Best Security Systems for New Construction in 2024
With nine redundant monitoring centers and seamless integration with Google smart home products, ADT is our top choice.
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Last Updated on Jun 14, 2024
- Created the first security system network
- Reliable monitoring with nine redundant monitoring centers
- Integrates perfectly with Google smart home products
- Smart home and security system products available
- Cutting-edge security cameras
- Affordable professional monitoring
- Staffed live chat box during business hours with high-quality support agents
- Reliable connectivity with a fully cellular connection
- Affordable equipment packages
When it comes to building your dream home, customization is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you get to choose every little detail – so it’s just the way you like it. On the other hand, you have to choose every little detail – even when it’s getting old. We can’t pick your kitchen countertops for you, but we can help with one decision: which security system is the best choice for your new house.
I’ve tested over 60 home security systems and ranked each one based on the criteria you need for a newly built home. After all that research and testing, I found the top three you should consider for your new construction.
What to Look For in a Security System for New Construction
- Smooth installation process: Whether it’s professional or DIY, you need a smooth installation process that minimizes the risk of damage to your newly built home.
- Professional monitoring: New construction draws the attention of criminals. Professional monitoring keeps your home safe at all times.
- Smart home integrations: If you’re building a new home, you’ve probably already dreamt of the home automation capabilities you want. That means you need a security system that works well with the smart ecosystem you choose.
- Price: Let’s face it, construction projects rarely stay on budget. There are almost always extra costs along the way. Don’t let your home security system be one of those surprising costs. Make sure to get a good deal.
- Company reputation: Anytime you sign a long-term contract with a company, their reputation should play a big role in which company you choose. After all, you might be locking yourself in with them for up to five years.
Comparison of the Best Security Systems for New Construction
| System |
ADT
|
Vivint
|
Frontpoint
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Ratings | 9.8/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Contract length | 36-months | Monthly or yearly | Monthly or yearly |
| Installation type | Professional | Professional | DIY |
| Equipment cost | Packages starting at $599 | Packages starting at $449 | Packages starting at $79 |
| Smart platform integrations | Alexa and Google Home | Alexa and Google Home | Alexa and Google Home |
| Read Review | ADT Review | Vivint Review | Frontpoint Review |
Summary of the Best Security Systems for New Construction
- ADT - Best Professionally Installed Security System
- Vivint - Best Smart Home Security System
- Frontpoint - Best Wireless Security System
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1. ADT - Best Professionally Installed Security System
Product Specs
Equipment Costs Packages starting at $599 Monitoring Options Professional Monthly Monitoring Costs Starting at $25 per month Contract Lengths 36 months and up Installation Options Professional Smart Platform Integration Alexa and Google Home ADT Overview
Arming the ADT System It’s hard to ignore ADT’s legacy when looking for a home security system. Even when you want the latest equipment for your brand-new home, ADT still delivers after 150 years of innovation. They still keep up with the latest trends in the industry and meet or exceed the product features of most other home security companies. That means you get the same great, modern products for your new home backed by ADT’s 150 years of experience.
What We Like
- An intuitive mobile app with almost perfect ratings on iOS and Android
- Highly reliable professional monitoring with nine fully redundant monitoring centers
- Easy to schedule and on-time professional installation
- Accessible customer support over a variety of channels
What We Don’t Like
- ADT’s flagship packages still require long-term contracts
- Expensive equipment and monitoring fees
- Limited options for a DIY system
- Additional equipment required for cellular backup
ADT Installation
For any new construction project, timely technicians are essential. I used to work in project management for construction projects and saw how easily a single person showing up late could cause massive ripple effects on the schedule of the project. That’s why ADT’s professional installation services are a key benefit when choosing a security system for your new construction.
When I scheduled my ADT installation, the attendant told me to set aside two hours for the installation process. I thought that was a bit long at first, but I still set aside the two hours just in case. Well, the technician showed up as scheduled and only took an hour to install my system. That makes me think that ADT intentionally adds a bit of time to a technician’s schedule to ensure they always show up on time for their next appointment.
>> Check Out: Vivint vs ADT Home Security Comparison
I’m used to waiting hours for my cable guy to show up and fix my internet only to end the day with an email asking me to reschedule. So, ADT’s emphasis on giving their technicians enough time to actually do the work and the way they stuck to the time frame they provided me was like a breath of fresh air. I will say though, I wish there was an easier DIY option. Take a look at our ADT Self Setup review for more details on ADT’s DIY options.
