“Explain like I’m five: what am I actually paying $45/month of monitoring for?”

What Are You Actually Paying for With Professional Monitoring?

The easiest way to understand monitoring is to stop thinking of it as a subscription to an app.

You’re paying for a service that operates in the background 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whether you’re home, asleep, at work, on vacation, or simply not looking at your phone.

Your security system is constantly communicating with the monitoring service. When a monitored alarm event occurs, the monitoring center can receive the signal and follow the appropriate procedures for that type of event.

That’s fundamentally different from simply receiving a notification on your smartphone.

Professional Monitoring Isn’t Just About Burglars

This is one of the biggest misconceptions we see.

People often think of a security system as something designed primarily to stop someone from breaking into the house.

Modern systems can do much more.

For a homeowner living alone, life-safety protection may be just as important as burglary protection.

Depending on the equipment and monitoring plan, a professionally monitored system can include protection for events such as:

• Burglary alarms
• Smoke detection
• Carbon monoxide detection
• Medical emergencies
• Environmental events
• Other monitored emergency conditions supported by the system

That matters because you can’t predict when an emergency is going to happen.

A burglar doesn’t care whether you’re home.

A fire doesn’t care whether you’re home.

And an emergency doesn’t check your calendar before happening.

Why This Made Sense for Our Customer

Remember the young woman we mentioned earlier?

She already had six Google Nest cameras when she moved into her new home.

Those cameras gave her visibility.

But after we walked through the property with her, it became clear that she needed more than cameras.

We installed an ADT security system and integrated her compatible Google Nest equipment into the larger security and smart-home ecosystem.

Now she has layers.

And there’s something else she has that doesn’t come in a box.

Someone local she can call.

If she has a question about her system, wants to add a smart lock, needs help with another camera, or decides she wants smart lighting, she doesn’t have to figure everything out by herself.

That’s an important part of the value of working with a local security professional.

Does No-Contract Security Mean You Don’t Need Professional Monitoring?

No.

These are actually two separate questions.

Question one: Do you want a long-term contract?

Question two: Do you want professional monitoring?

You can answer “no” to the first and “yes” to the second.

That’s one of the biggest changes happening in the security industry.

DIY security companies such as SimpliSafe and Abode offer month-to-month professional monitoring options, while ADT’s ADT Blu platform has also introduced a no-long-term-contract approach for its DIY customers.

In other words, homeowners have more flexibility than they used to.

But flexibility shouldn’t be confused with protection.

Whether you’re considering DIY or professionally installed security, ask what happens after the alarm goes off.

What About False Alarms?

This is another completely reasonable question.

Nobody wants their security system creating unnecessary alarm events because the family dog walked past a sensor or someone accidentally opened a door.

Proper system design can make a significant difference.

When we install a system, we’re looking at how the homeowner actually uses the house.

We consider things such as:

• Where people enter and exit
• How doors and windows are used
• Pet movement
• Interior traffic patterns
• Camera placement
• Sensor placement
• Life-safety devices
• Smart-home equipment
• How the homeowner arms and disarms the system

The cheapest system isn’t necessarily the system that creates the fewest headaches.

Sometimes the best way to reduce problems is simply to design the system correctly in the first place.

So Is Professional Monitoring Really Worth $45 a Month?

Let’s put the number into perspective.

But the real value isn’t the $1.50.

It’s what that small daily cost represents.

Your alarm doesn’t take weekends off.

It doesn’t go on vacation.

It doesn’t fall asleep.

And it doesn’t get distracted scrolling through Facebook.

Most importantly, professional monitoring provides an additional layer of support when you aren’t available to handle an alarm event yourself.

If you’re sleeping, working, traveling, at the grocery store, or simply didn’t see your phone notification, the monitored system is still doing its job.

Why We Recommend ADT for Many South Florida Homeowners

At Certified Security Systems, we don’t believe every homeowner needs the exact same security system.

A home with a pool, a home with pets, a second home, a commercial property and a young woman living alone may all require different approaches.

But when a homeowner wants professional monitoring, life-safety protection, smart-home integration and a mature security ecosystem, ADT is a system we are proud to install and support.

ADT’s relationship with Google also makes the platform particularly interesting for homeowners who already own compatible Google Nest products.

Instead of thinking about your security system, cameras, thermostat and smart-home devices as completely separate products, the goal is to create one connected ecosystem.

That is exactly what made sense for the customer we described earlier.

You can learn more about ADT’s current security and monitoring options directly from ADT .

And Then There’s the Part You Can’t Download

Here’s something worth considering when you’re comparing security companies.

What happens when you have a question?

What happens when you want to add another camera?

What happens when you want a smart lock six months from now?

What happens when you can’t figure out why something isn’t working?

That’s where a local security company can make a difference.

At Certified Security Systems, we don’t just install the equipment and disappear. We work with homeowners to build systems that can grow with their needs.

That can include adding compatible door locks, smart lighting, additional cameras, access control and other security or smart-home technology as your needs change.

The Security Setup We Would Consider for Someone Living Alone

If you live alone in a typical single-story Florida home, you probably don’t need the biggest package available.

We’d start with the home and build from there.

You Don’t Need the Biggest Security System. You Need the Right One.

If you live alone, your security system should fit your home and your life.

You don’t need fourteen cameras because someone on the internet said you do.

You don’t need every smart-home gadget ever invented.

And you don’t necessarily need to choose between a long-term contract and completely unmonitored DIY security.

The security industry has changed, and homeowners have more choices than they used to.

But when you’re comparing systems, don’t stop at the equipment.

Ask what happens after the alarm goes off.

That’s where professional monitoring becomes valuable.

Your cameras can help you see what’s happening.

Your alarm can detect an event.

Your smart-home system can connect everything together.

And professional monitoring adds another layer when you can’t be there yourself.

For roughly the cost of a small daily purchase, depending on the system and monitoring package, that can be a pretty powerful safety net.

You don’t have to be the security guard.

That’s what the system is for.

Certified Security Systems proudly serves homeowners throughout Palm Beach County, including Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Boca Raton, Loxahatchee and surrounding South Florida communities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Security in Florida

Do I need professional monitoring if I live alone?

You don’t have to have professional monitoring, but it can provide an important additional layer of protection. If you’re asleep, working, traveling or unable to respond to a notification, a professionally monitored system can continue communicating alarm events to the monitoring center.

Is no-contract security better?

Not necessarily. No-contract or month-to-month options provide flexibility, but the contract length isn’t the only thing that matters. Compare monitoring, equipment, installation, life-safety protection, cellular connectivity, smart-home integration and customer support.

Can I use my existing Google Nest cameras with an ADT system?

Compatible Google Nest products can integrate with ADT’s ecosystem. Whether your existing equipment is compatible depends on the specific products and configuration. A professional can help determine what you can keep and what should be replaced.

What does security monitoring actually do?

Professional monitoring provides a 24/7 monitoring service that receives signals from a monitored security system and follows established procedures for alarm events. Depending on the type of event and the services included in the customer’s plan, the appropriate emergency response process may be initiated.

Are security cameras enough to protect my home?

Cameras provide valuable video awareness, but they are not necessarily a replacement for an alarm system. Cameras and alarms perform different functions and are often most effective when used together.

How much does professional security monitoring cost?

Monitoring prices vary depending on the equipment, features and monitoring package selected. A monthly price around $45 can be reasonable for a professionally monitored security service, but homeowners should compare the actual services included rather than choosing solely based on price.