At that point, you have lost valuable response time, whereas a
professional monitoring station can automatically
alert first responders. ”We also contacted Kirk MacDowell, a board member with the Security Industry Association SIA and president of MacGuard Security Advisors Inc. He said a security system can act as a central heartbeat in the home. “Devices such as locks that can be opened remotely, home light control and thermostats that can raise or lower temperature are all tied into one convenient app and then tied into the alarm, making the operation seamless. ”How we tested DIY home automated systems For each new DIY security system, we test in two areas: user experience and ease of installation. These help build a picture of a system's effectiveness and how it affects you. For user experience tests, we see what each system and its companion smartphone app can do. In our experience, the best DIY home security systems have many ways to arm and disarm so you don't always need your smartphone. They also let you use a keypad or key fob to accomplish the same goal. We look at activity feeds and the organization of the mobile app to see what information an app gives you when an alarm goes off and if the alert gives you instant info. The top performers in this test were abode and Scout Alarm, with Nest Secure and SimpliSafe tying for third place.
They are also ONVIF compliant so can be used with ONVIF compliant
NVRs or a DIY NAS NVR system if you have one.
If you want to be able to control your lights and thermostat while you’re away, look for a plan and technology with
home automation capabilities. If you’re ready to purchase or upgrade your system, read more about top home security providers to find the best match for your lifestyle. Hiring a house sitter and setting up a security system are two very complementary steps you can take to keeping your home safe when you’re away. Your home automated system can make up for the human errors of which your house sitter may be guilty. Your house sitter is an intimidating
presence to burglars and intruders who prey on empty houses. But you have to remember that you’re very familiar with your home, and all of its quirks—your house sitter is not.