An off-the-shelf DIY starter kit can be incredibly attractive to the consumer looking to get into home security for the first time. DIY packages promise quick setup and low upfront costs. Yet every home has its own unique layout and specific vulnerabilities. Every family has its own dynamics.
DIY kits give consumers a static assortment of sensors. You might get a sensor for the front door and a couple for the windows, along with a single video camera and a control pad. If you need more, you need to figure out what you need and place an additional order.
There is a better way: going with a brand like Vivint. As a nationwide leader in home automation and security, Vivint works with homeowners to custom design their systems.
The Problem With One-Size-Fits-All Security
Boxed DIY security kits are, by design, one-size-fits-all packages. They are designed for the mass market rather than individual consumers and floor plans. This is the primary weakness of a DIY strategy. It doesn’t help that your typical DIY starter kit doesn’t come with much.
A starter kit might be adequate for a single-story home or a two-bedroom apartment. It will not do for a multi-level suburban home, complete with garage and basement. A DIY starter kit would leave too many gaps:
- Unprotected Entry Points – DIY starter kits rarely include enough sensors to provide adequate entry point coverage. You could be left with too many unprotected entry points.
- Unusable Devices – The kits also tend to include devices that some homeowners cannot use. Motion detectors are a good example. They are not right for every layout.
- Inadequate Equipment – A single interior camera does no good if your biggest security concern is package theft. You need an external camera or a video doorbell.
Of course, you can buy a starter kit and then add more devices to accommodate your home’s layout and vulnerabilities. But if you go that route, will the final price be close to what you would have spent on a custom package from Vivint? It is possible.
Custom Design Equals Precise Safety
Vivint and its competitors are essentially full-service providers. Their focus is less on selling hardware and more on designing systems that solve very specific safety challenges. Consumers work alongside trained home security technicians to design systems according to need, layout, budget, and any other concerns a homeowner has. There are definite advantages to doing so:
- Targeted Protection – Custom design allows you to target protection where you need it most. Do you need more window sensors on the first floor? Not a problem. Do you need a different selection of exterior cameras? Customization can handle it.
- ‘Beyond Burglar’ Defense – Custom systems offer protection beyond burglary and intrusion. For example, you can have flood sensors installed in the basement. You can also include a medical monitoring system.
- Better Video Coverage – Customization excels where video coverage is concerned. Technicians know the best places to install cameras for maximum protection.
The differences between DIY and custom home security are as plain as night and day. DIY security packages may be appropriate in some limited circumstances, but most consumers would do better investing in a customized solution.
Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t
It is true that you might spend more working with a full-service provider, but the trade-offs are worth it. A customized system gives you everything you need and nothing you do not. When it comes to home security, that’s the sign of true value. You get the maximum value out of every device in your system because each one has been chosen based on your needs.