Does a Security System Increase Home Value?

A professionally installed security system with modern features is a strategic investment in the safety and security of your home and family. Before making this decision, you should understand the full picture so you know what monetary value it can add to your house and which systems offer the most value.

This guide will break down the primary financial benefits you get from installing a comprehensive security system.

How Security Systems Increase Your Home’s Appraised Value

A hardwired modern security system with smart features is just as much a part of your home as your HVAC system. Home appraisers recognize this and see it as a valuable capital improvement. The value it adds depends on a range of factors, such as the type of system and its comprehensiveness. Property websites such as Zillow often mention a built-in home security system as a feature that attracts interest.

Modern systems can include many components outside of cameras and burglar alarms, such as:

• 24/7 professional monitoring: You cannot stay on your phone all the time, and so you may miss an alert. Many companies that install these systems have monitoring centers with someone available to pick up any alerts you may have missed. 

• Integrated life and structure safety: Dedicated fire and carbon monoxide alarms, along with temperature and water sensors, are a great help for the young and the old alike. These life and environmental alerts add a further dimension to your security system that is realized during appraisal.

• Smart home automation: Video doorbells, smart locks, automated thermostats and lighting are just some of the elements that can be tied into an existing system or form the basis of a new one. Automation makes a residence safer, more energy-efficient and more sustainable, which is predicted to expand the U.S. smart home market by an expected 23.4% between 2025 and 2030.

• Medical emergency alerts: Medical alert systems with 24/7 monitoring are a great value-add for people as they age or for those with preexisting conditions. 

The Immediate ROI

You’ll still receive financial value from your security system investment even if you aren’t planning to sell your home. Insurers often offer lower premiums if you have a security system, with discounts depending on its extent.

Discounts aren’t uniform across carriers or states. Still, frameworks from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) require that reductions must demonstrate that the technology can reduce claim frequency and severity, so systems that protect life and property from damage or theft fall under this framework.

Home safety technology is categorized by the Insurance Information Institute (III) into three classes of qualifying options, with differing discounts:

1. Fire and life safety systems

2. Intrusion and access control systems

3. Water and environmental hazard systems

Professionally monitored systems that meet UL standards receive larger discounts than self-monitored systems. Total discounts can range from 2% to 20% off your annual premium, depending on the criteria you meet. 

Retain Value by Preventing Costly Losses

While a security system does increase home value, it also protects it from depreciation. Fire, burglary or water damage can happen quickly and erase years of home value appreciation, costing more than a security system.

The average financial loss per burglary in the United States is approximately $2,661, with insurance claims related to theft totaling nearly $1 billion annually. These numbers underscore the impact that a burglary can have and the peace of mind that comes from installing a monitored security system. Studies show that residences with alarms are 60% less likely to be robbed, and 83% of burglars check for alarms and avoid houses with them.

For emergencies such as fire and water, the financial protection is even more critical. A professionally monitored smoke detector can alert the fire department within moments of ignition, helping save a home from total loss. Likewise, a water sensor can detect a burst pipe or failing water heater and alert you immediately, preventing catastrophic mold, structural damage and restoration costs that easily run into the tens of thousands.

Get a Quote From New England’s Most Trusted Security Experts

If you want to enjoy the benefits of your home’s security and the financial value-add of a professionally installed security system, Wayne Alarm Systems is here to help. We’ve been in business for 50 years, protecting homes in Massachusetts and New England. Over our time in business, we’ve built an outstanding reputation for customer service, quality products and precise installations.

Our consultants will listen to you and present a solution that best fits your needs and budget. During installation, we will be thorough, prompt and respectful of your property and noise disruptions. 

We provide key services that unlock maximum financial returns. Our local, 24/7 professional monitoring is exactly what insurers look for to provide the highest discounts. Furthermore, a professionally hardwired system is a permanent fixture that adds to your home’s official appraised value, delivering a true return on investment.

Contact us today for a free quote.