, etc.
- Wired or wireless. Security system monitoring notifications are typically sent over the phone. Thieves know this, too, and may opt to cut home phone landlines, rendering landline-based monitoring useless. Wireless (cellular) based notification bypasses this problem. The Nest company, for instance, offers a new product called the Nest app 5.0 that brings together all three products (smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, thermostat, and security camera), across multiple platforms, to easily control and monitor your home's most valuable resources.
Resource Link: Nest Products
