Live in Utah so not sure local recs would do any good. Vivint is big in my area is it worth the monthly monitoring fees or any other recs for systems that are easy to install and monitor on my own?

I use eufy cams in both of my homes. Works well for my needs

Look into Aqara.

https://us.aqara.com/

I've had SimpliSafe for several years now, and I'm very happy with them. I've found them to be the cheapest for 24-hour monitoring. I upgraded my system a couple of years ago, but I've never had an issue. Our local Sheriff's office has responded very quickly for several events, so I know the monitoring system works well.

You can pick your system and monitor every possible entry. I have motion, glass break, water leak, door monitoring, window monitoring, etc. The app makes it easy to control and get alerts. I highly recommend it.

Avoid Vivint at all costs...sold my home last year and still trying to get out of a non-disclosed fee that wasn't explained until my first invoice. They are holding my transfer hostage until I pay the full amount of that hidden charge.

Want 24hr recording. Any local recs for DFW area?

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Unify/Ubiquity

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This. Pricey, but its the best security system I have ever had and there are no monthly fees.

CFTXAG10 said:

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Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Unify/Ubiquity

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This. Pricey, but its the best security system I have ever had and there are no monthly fees.

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Ditto. I've tried a few camera systems. Ubiquity's are the best I ever had, The customizable AI detections and notifications are very good.

You can use 3rd party cameras with Ubiquiti.

https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/26301104828439-Third-Party-Cameras-in-UniFi-Protect

We have Wyze Labs cameras and are pleased with them. The setup was pretty straightforward, and we like being able to monitor everything ourselves without committing to a monthly monitoring fee. The app is easy enough to use, and for a DIY setup I think they're worth considering.

Eufy

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Unify/Ubiquity

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Is it possible to hardwire these cameras in or do you have to use the PoE system only?

Bull Meachem said:

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Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Unify/Ubiquity

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Is it possible to hardwire these cameras in or do you have to use the PoE system only?

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They run from POE, so you will need to supply them from a POE switch.

AgEngr16 said:

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Avoid Vivint at all costs...sold my home last year and still trying to get out of a non-disclosed fee that wasn't explained until my first invoice. They are holding my transfer hostage until I pay the full amount of that hidden charge.

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We just bought a home and inherited some Vivint equipment. My wife and I's first home. We were thinking of opening an account and activating the equipment with them, cause it's already there and would save us on some installation etc. I am guessing you would reccommend against this? How did the non-disclosed fee show up on your invoice? I may ask them up front about all fees.

BrisketTaco10 said:

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AgEngr16 said:

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Avoid Vivint at all costs...sold my home last year and still trying to get out of a non-disclosed fee that wasn't explained until my first invoice. They are holding my transfer hostage until I pay the full amount of that hidden charge.

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We just bought a home and inherited some Vivint equipment. My wife and I's first home. We were thinking of opening an account and activating the equipment with them, cause it's already there and would save us on some installation etc. I am guessing you would reccommend against this? How did the non-disclosed fee show up on your invoice? I may ask them up front about all fees.

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When we signed up through the door-to-door salesman, we agreed to the system cost and were approved to finance the entire cost of the system (~$3500 for 4 HD cameras, 1 flood light/camera, 4 door sensors, 4 window sensors, fire monitor and CO monitor) through their finance partner. We signed the contact showing this and the separate monitoring contract (3-year term).

When we sold the house I was trying to transfer the system ownership and monitoring contract (had 1-year left). Out of left field they were trying to get me to pay a "Large System Fee" that wasn't listed in any of my originally signed documents. The only place it showed up was on the first invoice, a day after all the contracts were signed. I tried to work with customer service and then the sales team directly to get their sedition of what a large system was but they never would define that for me. I kept getting the comment "when you have enough equipment that fee is charged".

Fast forward a month of back and forth with them directly and still no transfer. They held the transfer hostage over an ~$700 undisclosed fee I had unknowingly been paying on since it wasn't in the original contract documents (originally over $1200). It took a formal complaint through the BBB before they agreed to waive the remaining fee and complete the account transfer.

I will admit the service was good but the financing of the equipment and costs/fees associated with it were terrible.