Do It Yourself Home Security

Automatic Garage Door Closer

2009-05-26T09:44:00.003-05:00

A high percentage of burglaries and home invasions occur by way of an open garage door. It simply makes sense. You're in a rush, you leave quickly and forget to close the garage door. Maybe you think one of the kids will do it. Still, whatever the reasons, (and we can all imagine reasons why the door would be left open) an open garage door is still incredibly attractive to a potential thief/intruder. Ok, so what do you do?

You can make a concerted effort to close your garage door each time you leave your home. Ok, that's good, except you're already doing that at some level and the garage door is still being left open. So, what do you do? I think your best option, the one most likely to protect your home and family, is to purchase an automatic garage door closer.

The Garage Butler attaches to your existing garage door system. After you open the garage door, it is set to automatically shut the garage door after an interval of your choosing. And whats great is that it works with your existing safety features on your garage door controls. So, if your system currently has a safety feature if the door meets resistance, that remains with the garage butler. Additionally, it will give an audible warning signal once the predetermined time has been reached for the door to close.

The Garage Butler is an excellent choice if you're in the market for an automatic garage door closer. And at less than $50, its a steal you won't want to miss.

GE Simon XT Kit: Build Your Own

2009-05-15T10:59:00.003-05:00

The GE Simon XT is one of the finest wireless home security systems on the market. Its ease of use and functionality, not to mention the reliability of a GE product, make it the top choice in the wireless security world. Ok, so none of this is new. Why am I writing to you today?

To let you know that SafeMart.com is offering a new GE Simon XT build your own kit. Up until know any kit came with certain preset items. From there you could upgrade your kit to meet your needs. The new build-your-own kit is nothing more than a panel and a ton of great options to let you customize and design the perfect kit for you.

If you're in the market for a home security system (and you should be), you should definitely be taking a look at the GE Simon XT system in general, and this kit specifically.

Internet Safety

2009-05-05T15:32:00.004-05:00

This won't be a long post. I just wanted to draw your attention to a featured video on Honeywell's Security Channel concerning Internet Safety It is a short, good video; and any parent with a child using the Internet should watch it.

Too many times parents back off of their job to protect their children in order "give them space" or "let them be themselves." And when this comes to Internet use by children, we can only ask "At what cost?" To answer that question, simply turn on the news. Now, you wouldn't let your child go walking around the back-alleys of a crime ridden city neighborhood? So why let them put themselves at as much risk through the Internet.

Now I know that we usually cover home security topics, but I saw this video and I think its important. After all, whats the point in barring the door and setting up an alarm system against burglars and other intruders if you simply give them access through the Internet.

Swine Flu Mask

2009-04-30T16:36:00.004-05:00

Swine flu masks are all the rage these days. News report after news report shows people in various walks of life and living in various countries happily (or unhappily) sporting a mask. So, are they really that helpful?

It all depends. What really helps is avoiding crowds in infected areas, washing your hands thoroughly and practicing good general hygiene. That being said, if you are going into crowds, or if there have been a number of infections in your area, then yeah, its probably a good idea. So, what kind should you get? Well, there are a number of different options out there, the CDC and others give some recommendations, but ideally, it would be a mask specifically designed to help protect against the flu. Here's an example of one that would make a good swine flu mask, an NIOSH approved N95 respirator mask.

Good luck and stay healthy!

Home Security Tips

2009-04-22T16:52:00.004-05:00

Home security is usually one of the last things on people's minds as we head into the beautiful world of spring and prepare for those summer vacations. Unfortunately for us, its not even remotely the last things on a potential burglar's mind. So, here are a few tips to remember for home security at this time of year, especially if you're taking a vacation.

