I would like to have installed some sort of home security system. I live in a condo which is like a townhouse. There are condos either side of me but not above me. I have a one car garage that enters into the condo itself. I have French doors in the family room that leads to the patio which is surrounded by a six-foot fence with a gate in it leading outside the condo and on to the main road. The master bedroom has a doorwall in it with a balcony off it and faces on to the main road.

It is very dark here at night time, especially on the side that faces the road because the condos are set back in the trees.

I also have no peephole in my front door. I don't know what is involved in putting one in - perhaps an association permit or change of door?

Can someone advise what sort of system to buy -where to buy it and how much it is. Thanks.

 

rlrcstrs, there are many types of Wireless security systems on the market today. First of all, be careful of the company you buy from. A lot of the "Free Security" companies will try to give you one of these systems and then charge you double or more the monitoring price you should be paying. I have personally worked with 3 of the major companies that make these systems (GE/ITI, Ademco, and DSC.) All 3 systems are very similar, but I prefer the GE Simon system for a number of reasons: ease of installation, ease of use, and full of features. The system can actually be installed by pretty much anyone, as it can be preprogrammed and has a desktop stand (so it can also be easily moved to another location.) However, I do recommend professional installation. If you tell me your location, I would be happy to do some research and find a qualified installer for you.
One of the nice features about this system is that you can also use X-10 devices with it to turn lights on and off. Add the keychain remote and you could turn your lights on before you get out of the car. You can also arm/disarm the system from the keychain and it has a panic button. I mention this as you said your Condo is very dark at night, this feature may be very helpful.
If you would like to see the Simon system take a look at http://www.itii.com This site will tell you all about the features.
As for the other 2 systems, they are pretty much the same. But I have had some problems with wireless sensors on the DSC Envoy system, and I have since stopped using that system. The Ademco Lynx is the other system, and it is very comparable to the Simon.
Pricing on these systems can range anywhere from $250-400 for a basic system (depending on who you buy from) and that would not include the installation or monitoring prices.
One final note, unless you get the system "free", do not pay more than $20 for your monthly monitoring. And I would not recommend signing any contracts.
I hope this information helps. If you would like to know more about the Simon (or any of the other systems) please let me know.