It's hard to understand people's obsession with home security until your own house has been broken into. A break-in is a violation of your most hallowed personal ground, and if it happens to you once you're probably going to be determined to make sure it never happens again. There are many different types of security systems available for your home, and they range in cost from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

Types of Security Systems

The most basic type of home security system--and the most common--is an alarm system that is tied in to the local police department or security company office. These alarms can be set to sound if any windows or doors to your house are opened while the alarm is armed. In addition, you can place motion sensors in your house that will respond the same way if a door is opened.

With this type of alarm system, a call is automatically placed to the security company or police department's call center, alerting them of an intruder in your home. A police officer is then dispatched to see what the problem is. Usually your alarm system will also emit a high-pitched shrieking noise to scare away the intruder.

One of the problems with this type of security system is that it needs to be armed each and every time you leave your home. Too many people get a security system installed, and then forget to arm it when they're away. If you're going to the trouble to pay to have an alarm system in your house, you need to make sure each member of your family arms it when they leave home.