DIY home security systems are very easy to set up these days and cost-effective. You DO need to pay the monthly fee, though, but you save the installer’s fee. I really like the Honeywell Total Connect system. It has a panel that looks like a large tablet that you can put on a counter somewhere. It is all secure wireless, so you don’t need to run wires throughout the house. It is also a Samsung SmartThings hub, too, so you can control SmartThings devices such as light switches and plug-in sockets as well. It also connects to Honeywell sirens/sounders and to their smoke alarms.
There’s a similar system from a company called “2Gig,” but I liked going with the Honeywell brand (although they DID spin that business off to a new company called Resideo).
We use blink cameras that are motion sensing. Upfront purchase price and NO monthly fees. They work like a charm. All you need is a wireless network.
I actually didn’t risk in installing it myself. The DIY project of installing the security system has to be done in a manner of careful consideration to avoid any mistakes possible. I wanted a video alarm verification system(https://alarm-i.ca/) as it had a lot of pros and cons of getting the right security needed as if there was an issue of breaking in or entering the authorities will be notified and an emergency response team will be dispatched. This is much better than the normal alarm system which I found would be beneficial.