If You Don’t Own a Home Security System, What’s Keeping You Away?
I don’t know very many people who own home security systems. Perhaps there is one or two within my circle of friends but, off the top of my head, I can’t think of any. So I’m not surprised by statistics suggesting that about half of us in America don’t protect our homes with security equipment.
I say half because I have seen statistics ranging from 46% to 54%. The numbers all point to the fact that while half of us have invested in home security systems the other half have not. What about you? Do you own a home security system? And if not, what’s keeping you away?
Below are a number of reasons I can think of for not investing in home security. There are likely more, but the ones I have listed probably cover most homeowners who have not gotten on board.
1. A Perceived Lack of Need
I suspect that one of the most common reasons for not investing in home security is a perceived lack of need. Such perceptions are revealed whenever we hear local residents responding to a crime say something like, “Things like that don’t happen around here.”
It is natural for humans not to worry about problems until they are directly impacted by them. I rarely think about home burglary. Guess what? My home has never been burglarized. But I have been the victim of armed robbery. Memories of the event make me more diligent when I am out in public. I pay attention to what is going on around me so that I’m not victimized again.
2. Equipment and Subscription Costs
If a perceived lack of need is the top reason people don’t purchase home security systems, a close second could be equipment and monthly subscription costs. It goes without saying that home security isn’t cheap.
An entry level DIY system could run as much as $500 without monthly monitoring. Throw in a monitoring fee of $30-$50 and you are talking a significant financial commitment over the course of several years.
The cost runs even higher when homeowners want to add extra sensors, video cameras, digital smart locks, and smart garage door controllers. Every device added to the system increases the total price tag.
3. An Aversion to Technology
Knowing my own parents and how they bristled against technology in their later years, I believe it’s reasonable to assume that some people do not invest in home security because they have an aversion to technology.
Today’s home security systems are decidedly more complicated than their counterparts of 30 years ago. More importantly, leading providers like Vivint have made the move to integrate home security with smart home automation. Just the thought of installing security and smart home devices can be daunting to someone who has trouble with a smartphone or laptop computer.
4. Privacy and Security Concerns
Oddly enough, some people shy away from home security for privacy and security reasons. A security system could prevent burglary and increase the chances of escaping injury during a fire or carbon monoxide leak, but today’s technology demands giving up a ton of personal information in exchange. There are some people who simply will not go there. And of course, video surveillance cameras can always be hacked, which is another frightening prospect for some people.
The fact that half of us don’t have home security systems doesn’t surprise me given what I know from my own circle of friends. Even if security system ownership goes up, I don’t think we will ever reach a point where every home is protected by a security system.