Pro Tip: Talk to your architect about wanting a security system before they start designing your new home. It could impact the wiring and cables in the design of your home. Or, they might have some ideas on how to optimize the use of your security system from a building design perspective.
ADT Professional Monitoring
Before going with ADT for your new home, make sure to note that they require professional monitoring for most of their systems. ADT sells its flagship packages under its Pro Install service. These packages all require professional monitoring that starts at $45.99 per month. That’s a far cry from a good deal for monitoring in the home security industry. Find the full cost of an ADT system for your newly built home in our ADT Security System pricing breakdown.
But, what you do get is nine fully redundant monitoring centers spread throughout the United States keeping your home safe. So, that premium cost definitely comes with a premium service.
If you want to cut your costs a bit, you can choose to go with one of ADT’s Self Setup packages. These packages allow you to self-monitor your system or choose professional monitoring that starts at $24.99 per month. ADT Self Setup requires full payment for the entire system upfront though. And when you’re building a new home, that isn’t always feasible.
One catch to ADT’s professional monitoring is they require a separate Nest Aware subscription that starts at $8 per month since they use Google Nest cameras. They do include Nest Aware with their ADT Video and Complete packages.
FYI: You can still get ADT brand cameras if you call them up and ask for them specifically. Check out our review of ADT’s indoor and outdoor cameras to see what we thought about their legacy cameras.
ADT Smart Home Integrations
According to Statista, there are already well over 60 million smart homes in the United States.1 Clearly, smart home technology will continue to develop and play a bigger role in our homes. With a new construction project, you probably already planned out all of the smart home capabilities you want. Well, those plans can get a whole lot better if your security system integrates with the smart home devices you want.
Recently, Google invested $450 million into ADT. As a result, ADT only sells Google Nest security cameras from their website. If you’re a fan of Google’s smart home ecosystem, ADT is a great choice. Being part of the Google ecosystem themselves, all of the ADT brand products integrate perfectly with Google. But, what if you don’t want to be locked into Google products? Find out our thoughts on Google Nest cams by reading our Nest Cam Reviews and Ratings.
Google Nest Cam Well, I was able to get ADT working with my Amazon products. ADT also integrates great with a huge range of third-party smart devices, including:
- Kwikset smart locks
- LiftMaster garage openers
- All Z-Wave compatible products (there are over 4,000!)
- Sonos sound systems
Unfortunately, ADT does not work with Apple Home Kit products at all though. So, if you’re a big fan of Apple for your smart home devices, you might want to look elsewhere for your home security system. What’s even more bad news? That also means ADT doesn’t work with Siri. Basically, as long as you don’t plan to use Apple products for your smart home, ADT should work well. If you do want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, check out our guide to the best Apple compatible home security systems.
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2. Vivint - Best Smart Home Security System
Product Specs
Equipment costs Starting at $449 Monitoring options Professional Monthly monitoring costs $40 per month Contract lengths Starting at 42 months Installation options Professional Smart platform integration Alexa and Google Home Vivint Overview
Vivint Base Hub With a fairly comprehensive lineup of its own smart home products that even include lighting, Vivint definitely stands out in its smart home capabilities. If you want to outfit your new construction with smart home technology, Vivint can set you up with a security and smart home system from a single provider. This completely avoids any potential integration issues. But, if you want to integrate other products with Vivint, you still can.
What We Like
- Some sales include free professional installation which would include your smart devices too if you go through Vivint
- The security cameras are really top-notch
- Huge range of product offerings from security system components to smart home devices
- You can use Vivint to add solar to your new home too
What We Don’t Like
- Limited capabilities without a monitoring plan
- Five-year contracts on financed equipment are long
- Moving to a new house comes with a $129 reinstallation fee
- If you don’t get professional installation included with a sale, it’s high for the industry at $200
Vivint Installation
When I bought my Vivint system, I got lucky. They were running a promotion that included professional installation with the purchase of a new system. Normally, it would have run me almost $200 just to get the system installed. Compared to most other providers that only charge $100, that’s pretty steep in the industry. And, Vivint doesn’t support DIY installation. While there are reports of users installing a Vivint system themselves, there is no official documentation for installing your own system. So, to avoid that hefty $200 fee, you have to time your purchase or already be a qualified electrician.
