A homeowner can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $100+ per month for a home security system.
Breaking that price range down, there are two primary cost factors associated with a monthly security bill:
- Financed equipment costs: If you financed security hardware, the cost will show up in your monthly security bill. On average this adds around $10 to $70 or more per month to your bill.
- Alarm monitoring: This is the cost you pay for a professional company to monitor your home. You can expect to pay around $20 to $60 per month to your bill.
In addition to these two price factors, the monthly cost of security could be indirectly impacted by:
- Discounted pricing on other bills: The discounts you qualify for by owning a security system (discounts which aren't found directly on your bill.)
In this article, we'll break down these price factors further to give you a better idea of what a monthly security bill is comprised of.
Or, if you'd like to speak with an Ackerman Security professional directly about pricing, you can call our office at 800.552.1111.
Factor #1: Monthly Installments for Security Hardware
Most security companies allow you to finance the upfront cost of a new security system upon request. Once a customer is approved for financing, the full cost of the hardware and installation can be broken down into bite-sized monthly payments until the hardware is paid in full.
On average, financed hardware and installation costs can add about $10 to $70 per month to your security bill until the equipment is paid off, at which point you only have to pay monitoring costs.
Some price factors may increase or decrease the total cost of your equipment financing, including:
- Discounts you receive: Some security companies offer discounts on hardware to new customers who sign a monitoring contract.
- Type and amount of equipment installed: This one's a given. If you're installing multiple motion-sensing surveillance cameras, window sensors, security lighting, smart home products and more, the cost will quickly add up.
- Installation costs: If labor costs for your installation wasn't paid in full up-front, it may be in your first bill or broken down into multiple installments on future bills.
Factor #2: Monthly Monitoring Costs
Home alarm monitoring is what most homeowners think of when they're considering the monthly cost of a security system. While there's a significant variance in cost, a general rule of thumb is to budget about $30 to $60 per month, although the cost can run as low as $20 and as high as $100+ per month.
If you elect to have a professional security company monitor your home for you, the total price per month will depend on these factors:
- Size of your home: Homes with many access points will require more sensors and cameras to properly defend it. Some security companies will add to the monthly monitoring cost per camera or motion sensor installed.
- Landline vs. cellular monitoring: Landline monitoring costs less per month than cellular (GSM) monitoring. The downside is that your security system can be turned off with a single cut to your outdoor telephone line. Landline monitoring averages around $10-$30 per month, while cellular monitoring averages $40-$60 per month.
- Environmental sensors: Adding sensors which detect heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, flooding and more, can quickly add up depending on how many of these sensors your home needs. Environmental sensors can range between $2 per month for smoke detectors, and $7+ per month for flooding and CO monitoring.
Factor #3: Cost-Savings Associated with Your New Security System
Many homeowners don't realize that a home security system can save them money on certain monthly bills. Those savings should be considered when you tally up the monthly cost of a home security system.
Some of the monthly savings you may see from owning a security system include:
- Savings in insurance premiums: You could reduce insurance premiums by 5% to 20% according to the Insurance Information Institute, depending on the type of home security products you install.
- Savings in utilities: Smart home products are frequently paired with new security installations because of how well they complement one another. Smart home thermostats alone can significantly reduce the average utility bill.
In addition to these monthly savings, some once-off savings could include:
- Tax write-offs
- Increased home equity
- A failed burglary
That last one deserves a brief explanation. A security system may deter burglars from ever touching your home. Or, if an attempt is made, a burglar could be caught or flee before serious harm is done. An unmonitored home doesn't have this luxury.
And as the FBI considers the average cost of a burglary to be $2,416, a high end security system could pay for itself and then some if it stops just one burglary from happening.
Want Professional Home Security at a Great Price?
Ackerman Security helps homeowners identify the right kind of monitoring service for them, at a price they feel comfortable with.
Don't hesitate to call us today at 800.552.1111, or schedule a time for a security consultant to visit your home.