Trim bushes and trees that are close to the house. Keeping these trimmed will remove a handy hiding place for a potential intruder.
Let neighbors know when you are going on vacation. This is good for two reasons. One, so that your neighbor can keep an eye on your house and notify police if there is anything suspicious going on. Two, so that you can have them collect your mail. Nothing says, "I'm not home, come rob me" like a week's worth of mail on the front porch.
Close your garage doors and lock them if possible. An insane number of burglaries are committed through the garage, and its incredibly easy to prevent. But, even if they don't make it into your home, you don't really want them stealing all of your tools out of your garage, do you?
Last but not least..get a security system (you knew it was coming eventually). They're incredibly affordable and provide a measure of security above everything I just mentioned.

Pool Alarm

2009-04-21T14:35:00.004-05:00

A Pool Alarm is an important part of home safety and security, but sadly, many homeowners consistently overlook this life saving device. So first, what is a pool alarm?

A pool alarm is a device that attaches to the side of your pool, with a sensor in the water. If any object weighing more than 18 pounds(pet, child, lawn chair) falls into the pool when the alarm is set, it will sound a loud siren at the pool itself and on a base receiver placed in your home, with a range of up to 200 feet.

Why do you need this? Well, the reasons should be clear for anyone who has a family or even has friends or relatives visiting with children. It only takes a short time for a child to fall into a pool and drown. In that scenario, every second counts, and a pool alarm will give you the means to immediately respond.

Still don't think you need one? Here are some sobering facts (source: CDC):

In 2005, there were 3,582 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States, averaging ten deaths per day.
More than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger.¹ For every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.¹
Nonfatal drownings can cause brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (i.e., permanent vegetative state).

And just how serious is the problem for small children (also from the CDC):

Children: In 2005, of all children 1 to 4 years old who died, almost 30% died from drowning.¹Although drowning rates have slowly declined,^{1, 3} fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.⁴

If you have children, I'm not trying to freak you out. However, I do hope you're a little scared. You need to realize the importance of having adequate protection for your children when playing in your swimming pool. There's simply too much at risk not to be prepared.

Ademco 5870API

2009-04-14T14:55:00.003-05:00

The brand new Ademco 5870API is a Wireless Indoor Asset Protection Sensor. Which is a long way of saying that its a small wireless device that attaches to your home or office valuables and notifies your alarm panel if those valuables are being moved. It will communicate with any Ademco security system that accepts their 5800 wireless technology.

Ok, so what does it do? You place the sensor which is 1.8" x 1.7" x 0.63" on any device that you want to protect and that shouldn't be moving. So, this would be a computer, jewelry box, television, safe, etc. You set the sensitivity to one of three settings. Setting 1 is a hyper-sensitive setting, which should only be used for completely fixed items that have no real vibration as a normal part of their placement. So, this wouldn't be a good idea for a computer monitor where you come in, bump your desk as you sit down and the thing vibrates for a few seconds. It would, however, be a good idea for a heavy safe that you have mounted in your closet, which won't be vibrating anyway. That setting means that movement for 1-3 seconds will cause the sensor to notify the panel. The second option (the right one for the computer or computer monitor) is the Standard Security Mode. In this setting the sensor will notify your alarm panel after 5-8 seconds of movement. The third option is for Tilt Mode. This would be for a device (like a jewelry box) that has a lid or a door and will be tilted (when opened, for example). In this case, the sensor will notify the panel after the sensor is tilted greater than 30 degrees.

Ok, so whats the actual benefit of this thing? I mean, if your home is armed at night, this doesn't offer much benefit because the burglar should have already tripped the alarm before he picks up the jewelry box. The main utility is for people who have access, but shouldn't be taking things. So, for example, if you have a maid service come (or any interior work by an outside contractor), you may want this device to protect your belongings, even though the crew is supposed to be in your home. This device, however, isn't just for residential applications. It would also work great for a museum or business where people are coming in and out all of the time but aren't supposed to be leaving with anything.

The item comes in at the low cost of $79.00 and comes in either grey (dark grey) or white. If you are a homeowner with lots of outside workers in your home, or if you are a business owner, you need this device. Stop by SafeMart and get one today!

