While the housing market may be poised to rebound after years of dismal sales brought about by the recession, the results of a new survey from ADT show that there is still room for education amongst consumers when it comes to the importance of residential security.
According to the company’s 2013 Safety Data index, which included the responses of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers, more than two-thirds of Americans (68 percent) polled said that a home security or automation system increases the value of a home. Despite this belief, however, respondents were more likely to own a paper shredder in their house (65 percent) than a security and automation system (29 percent).
"We’ve made it our business to understand the modern homeowner," said Tony Wells, chief marketing officer at ADT. "This survey in particular helped us recognize behaviors and perceptions about safety, thereby influencing how we can tailor solutions to fit into customer’s everyday lives."
Some of the survey’s other findings included:
- Though many people highly rate the value of home safety, only 30 percent of those surveyed who owned a security system turn it on at all times and only six in 10 had carbon monoxide detectors.
- Rather than install a home security system, more than two-thirds of respondents said they trust their neighbors to watch over their home while they’re away.
- Americans were found to have a very low knowledge of safety and security facts. When asked a series of security and safety questions, results showed that the average American scored 1.6 out of 5.
