Today's home security alarm systems have become easier to understand and there are many companies that sell the components to everyone, not only professional installation companies. Nearly any homeowner can find the type of sensors they think they need for their home, walk into a store or order them online and eventually have their home secured against break-ins or invasions. Sensors can also be installed for faster notification in case of fire or medical emergency.
However, before maxing out the credit cards, you will want to look at the needs of the home from the perspective of a burglar. Starting by 'casing the joint' from the outside. Unless the potential burglar is a close family friend that have no idea what the inside of the home looks like and they will walk the perimeter to determine what appears to be the best access to you good and valuables. Windows or doors hidden behind trees or bushes and that basement window that broke two years ago that is covered by cardboard and plastic, are probably going to be the starting points.
Before spending any money on home systems security components make sure the house is properly protected against unauthorized entry. Remember, that alarms are only meant to keep honest people honest and most new to the job of burglary on their toes. If there is something exceptionally valuable in the house and a professional thief wants it bad enough, they will find a way to get to it and take it with them when they leave.
Any components and sensors you install in or around the house will need to be out of reach from a burglar or at least wired to cause the alarm to be tripped if someone messes with it. All door contacts will obviously be attached to the inside of the door and, as much as you might want to catch someone before they break a window, having a sensor controlled by an invisible light beam that goes through a window may end up being more trouble than they are worth. The beam will be broken whether it is a human burglar fiddling with the window or a bird that landed on the window sill.
Consider all door to have a magnetic contact that trips the alarm when the door is open. If you do not want the somewhat ugly contacts to show, use recessed devices. The piece containing the switch can be set into a hole drilled into the door jam and the magnet that keeps the switch in the open position can be placed in a hole drilled in the wall. The wires for the contact can run into the basement, the attic or under the carpet, totally out of sight, making the door switch invisible once the door is closed, as well as making it impossible to circumvent.
Pressure mats that lie flat under carpeting is another popular invisible device in large rooms and when installed the width of an interior doorway, makes it extremely to move from room to room without activating the home system security alarm.