UK Discounts for DIY Security

2009-04-08T13:23:00.002-05:00

Our friends accross the pond have come up with a great idea: give DIY vouchers to homeowners to beef up their home security. The reason is that police fear that crime will increase during the recession. And, we all now that a great way to avoid being burglarized is to have a home security system. So, if you choose to do it yourself, you'll get a voucher to help defray some of the cost.

This whole thing even makes sense economically (believe it or not). Police spend time and money repsonding to burglaries and other home invasions. According to a study found in the Washington Post, homes with security systems are three times less likely to be broken into than homes without security systems. Thus, less burglary = less police time = less taxpayer money. Now, I know they're spending taxpayer money to give the vouchers, but it'll probably come out in a wash. And, even if it doesn't, at least they're putting your money to something useful.

Source: Brits get a DIY-discount boost to improve home security.

Access Control System

2009-04-01T15:09:00.004-05:00

Access control systems are quickly becoming the first line security measure of choice for businesses and some homeowners. These systems have been used by big companies for years, but haven't really taken off among small business owners. A high price tag and perceived lack of necessity have both contributed to this mindset. Well, hopefully we can change that.

These systems are now much more affordable. The above link shows you SafeMart's offering, and after a quick perusal you will see that a small business can easily afford a good access control system.

As to a perceived lack of necessity, this is a little trickier. It may be true that you don't absolutely need one, but the benefits offered far outweigh the cost. They protect your business, many systems allow you to view a log of who entered and when, and they remove the hassle of distributing keys and needing to change locks when employees leave under bad circumstances or lose keys. If you need to, you can change an employee's password or remove someone from entering the building. Its incredibly simple and it does a great job of securing your home. If you are small business owner, you owe it to yourself and your company to look and see if an access control system is right for you.

Burglary Deterrent

2009-03-27T15:31:00.003-05:00

I read an interesting story today about a burglary narrowly avoided. The general gist is that someone rang the doorbell, the woman, thankfully looked through her peephole and saw no one there. Then the bell rang again. It turns out that two men in ski masks were hiding outside her door. Her husband yelled at the men through the window and they ran off. This story illustrates two points.

1. Don't open your door if you don't know the person on the other side, or if there is no one there. Yes, it may just be high school kids messing around...or it could be something far worse.

2. Get a Security System! How likely is it that those two men in ski masks would've rang the doorbell, and waited in the bushes, with the intent of breaking in if necessary, if there was a security sign alerting them to the security system inside. Better yet, add a home security camera. That way, even if the burglars got in, you would have video evidence of the crime, making it more likely that police could apprehend the criminals.

The sad fact is, we'll probably see more of this as the economy continues to tank. There is, unfortunately, a correlation between a bad economy and an increase in burglary and other crimes. Its important that you are correctly prepared.

DIY Home Security: Save Money

2009-03-18T16:58:00.003-05:00

People often look at SafeMart's prices or other home security companies and think, "This is too good to be true. Their prices are a fraction of ADT, Brinks, and other similar companies. There's something that doesn't add up." Well, you're right, in a manner of speaking.

First things first. We offer state of the art equipment. We have the newest models and probably one of the widest ranges available when it comes to choosing home security. You're not getting outdated models that we're selling as new. You're getting the real deal. So how can we charge so much less?

Simple answer: We don't have the overhead because we rely on you to do part of the work (the bulk of it, in fact). While we offer free tech support, we're not sending salesmen to your house, making a pitch, closing a sale, installing your system and doing regular maintenance. We sell you the system, give you the best possible tech support and tools to help you install and program it, and then, if you want it, we set you up with monitoring. We can charge wholesale prices because you do the work yourself. And contrary to what some of the "big guys" might say, YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF!

So the next time you're in the market for home security and you look at one of the fully comprehensive companies and think, "Well, they must be the best, look at how much they charge," think again. They sell you a system upfront for little to nothing (or nothing in some cases) and then charge you an arm and a leg per month over the next few years to pay for the system and make a healthy profit. We don't do that. That's why our systems and our monitoring are affordable. We're in a recession: Shop wisely!