Now that we got the bad out of the way, the great thing about Vivint’s installation is that they installed the smart home products I bought with my system as well as the security system components. This let me deck out my house with smart home functionality while avoiding the frustration of pairing devices and installing garage door openers. Aren’t you not supposed to mess with garage door stuff anyway unless you’re a pro? Maybe that’s just an old wives’ tale my dad told me to get me out of his way when he was working in the garage.
Vivint’s technician was also really friendly with me. He answered every question I had and calmly walked me through all of the steps he was taking to install my system. After getting the system installed, he gave me a quick walkthrough on how to use all of the new security and smart home devices he just installed like the Vivint Doorbell Camera we tested. Even though I like to think I’m pretty good with tech, I still appreciated the explanation.
Did You Know: You can negotiate your Vivint pricing. Building out an entire system and then asking Vivint to waive the installation fee is a great way to get the system you want without having to wait for a free installation sale.
Vivint Professional Monitoring
Honestly, Vivint does everything it can to lock you into professional monitoring without actually requiring it. Basically, if you cancel your professional monitoring contract with Vivint, they turn that smart home package you bought into a basic local alarm system. The app and every smart feature in your products stop working. That means you can only control the system with the touch-screen control panel. Personally, this was a pretty big issue for me because I love flexibility.
I will say that I love Vivint’s Black Friday deals because they give long-term discounts on their professional monitoring services. Their discounted pricing can bring your monitoring down to as low as $29.99 per month. So, if you can get a good deal on their professional monitoring, it makes them locking you into monitoring a lot more tolerable. Vivint also gives senior citizens a 60-day return window to fully test out the system. As a young person, I only got 72 hours. For a rundown on Vivint’s standard pricing, read through our Vivint pricing breakdown.
Vivint Smart Home Integrations
Like I said at the beginning of this section, Vivint really blew me away with their smart home options. They make a ton of their own smart home devices, including:
- Locks
- Garage door controllers
- Thermostats
- Lighting
- Car monitors
Vivint Thermostat in the app With enough smart home devices to set up an entire smart home, I thought Vivint would try to lock you into their ecosystem. But, I was wrong. They actually offer a lot of integrations. Both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integrated perfectly with Vivint. It even lets us create automated actions by triggering other smart home devices based on activity from the security system.
Pro Tip: We took advantage of our Vivint home automation by lowering our thermostat when we put our security system in away mode. Even better, we also connected our lights to make sure all the lights in our house were turned off too.
Beyond Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, Vivint also integrates with home rental platforms like Airbnb. This is huge for new construction homes if you ever plan to rent it out. Integrating with Airbnb lets you easily manage any issues with renters immediately. Whether it’s breaking your guest rules or staying past the checkout time, your Vivint security system gives you the proof you need to win your claims on Airbnb. If you want to set up your new home as an Airbnb, make sure to read our guide to the best Airbnb & vacation home security systems.
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3. Frontpoint - Best Wireless Security System
Product Specs
Equipment Costs Starting at $99 Monitoring Options Professional only Monthly Monitoring Costs Starting at $49.99 Contract Lengths 1-36 months Installation Options DIY Smart Platform Integration Alexa and Google Home Frontpoint Overview
Frontpoint System When something goes wrong with a tech product, I tend to get frustrated pretty quickly. This never helps me resolve the issue. Well, except when I used to smack my old cathode TV as a kid and it magically started working again. That doesn’t work as well with modern devices though. Trust me, I’ve tried.
What does this have to do with Frontpoint? Their customer support is great. It’s actually one of their main selling points, which is a breath of fresh air in the home security industry. If you’re like me and get frustrated when things don’t work, you know the massive difference a good customer support agent can make. And you also know how bad a mediocre customer support agent can make your day. With Frontpoint, you almost always end up with great customer support. But, that’s not all there is to Frontpoint.
What We Like
- Pleasant customer support representatives
- Low-cost startup packages
- Intuitive website for customizing your system
- Fully operational on cellular data
What We Don’t Like
- Installing the system took longer than Frontpoint’s promised 30-minute install
- No option for professional installation
- A few potential safety risks with the keychain controller
- Monitoring fees are pricey
Frontpoint Installation
On its website, Frontpoint claims you can set up your entire system in 30 minutes by yourself. This claim is their reasoning for not offering professional installation. However, in my experience, setting up Frontpoint took about twice as long as they claim. It took me about an hour, and I have a lot of experience setting up home security systems. Setting up a Frontpoint system could easily take someone well over an hour and a half if it was their first time installing home equipment. Want to see how Frontpoint stacks up against an easier-to-install security system? Check out our SimpliSafe vs Frontpoint comparison.
