A retired couple in a quiet cul-de-sac and a travelling executive with three kids do not need the same protection — but both ask us the same question: what is enough without being overkill? Here is the framework we use on every home survey.
Start with lifestyle, not gadgets
Empty weekdays, frequent travel, teenagers home alone, valuable collections — your routine decides the risk more than your postcode does. We ask about schedules first and hardware second, because a house empty forty hours a week needs response cover, while a lived-in home may only need detection.
The four household tiers
Our personal plans mirror real life. The $25 personal tier covers an individual with camera verification. The $45 home tier adds intercom and alarm integration for families. Business cover at $69 extends to home offices and stock. Full service at $86 layers access control for larger properties with staff.
"Buy the plan for the life you actually live — upgrades take one phone call whenever that life changes."
What not to pay for
Skip monitored smoke add-ons if you already have mains-linked detectors. Skip extra cameras pointing at fences nobody can climb. And never pay for a second app — your alarm, cameras and doorbell should live in one place, or nobody in the family will use them.
Review yearly
Kids grow, jobs change, extensions get built. Every Halberd Guard Group plan includes an annual review where we walk the property again and right-size the cover — up or down. The cheapest plan is the one that still fits.