Fake Home Security Cameras

2009-03-16T14:13:00.004-05:00

Fake home security cameras have been around for a while, but they seem to be coming up more and more these days...like this article. Why? Because they're inexpensive and we're in a recession. Fair enough. We all like to save a little money here and there and, let's be honest, things are tight for everyone. So, it makes sense to purchase a fake home security camera, right?

Wrong! There are ways to save money and still adequately protect your home, but fake home security cameras aren't that way. Now, I'm not going to tell you that they have no utility at all. They will, after all, act as a deterrent, which is a huge part of home security. That's true, except security cameras aren't meant to be a deterrent. In the home security world, security cameras are a backup to a security system. That is, if the yard sign doesn't deter them, and they get in and out before the cops arrive or you respond to your self-monitoring, then you have the backup that they were caught on camera. Fake home security cameras won't do that. In the event of a burglary, if you have fake home security cameras, you may have lost your chance to recover your property.

Home security cameras aren't as expensive as you may think and the investment is well worth it. Its true that they're certainly more expensive than fake cameras, but then, they do actually do something!

Alarm Monitoring Atlanta

2009-03-09T14:51:00.003-05:00

If you are looking for alarm monitoring in Atlanta, you'll come across a ton of sites that offer home alarm monitoring. One thing that you may not know is that most of those sites are not local Atlanta sites...which is ok. Because of the demands of running an effective central station for alarm monitoring, its difficult to have a really local company. So, what are you to do?

While it may be nice to have a local company, you need to be sure that your monitoring company has the experience and resources necessary to provide you with the best possible service available. That's where we come in. OcuSafe offers 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, year round alarm monitoring from a UL listed company, with all the necessary experience, for only $9 per month. That's it. And, if you take into account the homeowners insurance discount you may be eligible for, it may cost you only pennies per month. Take a look. You'll like what you see.

Key Digital Home Theater

2009-03-09T14:31:00.003-05:00

Key Digital produces some of the world's best distributed audio and video equipment. Their applications work for jobs ranging from home theater or gaming to a distributed audio/video system for a sports' stadium. Check out their site for a great run-down of their offering. And, if you want to purchase, or are interested in possibly purchasing, call SafeMart at 800-628-6093, or visit on the web for Key Digital products and pricing.

Common Sense on Home Security

2009-03-05T13:42:00.003-06:00

Its an unfortunate reality, but its true nonetheless. When the economy dips lower and people feel the pinch more severely, crime increases. I'm not going to go into why it happens, or how it might be avoided. The fact of the matter is, economic depression generally equals crime increase. Just something to remember when you think that you don't need a home security system or that you don't want to make the investment right now. Sad as it may be, now is precisely the time to make this investment. Here's an article I saw today on this very issue.

SafeMart Coupon Code

2009-03-04T14:29:00.003-06:00

We know customers frequently search for a SafeMart coupon code when they check out on our site. Frequently they may find a 5% - 10% off coupon. Well, I've got something much better in store for you. For a limited time, SafeMart is offering a $100 rebate when you purchase a GE

Simon XT or a GE Simon 3 (with a total of more than $399) and sign up for a year of monitoring. This is a huge value, but it won't last. Buy now to save $100 on our already low prices.

For Our Texas Readers

2009-03-02T13:25:00.003-06:00

Just a quick note to anyone reading in Texas: You may qualify for a decrease in your homeowners' insurance thanks to a little known law. All you need to do is have your home inspected for home security by an approved Home Security Inspector. Here is a link to an article explaining the law and letting readers in Lufkin know that the police department there will do free home security inspections. Even if you don't care about the insurance discount, its worth it to call the police department and get a free inspection. Contact details are in the article.

Home Security in Tough Economic Times

2009-02-28T13:36:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post. I wanted to alert you to an article that deals with simple home security solutions. Now, I still think that there is no excuse for not having a monitored home security system installed in your home. The safety it provides and the possible insurance discounts alone make it worth the cost. However, its obviously more important to have some home security than to have none at all. So, here is the article in question. Its got some good tips, so check it out.

