As crime rates rise, many home owners and even renters are considering delving into the home alarm system market. There's no doubt about it, thieves are getting bolder and smarter'thus the added security is seen as a necessary measure. That fact, plus the simple matter of sinking costs over past few years due to innovations in technology have made home alarm systems very attractive. Whereas before, not so longer ago, security systems were the provenance of the more well off in society, today, they've become pretty commonplace. Chances are at least one person, if not two or three will have some sort of alarm system installed in their premises. Home alarms get the job done'studies have shown that they actually prevent crimes from happening.

If you're new to the home alarm market, however, it can be a somewhat daunting task to figure out which alarm to get, what added extras are necessary and what company to go with. The first question that most people ask themselves, is what should a security system include?

Some homeowners get frustrated by the tremendous amount of choices; however, there are, more or less, some core components that every home alarm system should come equipped with. The skeleton of a basic system consists of a few sensors or contacts placed at points of entry such as windows and doors as well as motion sensors and the main control panel which connects everything.

Security expects will advise you that it's best to have sensors at all exterior points of entry; glass break sensors are recommended as well. Motion sensors are good to have in combination with these other sensors, however, you shouldn't rely on them as your sole means of intrusion detection as they won't let you know that someone has broken in until they've already made it inside your house.

So, the basic parts of a home alarm system are the control panel, the keypad, the siren, the motion detector, contacts at the doors and windows, and the monitoring station. The control panel is the brains of the system; it connects the alarms with the contacts and it's also where the backup battery is located and where the telephone lines connect, if monitoring is included. The keypad is for arming and disarming the system. The siren goes off if any of the sensors are tripped. Motion detectors will sound the alarm when any motion is detected'for those with pets, more precise alarms are offered. Many companies offer 24/7 monitoring; usually this is an added extra that entails a monthly fee. The monitoring company will contact the homeowner in the event of an emergency'i.e. if the alarm goes off; they will also contact the proper authorities, e.g. the police or paramedics.

Other items such as CO and smoke detectors, panic buttons, pressure mats for placing beneath rugs, and closed circuit cameras can be added as well. Cost vary from company to company. It's important to get quotes, written terms and testimonials from a company before you sign any contracts.