Home Security Monitoring: Your Electronic Watchdog

In times past, people didn’t have electronic home security monitoring systems to watch over the security of their homes and families. They relied on a more primitive means of monitoring their home’s security, the watchdog.

The watchdog was more than just a home security monitoring system, however, it was a trusted member of the family. Homeowners knew that so long as their loyal and faithful watchdog was monitoring their home’s security, they were safe, and so were their families and possessions. When an intruder or suspicious person was about, homeowners were confident that their living home security monitor would raise a quick alarm.

Times have changed, but the fundamental necessity of trust between a homeowner and his or her home security monitoring system has not. Homeowners need to feel the same unshakeable, unquestionable, faith and trust for their home security monitoring company as past homeowners felt for their loyal watchdogs.

Home security monitoring can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 per month. Selecting a company you can trust to provide quality home security monitoring is vital to ensuring the maximum return on this investment.

Modern home security monitoring generally works like this: when a home alarm system is tripped, a central home security monitoring station sends an alert to the central home security monitoring station via phone. Within just a few seconds, the central station will contact the homeowner over the phone or through the security keypad to determine if there is a threat to the safety of the home.

If the home security monitoring provider reaches someone in the home, the provider will ask for a passcode to ensure he or she belongs there. If the contact can’t provide the passcode, or if no one answers, the home security monitoring provider will call law enforcement to the scene and may also call a designated secondary contact.

How quickly your home security monitoring provider responds to an alarm can mean the difference between just a frightening experience and a potential tragedy. After many years of decline burglary rates have stabilized, and with worsening economic conditions, it’s only a matter of time before they begin to rise again. With burglary goes the potential for other, more violent crimes such as rape and murder. To protect your family, you need a reliable home security monitoring provider.

When choosing a home security monitoring provider, don’t be afraid to ask questions. What is the home security monitoring provider’s average response time? What relationship does local law enforcement have with the home security monitoring provider? What is the provider’s reputation among other home security monitoring firms?


When you choose a home security monitoring provider, you’re putting your life, your property and your family in that company’s hands. The relationship between you and your home security monitoring provider is just as important as the one you have with your doctor, accountant or attorney. Choose a good watchdog to monitor the security of your home, and you never need worry about your safety or that of your loved ones.