Visonic PowerMax Pro

2009-02-26T15:24:00.004-06:00

The PowerMax Pro, Visonic's latest version of its reliable PowerMax series is now available at SafeMart.com. The PowerMax Pro costs $330.00 and is well worth the money.

Some of the Features:

Ability to use broadband or GSM, or both at the same time
Complete X-10 Home Automation control.
Users can remotely access and control their system via the Internet
Up to 28 Wireless Zones
Long life back-up battery
Event reporting to cell phones, email, Internet page, etc.
Much, much more.

The PowerMax Pro represents a whole new era in home security and automation. If you're in the market for a new security system, this should be at the top of your list.

Home Security Forum

2009-02-25T10:38:00.002-06:00

Home security forums are a dime a dozen. Every company, no matter how inexperienced, no matter how junky the products, has a forum. They do it as a way to generate some traffic, and draw in customers. And thats fine, but lets be honest. Home security isn't a joke. If you need advice, or recommendations, or even troubleshooting help with a problem panel, you need accurate and reliable information. SafeMart has just that. Their forum is nicely laid out, moderated by their tech specialists and an overall great place to get information on home security. If you have a problem, comment, information, whatever on home security, then check out SafeMart's home security forum.

Honeywell 5800PIR-OD

2009-02-23T10:39:00.004-06:00

The 5800PIR-OD is Honeywell's new outdoor wireless motion detector. This is a perfect outdoor motion detector for places that need monitoring but are hard to wire. The system runs on AA lithium batteries for extended life and has a ton of great features, such as:

Ability to distinguish between large and small animals to prevent false alarms.
Tamper protection.
Full supervision, so it is set-up to detect low battery, case tampering and more.
Simple and easy mounting.
Adjustable range of view.

Simply put, the Honeywell 5800PIR-OD is one of the best wireless outdoor motion detectors on the market. If you have a business and need to protect from copper theft or vandalism, it'll do the job. If you are a homeowner and need to protect against vandalism or theft in hard to monitor outdoor areas, it'll do the job. And, for what you get, its affordable. The 5800PIR-OD costs $279.00. If you have outdoor valuables that need to be protected, it's well worth the money.

Review: Brinks vs. ADT vs. DIY Home Security

2009-02-23T09:27:00.003-06:00

There often seems to be an automatic assumption in favor of the "big guys" like Brinks or ADT. Their name, reputation and the years they've been in the industry all line up to create an aura that says "DIY is good, and maybe even great for your money... but let's be honest. Its not nearly as good as ADT or Brinks." Well, is that true? You can probably guess my answer, its not true. ADT and Brinks are good at what they do, and they've built huge empires by creating an impressive brand, marketing in all major niches. But, at the end of the day, once you cut away the media hype, do they actually offer anything more than can be done, much cheaper by yourself? No.

ADT and Brinks install the same types of home security systems in your homes that you would have if you purchased it yourself. If you get a wireless system, its no doubt a GE system; and hardwired systems will run the gamut of options, all of which are available through a store like SafeMart. The systems are identical in quality and type, with the exception that sometimes wholesale DIY companies have the newer models before the "big guys." And the monitoring isn't any different either (unless you look at the price). ADT, Brinks, SafeMart and others all offer 24 hour, UL listed central station monitoring. Ok, so now we know that ADT and Brinks don't offer anything extra by way of equipment or monitoring.

Now lets look at cost. Here is information from a chart on SafeMart's website showing where to find affordable home security.

ADT Costs

Total Out Of Pocket Expenses: $1,572. That's broken down into two things. An initial cost of $349, and a monthly cost of $33.99 for a required contract length of 36 months. Not that cheap at the end of the day.

Brinks Costs

Total Out of Pocket Expenses: $1,200. That's also broken down into two things. An initial cost of $49, and a monthly cost of $31.99 for a required contract length of 36 months. Now, that's the trick, the $49 up front. But, that's only upfront. You're still tied into a contract for 36 months. You still pay, over and over and over, for the system.

