DIY home security or a professional system?
DIY cameras are simple to set up and easy on the budget. A professional system adds a monitored alarm, fire and CO protection, and a local team. Here's a fair look at both, and how to get either one from Secur-Tek.
Simple cameras you set up yourself
We partner with a security manufacturer to offer DIY cameras that make watching your home straightforward and affordable.
Connect a camera to your Wi-Fi, pair it with its app, and you can check on your property, family or pets from your phone or tablet.
- Quick setup. Wireless cameras that connect to your Wi-Fi and pair with a dedicated mobile app.
- A camera for each spot. Indoor fixed view, movable pan and tilt, or weatherproof outdoor.
- Backed by our team. Our local team is a phone call away if you get stuck.
Features that keep you in control
Everything runs through the camera's app, so you can check in from anywhere.
Live view, day and night
Stream crisp video live from anywhere, with night vision after dark.
Motion alerts with clips
Get an alert with a short video clip when the camera picks up motion.
Onboard storage
Days of high-definition footage stored on the camera, with room to expand.
A view you choose
Customize what the camera watches to cut down on unneeded alerts.
Two-way audio
Talk to visitors or check in with family and pets through the camera.
Outdoor dome option
A durable, vandal-resistant dome that connects by Wi-Fi or cable and mounts on a wall or ceiling.
DIY cameras vs a professional system
Both have a place. The biggest difference is who responds when something happens.
| What matters | DIY cameras | Professional system |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Renters, a quick look at pets or packages, and tight budgets | Homeowners who want help sent when they can't respond |
| Setup | You install it: connect to Wi-Fi and pair with the app | Our technicians install it within 2 weeks of signing |
| When something happens | An alert goes to your phone, and you decide what to do | Affiliated Monitoring, a UL-listed central station, responds 24/7 and contacts police, fire or medical help |
| Fire and carbon monoxide | Not covered by cameras alone | Monitored smoke, heat and CO detectors |
| What it covers | What each camera can see | Doors, windows, motion and glass-break sensors, plus doorbell and cameras |
| App | The camera's own app | Total Connect 2.0 for your alarm, doorbell, cameras, locks and lights, with Alexa and Google Assistant |
| Monthly cost | Lower. You watch your own alerts | $32.95 a month for monitoring, or $48.95 with cameras |
| Ownership and terms | You own it, with no agreement | You own it too, with no lease. Packages include a 12-month monitoring agreement; a la carte has none |
Monitoring means trained operators respond to alarm signals. No one watches your cameras. For the full cost and safety breakdown, read DIY vs professional monitoring.
When DIY is enough, and when it isn't
We install professional systems for a living, and we'll still tell you when DIY fits.
DIY is often enough when
- You rent. You can't drill, or you'll move within a year.
- Someone is usually home. A person on site can respond to their own alerts.
- You want a second set of eyes. A package camera or a way to check on pets.
- Budget is tight. Some coverage today beats a system you keep putting off.
A professional system makes sense when
- You travel or the house is often empty. No one home means no one to act on an alert.
- You want fire and CO covered. Monitored detectors reach help even if you're asleep or away.
- You want help sent for you. Operators dispatch when you can't answer your phone.
- You'd like an insurance discount. Many insurers discount homes with a monitored alarm. Ask yours.
A pro system you own, with a 12-month agreement
If long contracts and leased equipment are what push you toward DIY, there's another way.
- You own every piece. No lease. Packages include 12 months of monitoring, then month to month, and a la carte systems have no contract.
- Installed within 2 weeks of signing. By our own technicians, who service it later too.
- Monitored 24/7. Affiliated Monitoring, a UL-listed central station, with a Secur-Tek technician on call.
- One app for everything. A First Alert ProSeries panel with the Total Connect 2.0 app.
DIY and professional FAQ
Can I start with DIY and move to a professional system later?
Do you help with DIY camera setup?
Does anyone watch my cameras with professional monitoring?
What does a professional system cost?
How soon can you install a professional system?
"The Secur-Tek people in Apex are excellent. They're very knowledgable and usually able to address an issue over the phone or email clear instructions. They're also quick to respond."
Get a straight answer
Price your system in two minutes, or book a free consultation and we'll tell you honestly what your home needs.