For new construction projects, the lack of a professional installation option is a bit of a bummer. Your contractors want to be able to work around professionals. They don’t want you on-site meddling with the electrical equipment they just installed until after the final inspection. But, if you want your Frontpoint system up and running when your house is ready for move-in, you’ll need to figure out a way to work around your crew. Or, wait until after the final inspection to install your system.
One thing I did love about Frontpoint’s installation was their support during the process. Every time I ran into even a minor issue, I just called up Frontpoint and they walked me through the problem clearly. They also run a staffed live chat window on their site that’s available until 7 p.m. MST Monday through Friday and 4 p.m. MST on the weekends if you hate getting on the phone.
FYI: You can always hire a third-party installer to avoid installing your Frontpoint system yourself. When building a new home, one of the contractors you’re already using could even be qualified.
Frontpoint Professional Monitoring
Unlike the customizability of Frontpoint’s equipment packages, you only get one choice for professional monitoring. Most providers offer a tiered subscription with the lowest cost monitoring only including professional monitoring. Then, additional tiers add things like cloud storage, camera support, and smart home capabilities. Find out if this flat fee system beats ADT in our Frontpoint vs ADT comparison.
Frontpoint’s pricing involves a flat monitoring fee of $49.99 for any system. This is great if you want a decked-out home security system with multiple cameras because most providers would charge a lot extra for that. But, if you only need a few sensors, that $49.99 for monitoring is pretty steep.
Here’s what you get for that flat fee:
- 24/7 professional monitoring
- Automated system checks
- Crash-and-smash protection
- Geolocation services
- Email and text notifications
- Remote access and control from the app
- Sensor, video, and image history
- Live video streaming
- Motion alerts
- Light and smart lock control
On top of these, Frontpoint’s professional monitoring offers full cellular connectivity for all of your devices. Most systems either connect through a phone line or Wi-Fi and then offer cellular backup as an option. Frontpoint connects all of their devices through cellular as the main method of connection. This means you don’t need to wait for your internet or landline to be set up before you can get your Frontpoint system up and running. While it can cause some issues if you’re building a remote home, most construction projects benefit from this since it lets you protect your home sooner.
FYI: For more cellular options, take a look through our guide to the best cellular home security systems.
Frontpoint Smart Home Integrations
Frontpoint mobile app To be frank, I was a bit disappointed in Frontpoint’s smart home capabilities. It integrated decently with Alexa and let me use my voice to control my system, but I couldn’t automate any other parts of my smart home. I also struggled to get Google Assistant to integrate with Frontpoint. Thankfully, their top-tier customer support helped me out. We found out that I needed to download the Alarm.com action on my Google Home app before I could connect to it.
If you’re building a new home with a lot of smart technology plans, check out our guide to the Best Smart Home Security Systems for better options than Frontpoint.
>> Read More: Frontpoint vs Vivint | Is Vivint Better or is Frontpoint Better?
Can I Include My Home Security System in My New Construction Loan?
In most cases, you can include the entire upfront cost of your home security system in your construction loan. Here are a few tips for rolling your security system into a construction loan:
- Discuss the option upfront: Stay transparent with your lender that you want to roll your security system into a construction loan. The longer you wait to ask your lender about it, the more likely it becomes too late to include in your loan.
- Seek out multiple quotes: Usually, you need to justify the cost of any expenses on your construction loan. Getting multiple quotes shows the company you choose is giving you a fair deal.
- Include all upfront costs: Make sure to check the installation fees, setup fees, and any other fees you might incur when getting your new security system. This will help you get the entire cost covered.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Most security system providers offer interest-free financing for up to five years. Your construction loan comes with an interest rate, but it allows you to finance your security system over a longer period of time. Which option is best for you depends on your specific circumstances.
Does Every New Home Need a Security System?
With all the expenses of building a new home, budgeting for a security system can seem like a pretty big burden. And although you don’t absolutely need a security system immediately, building a new home can put a target on your property for criminals. According to a study by City Data, property crime rates tend to increase in areas where new homes get built.2
Installing a security system along with your new home can help offset this increased risk of property crime. Simple things like adding a visible security camera to your entryway or incorporating a motion sensor that turns on a floodlight in your front yard can help protect your home from invasion.
