Your Guide to the Best DIY Security System for Home

Looking for a DIY home security system can be a daunting task. With so many options out there, how can you be sure which one is right for you? Fortunately, there are many ways to distinguish the best DIY home security systems from the substandard ones. If you know the foundation of what makes a top-rated home security system, you’ll be able to spot the perfect one for you during your search.

If you come across a home security package that doesn’t have the standard features of a modern-day system, run the other way. It doesn’t matter if it’s the cheapest option. If it doesn’t have these four essential elements, it’s likely not worth a dime of your money.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a quality home security system that doesn’t have a remote access feature. This allows you to control your system from anywhere, at any time. No more questioning if you turned on the alarm or rushing your family out the door during the 30-second exit delay. Remote access allows you to customize your control, all from your smartphone.

This is probably one of the most critical features of any security system. A rapid response team needs to be monitoring your equipment at all times. Emergencies can happen at any hour of the day, any day of the week. If highly-trained professionals are not monitoring your equipment around the clock, then what’s the point of having it?

This means you’ll always be connected to a response team, even if your WIFI isn’t working or the power goes out, since the system can still work with cellular connectivity. Any worthwhile home security system will have this type of technology. You can’t always rely on WiFi.

In the past, intruders could just smash someone’s alarm system and then it was useless. Now, top-rated home security systems can still get you help even if the system has been damaged or compromised.

Now that you’ve narrowed your search down to home security systems with the basic features that make it worthwhile, now it’s time to find the best of the bunch. If you want the best DIY home security system, look for these features:

The best DIY home security systems are already pre-configured, so it’s effortless to set yourself up and everything works right out of the box.

Every modern smart security system should have a mobile app, but some have only minimal features. Make sure your mobile app gives you control over every product in your system and allows you to customize anything you want. For example, the Frontpoint mobile app lets you create “Scenes” to customize the perfect settings for your daily routines. The Frontpoint app also allows you to control your lights and home temperature, create unique entry codes on your smart door lock, and much more.

A smart security system should include home automation – this is what truly makes your life easier and saves you money on gas and electricity bills. With this technology, you can schedule everything from temperature levels, lighting and more.  

The best DIY security systems should integrate with Alexa, Google and Siri so you can utilize the classic smart home voice command feature you see on TV all the time. For example, you can say things like “Alexa, ask Frontpoint to turn on the lights” or “Alexa, ask Frontpoint to arm stay.”

There are three essential camera options that the best home security systems offer: an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and a doorbell camera. All of them should have a live stream feature, customizable notifications and two-way audio in your mobile app. As an added bonus, Frontpoint’s indoor and outdoor cameras can also distinguish between people, vehicles, and animals.

Look for door/window sensors that easily attach to surfaces. They should not be an eyesore or require drilling. You can even place sensors on specific cabinets or drawers that you want your smartphone to notify you about when someone opens them.

Quality motion sensors have a wide range of detection. The best security systems can now detect the difference between a human and a pet, so you don’t have to worry about your furry friend setting off the alarm.

Look for a flood sensor with a corrosion-proof design that can detect even the slightest leak. The sensor should notify you immediately so you can prevent expensive water damage.

Typically, smoke and heat sensors detect unusually high temperatures and smoke. Still, only the best security systems have sensors that contact you right away and then notify local emergency responders for you. 

Smart door locks are key-free and can be locked and unlocked, typically using the lock’s keypad or your smartphone. You should be able to control your smart lock from anywhere in the world, which is a must-have for people who sometimes forget to lock up after they leave the house – or worse, lock themselves out! Advanced locks have Z-Wave Plus technology and include features, such as allowing you to create unique entry codes for friends, family, service providers, etc., through your mobile app.

Frontpoint is one of the top-ranked high-end DIY home security systems on the market, with highly-rated customer support and an incredible array of smart productsHere are just a few things that make Frontpoint one of the best DIY home security system in the industry:

Frontpoint offers rock-solid professional monitoring. Highly-trained professionals monitor 24/7 and know precisely what to do during an emergency when every second counts.

Frontpoint has a wide variety of security and home automation products. You should never have to ask yourself, “Why doesn’t my security system offer that option?” Intrusion sensors? Hazard sensors? Home automation products? Four types of cameras? Frontpoint has them all.

On top of having extensive security and home automation options, Frontpoint continually offers progressive technology. In a world where technology is always advancing, this is extremely important.  

Moving is hard enough. The last thing you need to worry about is complications with your security system. Frontpoint makes it easy by providing you with an individually customized Mover’s Kit. The kit makes it so easy to transfer your devices from one home to another. You can be protected in your new home as early as Day One!

