Finding the Best Home Security Systems in California
Because California has such a wide variety of crime rates by city, you’ll want a wide variety of good home security companies from which to choose.
The following topics will be most applicable to California residents when searching for the perfect home security company:
- DIY Installation vs. Professional Installation
- Upfront Fees
- Cellular vs. Wired Home Security
- Response Times
- Smart Home Security
The best home security companies in California are Vivint Smart Home, Guardian Protection, and Google Nest.
Home Security in California
DIY installation is generally better for smaller homes that require fewer home security devices. Home security companies that only offer professional installation generally operate as such because of the complexity of their systems.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that DIY security systems are worse than professionally installed ones, it just means that expert-installed systems can be a little bit more helpful to those with larger homes.
Cost will depend on a combination of upfront fees and monthly costs. Of course, there are additional expenses — if you want additional devices, smart home upgrades, or have to pay a termination fee.
Be sure to keep an eye on those additional expenses when choosing a home security company.
For example, many home security companies require customers to pay out the rest of their contract when they cancel; this can easily add up to over $1,000 if you have a long contract.
California residents may also be interested in smart home technology. Devices like smart locks and smart thermostats can learn your preferences and automatically change to fit your needs.
You can also control your smart devices and even many smart appliances from a phone app.
About California
As the 3rd largest state and with over 35 million people it is difficult to lump together crime statistics and home security needs for all regions of the state.
When it comes to crime rates, California is about on par with the national averages for violent, property, and hate crimes, and has slightly more law enforcement employees per capita than other states.
However, it varies greatly between different parts of the state.
For example, in 2012 Oakland was in the top ten worst cities in the nation for both violent crime and property crime.
On the other hand, Ventura was in the top five for lowest crime rates in the country.
One interesting fact is that California has varying degrees of burglary based on the time of day.
For instance, larceny during nighttime is considered burglary in the first degree, whereas larceny during the daytime is considered “housebreaking” and is a second degree offense, which carries a lighter punishment.