What Is a Prewire Security System?
Prewiring for a security system means all of the cabling and wiring needed for your security system is installed inside the walls during the build of your home. This means every cable for your home security system will be completely out of sight, giving you a sleeker aesthetic. It also means you never need to worry about charging the batteries for your security cameras.
With that said, prewiring comes with a couple of drawbacks too. It kind of locks you into the current layout of your security system. Of course, you can choose to add more equipment or move equipment, but that leaves you with visible cables and wiring. Prewiring also makes it a bit harder to change security providers if they have different power or connectivity requirements.
Methodology
So, how did I come up with this list of the three best security systems for new construction? Well, I personally tested each system myself to get a deep understanding of how each system is actually used. After using each system, I assessed the systems using the following criteria:
- Installation: After just finishing the long process of building your new home, you need an easy DIY and professional installation process to avoid damage to your new house.
- Smart home capabilities: Nowadays, new homes almost always incorporate some amount of smart technology. We personally test the integrations of every security system we review.
- Professional monitoring: High-quality professional monitoring lets you make the most of your home security system. It can also help curb the increased property crime risk newly built homes face.
- Equipment: You want the quality of your security system equipment to match the brand-new feel of your home. All of our reviews involve testing the equipment’s capabilities and build quality.
- Customer support: With a new home, you’re bound to run into a few issues after you move in. That’s why customer support is a key consideration when we assess the best security systems for new construction.
- Mobile application: A bad mobile application can really get in the way of you using your security system to its fullest. We test every security system’s app and comb through user reviews to find any common issues.
- Pricing: All the expenses of building a new home can add up quickly. Making sure you’re getting a good deal on your home security system can help offset those costs a bit.
- Company reputation: In the home security industry, company reputation matters a lot. Oftentimes, you’re signing up for a long-term commitment with your provider so we make sure to go through the company’s history of how it treats its customers. We also assess how trustworthy the company is overall.
Recap
When building a new home for you and your family, adding a home security system from day one can help you find peace in a new neighborhood.
Whether it’s ADT, Vivint, or Frontpoint, these systems let you check on those strange sounds outside the front door as you’re settling into your new place. Your spouse can also check the indoor camera watching the entryway when the floorboards squeak. And your kids can sleep easy knowing their parents are keeping them safe with a top-tier home security system.
Installing a security system with a newly built home also gives you the opportunity to prewire your system to hide all the cables, making your system more aesthetically pleasing. You can also finance it through your construction loan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Security Systems for New Construction
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Will installing a security system damage my new home?
If you choose a professional installation service like that from ADT or Vivint, you don’t need to worry about the installation damaging your new home. They send out qualified professionals to install the system for you. Frontpoint has you install the system yourself so there is a risk of you causing damage during the installation. But their high-quality customer support can guide you through the installation process to avoid damage.
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Is it less expensive to install a home security system in a new house?
Unfortunately, installing a home security system in a new house is just as expensive as in an old house. The only exception is if you need to renovate the wiring in an old house to accommodate the security system. But that’s pretty rare.
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Do I need to put a landline in my new home to get a security system?
Most security system providers now offer connectivity to their monitoring centers through Wi-Fi or cellular. This avoids the requirement of a landline entirely. ADT used to require a landline, but it no longer does.
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When can I schedule a security system install for my new construction home?
I recommend scheduling the installation for your security system as soon as possible. This lets your contractors understand a defined time frame for when they need to complete the work necessary for your security system. You can also always reschedule it if you hit delays during the construction process.
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What is the best home security system for new construction?
It really depends on your goals. If you want a robust and reliable security system, ADT is always a solid choice. With 150 years of experience, you really can’t go wrong. For a new home that’s taking advantage of smart home technology, Vivint plays well with other smart home products and offers a few of its own. Frontpoint is great because it doesn’t require internet or a landline. It runs entirely off cellular. So, if your internet is coming a bit later, Frontpoint is a great pick.
Statista. (2023). Number of users of smart homes in the United States from 2019 to 2028.
statista.com/forecasts/887611/number-of-smart-homes-in-the-smart-home-market-in-the-united-statesCity-Data.com. (2016). DOES NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION AFFECT CRIME RATE?
city-data.com/blog/1746-new-home-construction-affect-crime-rate/