With the increase in home invasions, there is a growing awareness of the need for home security monitoring systems. People are often persuaded to install the best home security systems, and when that happens, homeowners typically split into two groups when they have to choose the actual service:
- National Home Security Companies
- Local Alarm Companies
National Home Security Companies
You’ve probably heard about the larger home security companies like:
- ADT
- Protect America
- Frontpoint
These companies are recognized names within the industry, and they provide service across the U.S., ensuring the same quality everywhere.
To satisfy as many customers as possible —regardless of their geographical location— these companies make sure that their equipment offers the same design, color variations, and benefits for everyone.
National providers prefer the DIY approach, where they send you the alarm equipment and let you sort things out on your own. On the one hand, you don’t need to take a day off from work to let the technicians in, but people who aren’t handy might find it difficult to get everything to work.
Local Alarm Companies
Local alarm companies, on the other hand, tailor the service to match the customer’s every need. We found that local alarm companies have a better understanding of local security needs, listen more to people’s demands, and provide faster customer support.
In addition to this, most local companies emphasize professional installation.
Seniors and people without handy skills welcome the possibility to have someone come over to his or her house and do the installation for them.
What To Look For In Local Alarm Companies?
The following are key things you’ll want to consider about your local alarm company:
- Reputation
- Technology
- Customer Service
- Reliability of Monitoring Stations
Local home security companies rely on their reputation to help them attract new customers and keep their existing ones. This means that you are likely to receive better service that if you went with a national firm.
The quality of smaller, local alarm companies varies greatly by location. Ask your friends and neighbors about the local alarm companies that have worked for them.
In addition, local police departments advise a few other steps when it comes to choosing a local alarm company.
These Steps Include:
- Inquire about whether the company has errors or omissions insurance, general liability and workman’s compensation. These elements ensure that the company is protected so that claims do not fall on the homeowner’s shoulder. You could also ask to see their certificates as proof of coverage.
- Request to see the company’s business license.
- How long has the company been in business? It’s generally better to work with a local alarm company with at least 3 to 5 years of experience.
- Find out where the company’s monitoring center is located. It’s better to have a central monitoring center close to home rather than in another state.
- Make sure that company employees —rather than subcontractors— work on your home alarm installation.
- Read your contract carefully. Also, if you can, have someone you trust read over the security system agreement contract with you before signing the agreement.
- Inquire about the system’s warranty and its specifications. What does it include? (does is cover faulty equipment/sensors). Also, make sure that the warranty is integrated into your written contract.
- Find out if the employees are trained and certified by the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, or Electronic Security Association (ESA) as well as whether they take part in the Installation Quality Certification Program. You can find a trusted ESA member company in your area here.
- Examine the company’s work history by looking at consumer protection agencies such as the Better Business Bureau.
After doing your research, you should be able to narrow down the list of potential companies to at least two or three.
Call each local alarm company that you are interested in and arrange a meeting at your home.
We recommend that you have one company visit your home per day. Also, make a list of questions that you want to ask. You should ask each company the same questions.
Here Are A Few Questions That Should Be On Your List:
- Is your system wireless and/or cellular? Note that a cellular connection is typically the most difficult for burglars to defeat.
- Is the monitoring station available at all times, every day of the week? How about customer service assistance?
- What happens if the main monitoring center experiences technical difficulties?
- What precautions are taken at the monitoring center is there a power outage or other failure to ensure that a backup supply is available?
- Do you offer any home automation options (automatic door locks, light controls, thermostats)?
- Do I have to pay if I move my alarm system to a new home?
Summing It Up
In conclusion, buying locally is good for the economy.
As partners in the community, local alarm companies are often immersed in the community and want to see their people grow and prosper.
Many local companies provide technical resources to local jurisdictions and assist law enforcement and businesses with criminal investigations, while others help non-profits and implement community engagement programs.
Please contact your local alarm company to find out more.