Homeowners insurance will always cost money, but it is only natural to want to keep your plan as affordable as possible. One way that you might be able to do so is by installing a home security system throughout the property. In today’s world of smart home security systems, it is easier than ever to set up, connect and use your system to monitor your home and safeguard it against countless risks.

A home with a security system is less of an insurance risk. Your security system can quickly alert you to hazards like fires, break-ins, carbon monoxide leaks and many more dangers. Therefore, you can receive help faster than ever before, and minimize the damage done to your property. This might lead to much smaller home insurance claims, or even no claim at all, and that could unlock policy savings.

When Choosing a Security System, Investment Pays Off

There are countless home security systems on the market today. Each offers a different level of protection for different at-risk areas of the home.

Your goal is to choose the system that:

• Provides as much protection as possible.

• Within the parameters of your budget.

• Does not provide benefits that you don’t need, or that put too much strain on your budget.

Of course, your home’s locks and bolts are your first line of defense, but basic additional security features include thinks like door & window sensors, motion-activated or timer-activated lights, or extra deadbolts. Other security basics include ceiling mounted fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, camera systems, or burglar alarms.

However, more sophisticated systems can take these security essentials, integrate them and create a higher level of overall security for the home. Therefore, by spending a little extra money on a more sophisticated setup, you might save yourself a lot of headaches later.

Today’s smart home security systems allow you to connect all your traditional security devices like burglar alarms, cameras and smoke detectors to a centrally managed app on your computer or mobile device. They are designed to alert you when something strange is happening on your property, and they will call the appropriate authorities (fire, police, ambulance) automatically. Some can even pre-emptively alert you to small problems that you can handle yourself, without the need to call for help.

How does this affect my homeowners insurance?

All in all, these smart home features give you the ability to respond quickly to a problem in the home. Therefore, any damage that arises is likely to be much smaller than if the problem went undetected. As a result, your insurer will likely view you as a lower risk to cover. Many will even offer you a policy discount because of the reduced risk that you now pose them.

Therefore, when looking for a home security system, don’t forget to ask your insurance agent what systems will qualify you for policy savings. They’ll be able to tell you exactly what steps to take to unlock policy savings potential.