By CHRISTOPHER KAZARIAN
Our homes are the one place where
we want to feel safe from the dangers of society.
Whether it’s to prevent theft, safeguard your family or remain vigilant to unforeseen events, such as a fire or a burst water pipe, there are steps residents can take to ensure their homes are properly protected. That protection can come in the form of home security systems.
In recent years, the technology for those systems has improved to the point they can be controlled wirelessly from one’s smartphone. That access allows users to monitor the home, viewing live video from a computer, phone or tablet, even while they are away.
Comcast provides this service through Xfinity Home, a system that spokesman Marc Goodman said has been around for the past four years. Packages, which can be found at www.xfinity.com/home-security, range from $19.95 to $69.99 per month, and include a variety of options, such as light controllers, video cameras, door and window sensors, wireless keypad control, touch screen controls and motion sensors.
Because consumers are busier than ever, Mr. Goodman said, the system is meant to provide peace of mind for those constantly on the go. For parents, that means there is a feature that will automatically take a picture and text it to your phone the moment your child comes home from school.
Xfinity Home also allows users to remotely turn off their alarm and unlock their front door when they are not home in case a repairman, neighbor or caretaker needs to get inside. Once that person leaves, the homeowner can then remotely lock the door and rearm the alarm.
The system also offers added comfort to the homeowner thanks to water sensors that can detect flooding in the basement or laundry room.
And recently, Comcast announced that Xfinity Home will be able to work with third-party devices that include sprinkler systems, pet trackers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Systems Enhance
Residents’ Safety
“It’s knowing that every time you come home and disarm your system nobody else is in the house,” said Chris Cormier, manager of Cape Cod Alarm Co. in Yarmouth, when asked why residents should consider these types of security systems.
But the systems go well beyond that. With such features as fire alarms and low-temperature protection, he said, homeowners can rest assured that “when you’re away, if there’s a major problem, you’re not coming back to a disaster.”
His company, which was established in 1982, serves the entire Cape, providing residents with a range of options for their home security needs. “Every system is customized to the individual customer,” Mr. Cormier said. “Some may have pets, some don’t. Some may want to use the system only when in their house. Some may want to use it when they are away from the house.’”
The first step in the process is a site visit with a sales representative to better understand the house and what technology would suit the homeowner’s needs.
At the most basic level is a burglar alarm system, costing between $500 and $700, which includes door and window sensors as well as motion detectors.
More advanced systems, which can run in the thousands of dollars, allow homeowners to remotely access and manage it through their smartphone or computer, a relatively new advancement that has taken place over the past five years.
To protect against mechanical mishaps, Mr. Cormier said residents can install heat detectors, low temperature detectors and water detectors that will notify customers when there is a problem.
Additionally, residents have the ability to control their thermostats and lights even if they are at work, out shopping or on vacation.
The final option Mr. Cormier recommended was video cameras which can be set up throughout the house and which can also be monitored and controlled remotely.
Along with sales and installation, Cape Cod Alarm Co. provides monitoring for a monthly fee, adding another layer of security for the homeowner. “If a burglar alarm goes off we call them or the police to come to the house,” Mr. Cormier said. “With a lot of second homes on Cape Cod, the low temperature and water alarms work well if they’re not at the house. So if the temperature falls below a certain point, we make calls to the caretaker or to them as part of the monitoring service.”
Over the past two decades he has worked at the company, Mr. Cormier has seen the value a home security system can have in easing people’s fears. “It is unfortunate, but people have had situations where they’ve had their home broken into and didn’t have a system,” he said. “Now they don’t feel safe without one. It is having that peace of mind to know nobody has been in the house since you’ve been away.”