SafeMart Costs

Total Out of Pocket Expenses: $533. That's assuming the exact same set-up as Brinks and ADT with a 3 year monitoring cost. However, and here's the huge difference: SafeMart doesn't require any monitoring package or contract at all. If you choose to purchase monitoring, you do so on a one-year basis, not a three year basis. Here's the breakdown: Upfront cost to purchase the system (at which point its yours that you own, not some company) is $209. The monthly monitoring cost is $9 per month. Yes, you did read that correctly. Monthly monitoring cost is only $9.

So, whats your savings when you do it yourself. Going with SafeMart in this case, will save you $1,039 from ADT and will save you $677 from Brinks. That's a huge deal.

Don't waste your money for the same system and contracts that are way too long. Go the route thousands of other smart homeowners have gone, and do it yourself for home security.

GE Security Overstock Items

2009-02-20T10:09:00.005-06:00

Attention dealers looking to increase your offering and all of you homeowners looking to increase your security camera system: There is a huge sale on GE's clearance items for video security right now. GE Security has too much stock of at least four security camera system items right now. SafeMart has them; and is selling them for over 50% off of their retail price. These are being sold much cheaper than even dealer pricing, so if you need them, you should get them soon. Here they are:

High Resolution 15-inch LCD Monitor for only $347.00. Retail is normally $749. Dealer pricing is normally $570.

High Resolution Color Camera - KTC-DG1 for only $73.50. Retail is normally $199.00. Dealer pricing is normally $129.00.

1/3" Color Camera, 3-8MM AI Varifocal Lens - KTC-209CV3A for only $97.00. Retail is normally $249.00. Dealer pricing is normally $159.00.

21" CRT Security Monitor - MVC-215 for only $247.00. Retail is normally $499.00. Dealer pricing is $399.00.

These are on a first come first serve basis and supplies are limited. Get yours today!

Honeywell Home Security

2009-02-18T08:49:00.003-06:00

Honeywell is a household brand name. From tires to thermostats and even aircraft engines, Honeywell produces many of the most reliable products we use every day, even if we don't realize that they actually make those products. And while you may be aware that Honeywell is involved in many consumer markets, you may not be aware that they also produce top-of-the-line home security products.

Honeywell Home Security is branded under the name Ademco. I thought it would be worthwhile for us to mention a few of the products that they offer. So, without further ado, here we go:

Ademco Vista 20P: This is Ademco's top hardwired system. Its a great system, very affordable that offers a great deal of flexibility. The deluxe complete kit costs under $200. For a hardwired system, there's nothing better for your money. And if you buy it from SafeMart, you'll get a free 1 hr.+ DVD installation video.

Ademco Lynx: This is Ademco's wireless security system. Its a fine system that comes with everything you'd want in a wireless security system. It also has built in X-10 lighting and appliance control, which is a huge plus. The Lynx kit will run you just under $200.

5800CO: Ademco's newest life safety product, the 5800CO is a completely wireless Carbon Monoxide Detector. Since it runs entirely on a battery (which is built to last the life of the CO detector), it can be mounted where CO detectors are supposed to be mounted, above the light switches, but at least 12 inches away from the spot where the ceiling and the wall meet. This is a huge improvement since most other wireless CO detectors had to be plugged into the wall, and thus were lower than they should have been. For a limited time, this will cost you $107.00. After that, the price will increase.

For more information on these and other great Honeywell Home Security products, visit SafeMart. As always, we guarantee the lowest price and the best service.

Honeywell Announces New Outdoor Motion Detector

2009-02-11T13:47:00.002-06:00

Honeywell announced on Feb. 9 that they had released a new outdoor motion detector. According to the press release its a true wireless solution for hard to wire areas that you'd like to cover with a motion detector. Called the 5800PIR-OD, it should revolutionize the world of outdoor motion detectors. Its easy to install, has the ability to distinguish between large and small animals and has two PIR sensors that must both be tripped in order to sound the alarm. It all sounds pretty interesting. I'll do another post in more detail at a later date.