Home Security and Vivint Guides
34 guides in 2 groups: Vivint-specific guides on contracts, moving, financing, privacy, and devices, and general home security guides on costs, cameras, renters, and monitoring, written by an independent Vivint Authorized Dealer.
Vivint guides
Moving With Vivint: Fees, Options and the Military Waiver
See what moving a Vivint system costs, the 3 move options, the military fee waiver, and how to transfer the contract to a home buyer instead.
How to Cancel Vivint: Window, Fees and Steps
Learn how to cancel Vivint within the 3-day window or after it, what the early termination cost is, the 4 cancellation steps, and what keeps working afterwards.
Does Vivint Run a Credit Check?
Find out when Vivint checks your credit, what score financing needs, how to buy Vivint with no credit check, and whether an eligibility check affects your score.
Vivint for Renters: Apartments, Leases and Moving
See whether renters can get Vivint, what landlord permission covers, which devices need no drilling, and how moving mid-lease works.
Does Vivint Need Wi-Fi?
Learn which Vivint functions need Wi-Fi, how the Smart Hub's cellular backup keeps monitoring alive, and what works during internet and power outages.
Can Vivint See Your Cameras?
Find out who can view Vivint camera footage, when the monitoring centre sees clips, how video is encrypted, and how to control shared access.
Who Owns Vivint?
Learn who owns Vivint Smart Home (NRG Energy since 2023), the company's history from APX in 1999, its size, headquarters, and the settlements on record.
Vivint vs Vivint Solar: Different Companies
Vivint Smart Home and Vivint Solar are separate companies with different owners; learn who owns each, how they split, and which one you are dealing with.
Vivint Smart Deter: How It Works
Learn what Vivint Smart Deter is, the 3-stage sequence it runs, which cameras have it, and how it differs from ordinary motion alerts.
Vivint Car Guard: Price, Features and Compatibility
See the Vivint Car Guard price and monthly fee, what the OBD-II device tracks, which vehicles it fits, and how it ties into the Vivint app.
Vivint Emergency Pendant: Price, Range and Response
See the Vivint emergency pendant price, how a press reaches the monitoring centre, its 300-foot range, and how it compares with a standalone medical alert.
Vivint Installation Checklist: 9 Things to Prepare
Prepare for Vivint installation with a 9-item checklist covering Wi-Fi, wiring, placement decisions, contacts, passcode, pets, and permissions.
Vivint Dealer vs Buying Direct: 5 Differences
Compare buying Vivint through an authorized dealer with buying from vivint.com on price, promotions, installation, warranty, and support, and learn how to verify a dealer.
Vivint Home Insurance Discount: How Much and How to Claim
Learn how much insurers discount for a Vivint system, how to get the Certificate of Installation, and which devices increase the discount.
Vivint During a Power Outage
See how long each Vivint device runs on battery during a power outage, what the monitoring centre still receives, and what stops until power returns.
Vivint With Pets: Motion Sensors and Camera Alerts
Learn how Vivint motion sensors ignore pets up to 33, 55, or 80 pounds, how to set the immunity level, and how camera alerts filter animals.
Vivint and HOA Rules: Cameras, Signs and Doorbells
Learn what HOAs and landlords can restrict about Vivint cameras, yard signs, and doorbell cameras, and how to get approval before install day.
Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 3 vs Gen 2
See the 3 changes in the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 3 over Gen 2, whether upgrading is worth it, and what Gen 2 owners keep.
Vivint Reviews in 2026: Ratings, Complaints and Context
See Vivint's 2026 BBB and Trustpilot ratings, the 3 complaint categories behind them, the settlements on record, and 4 ways buyers avoid the common problems.
Where Is Vivint Available?
Learn where Vivint installs (all 50 states and Canada), how rural coverage works, what makes an address unserviceable, and how to check yours.
Home security guides
How Much Does a Home Security System Cost in 2026?
Equipment, monitoring, and installation ranges with a 9-brand price table and 36-month totals.
False Alarm Fees by City and How to Avoid Them
Permit and fine schedules for 20 cities, the 4 causes, and 7 prevention steps.
DIY vs Professional Home Security: Which Should You Choose?
7 attributes compared with 36-month totals and 4 cases for each side.
The 8 Best Home Security Systems of 2026, by Use Case
8 picks with price, installation, and contract, ranked by use case.
Is Home Security Worth It?
Is a monitored home security system worth the cost? The 2024 burglary numbers, what burglars say about alarms, the insurance offset, and a break-even calculation.
Wired vs Wireless Home Security Systems
Wireless systems win for most homes in 2026 on installation and moving; wired wins for large new builds. The 6-attribute comparison, with battery life, signal, and cost figures.
How Many Security Cameras Does a Home Need?
Most single-family homes need 2 to 3 cameras; apartments 0 to 1. The placement rules, the count by home type, and what each camera adds to the monthly cost.
Best Outdoor Security Cameras in 2026: What Decides It
The 5 attributes that decide an outdoor camera, how the main 2026 models compare on them, and why deterrence features matter more than resolution.
How to Choose an Alarm Monitoring Service
What alarm monitoring is, the 3 types, 2026 prices by brand, response times, and the 6 questions to ask before choosing a monitoring service.
Smart Home Security for Beginners
What smart home security is, the 7 device types it combines, 5 automations that matter, what it adds to the monthly cost, and how to start.
Home Security for Renters and Apartments
Which security devices renters can install without permission, which need landlord consent, the no-contract options, and what moving costs with each brand.
Home Security When Moving or Away: Two Checklists
A 12-step checklist for moving a security system to a new home and a 10-step checklist for securing a home while away, with Vivint moving fees and vacation-mode settings.
How Many Door and Motion Sensors Does a Home Need?
The counting rule, totals by home size, motion placement, and what 6, 10, or 16 sensors cost.
Home Security Insurance Discounts: Rates by Insurer
5 to 15% for a monitored system; published figures by insurer, what qualifies, and how to claim.