You can get monitoring through local stations much cheaper than through ADP and the big guys. They are the same ones that are often contracted by the big guys from what I understand. The hardware and monitoring are two different matters.

I have glass break sensors in every room with contact sensors on every entry point. I don't use motion sensors because I want the system armed when I am here. I am not as concerned about when I am not here, that is why I have insurance. I want to be alerted when I am here so I can take care of things, and since its monitored the police can come tag the body. I also have a smoke detector wired in, so if I am not home and there is a fire, the fire department can be notified.

My monitoring is 16.95 a month and is monitored via cellular signal (service included in the 16.95). This way criminals can't just cut the wires to disable the system. It has battery backup (which I replaced with a larger battery) so it works if the power is out.