In the home security industry, Frontpoint is well-known for its highly-rated customer service. Between live phone calls, live chat and Frontpoint’s comprehensive online knowledge base, you can get support in whatever way you choose.

This is very important: your system should run self-diagnostics several times a day and send you a notification should a component fail. For instance, Frontpoint’s system proactively checks every sensor, every hour to make sure it’s working correctly.

Nowadays, paying hefty installation fees for your home security system is simply unnecessary. Plus, we all know that “installation technicians” are really salespeople who try to upsell you while they drill holes in your home. Modern designs are easy to install yourself and do not require you to mess up your walls. Frontpoint devices, for example, are pre-configured to work right out of the box. All you need to do is peel and stick! Here are a few of the many advantages of DIY home security systems vs. traditional home security systems:

Install your equipment wherever you want, whenever you want. There is no need to schedule an appointment for a stranger to come into your home and start drilling holes in your walls.

Speaking of drilling, most of the Frontpoint Security equipment does not require drilling and wiring. All you have to do is peel the paper off the back adhesive and stick the equipment to a surface. No drilling necessary.

Frontpoint’s equipment is pre-configured to work right out of the box. So, as soon as you set up, you can start checking out the cool features that come with your system on your mobile app.

Only you know what kind of security and home automation features you need for your home. Traditional home security companies will send someone to install your system and try to upsell you on a bunch of products you don’t even need.  

DIY means no cost of installation. Why pay someone to set up your system when it’s so easy to do yourself?

There are a lot of DIY Home Security options out there. Frontpoint stands out against the rest for many reasons, including its superior smart technology, a spotless track record of zero camera hacks, and highly-rated customer service.  Here’s how Frontpoint compares to other DIY home security companies.

• Higher Rated Mobile App

Frontpoint has a highly-rated mobile app. Some of SimpliSafe’s customers have complained in reviews that the app doesn’t always work the way it should due to server issues.   

• More Options for Smart Products

SimpliSafe does not offer a vast range of smart home automation products. Frontpoint has products like smart thermostats, smart light bulbs and smart wall plugs.

• Better Customer Service

Frontpoint is rated higher on Google for customer service compared to SimpliSafe. When you need help with something as important as your security system, good customer service is vital.

• More Mobile App Features

Frontpoint’s mobile app has an incredible number of features that make it the superior choice for smart home equipment. You can view live camera feeds, access stored footage, program schedules for heating, cooling, lighting, security and more. The Cove mobile app allows you to turn your alarm on and off, but that’s about it.

• More Products to Choose From

Contrary to the handful of products that Cover offers, Frontpoint has a wide variety of options, such as doorbell cameras, outdoor cameras, smart locks, smart light bulbs, smart wall plugs, smart thermostats. Even if you’re not interested in those products right now, it’s nice to know you have the option to add them later.

• Smarter Technology

As previously mentioned, Frontpoint offers a wide array of smart products such as smart lights and smart thermostats. Blue by ADT doesn’t sell any smart home devices and their app does not allow you to customize with home automation.

• Better Warranty

Frontpoint gives you a three-year limited warranty on all equipment you buy. If something goes wrong in those first three years, Frontpoint will repair or replace it at no cost. Blue by ADT only offers a one-year warranty.

Frontpoint is a top-rated DIY home security system with outstanding customer support, high-tech products and easy installation. But, how does it compare to traditional home security systems?

• System Customization

The beauty of a DIY home security system like Frontpoint is that you get to customize your own system and pick where you want to put each item. With ADT, someone comes into your home to install for you and will often try to convince you to get more devices than you may need. This can add pressure and inconvenience to the process.

• Easier Installation

Most Frontpoint devices have easy, “peel and stick” installation and the ones that don’t are usually replacing devices you already have like thermostats and doorbell cameras and are still DIY. ADT requires you to make an appointment to have someone come to your home, and many of their devices are installed by drilling holes in your walls.

• Superior Customer Support

Vivint customers have described the customer service experience as frustrating and time-consuming. As mentioned before, Frontpoint is known for its top-rated customer service.

• Trouble-free Transfer

Vivint requires you to pay for a new installation if you move your system to a new home, whereas Frontpoint has no additional fees for this. In fact, Frontpoint tries to make moving your system as easy as possible, so you never have to worry about being unprotected.

• Longer Warranty

Frontpoint’s equipment warranty lasts three years, while Brinks only offers a two-year warranty.

• More Ideal Contracts

Frontpoint offers month-to-month contracts, while most of Brinks’ plans lock customers into three-year contracts, with limited exceptions.

Hopefully, now you feel confident enough to start your search for the best DIY home security system. Save this guide in your bookmarks to refer back to it whenever you feel lost. If you’re still not sure how to proceed, check out our other blogs on top-rated home security systems must-haves.