Houston Home Security

Home security is a universal need for homeowners, but achieving this security is personalized and local matter. What home security means for an uptown Manhattan apartment is different from a farmhouse in the middle of Iowa is different from a suburban home in the Midwest. It's no different for Houston home security. The priorities and strategies for people with homes in Kingwood or The Woodlands are going to be a lot different than those in living in an apartment or home along Highway 59 in southwest Houston.

Understanding Home Security in Houston
While Dallas has a bigger reputation for crime, Houston is well above the national average for property crimes, which get less far publicity. Burglars who break into your home and steal $10,000 worth of family treasures aren't going to make headline news or count toward violent crime statistics, but they are a threat to the well-being of your home. Like any big city, Houston has problem areas in many different kinds of crime. This doesn't make Houston a bad place, but you should understand where you're living and what specific dangers your home may be facing. There are many different ways to provide home security. Few homeowners need them all, while almost everyone could use some.

From Sugar Land to Baytown to The Woodlands
Houston may be known as Space City, but the more prominent feature for home security is trees. Kingwood is known as the livable forest, and it's as great a community as any other, but all the trees make for excellent shields to hide burglars from the eyes of your neighborhood and police. It's not a coincidence that one of the lowest crime rates in the city is out by Hobby Airport where there are a ton of wide-open spaces. If you live in this type of secluded neighborhood house alarms, surveillance cameras, and/or home monitoring systems are needed to watch the nooks and crannies surrounding your home. More experienced burglars looking to make a big score are going to be scouting more affluent neighborhoods with these types of hiding places. They'll also try to identify which homes have security systems and move along to more vulnerable properties.

Just north and southwest of downtown Houston, we see large numbers of apartment complexes and higher rates of violent crimes. These homes tend to be less affluent and require different kinds of home security measures. Opportunistic, desperate, or random home intruders are more likely to attack these areas and have different agendas. Installing security bars over your windows are going to send a clear signal to these intruders that your home is all but impenetrable.

The Cost of Home Security Systems in Houston
Every single project that comes through ServiceMagic is tracked so that we can provide useful information to local homeowners. Based on our national average and the data we see coming out of our Houston home security, here's what you can expect to pay for different Houston home security installations. Before you figure total costs, check with your insurance company. Many of these installations may reduce your insurance premiums. None of these projects should take longer than a day or two to start protecting your home.

Independent Security Systems: The national average is $900 and we rarely see a project in Houston go over this amount. If you happen to have pre-wiring already installed, it may be significantly less.

Home Security Monitoring: You should to get an initial installation for about $100-$200. After that, you pay a monthly fee you can cancel anytime, much like a cell phone. If you sign on for an extended period of time, you might get a discounted installation.

Security Safes, Bars, and Shutters: Safes-$500-$1000. Bars-range from $800-$2,500. Security/Storm Shutters-$1500-$3500.

Surveillance Cameras: $800-$5000-depending on number and complexity. Can help you keep an eye on pets and children as well as intruders.