What Is The Best Home Security System?
Choosing the best security alarm system for your home is not as straightforward
as you may think. There are many alarm and security companies listed in the yellow
pages leading to confusion and often too much choice. Consider the following information
to help you choose which security system and alarm company is best for you.
Is the company a small, local one that will still be in business year after you
have purchased your system? Many small alarm companies go out of business leaving
their customers without warranty or protection. Find out if the company is a dealership
or the parent company as some dealerships often have their own policies which are
different from the parent company.
Find out about the installers that the company uses. Are they contract staff or
full time employees? Check if background checks are carried out on all of their
staff. Are the staff fully aware and compliant of the latest technology and how
it is integrated into an existing security alarm system?
Many states require that the alarm installation company be licensed. Therefore every
person working for the company must also be licensed. Ask to see both the salesperson’s
and installation technician’s license before the sale and installation.
If you are buying a monitored alarm system ask the company if they do their own
monitoring or contract with another company. It is important to understand how the
monitoring company will deal with an emergency.
Look at various models and types of alarm and buy one that you find easy to use.
A complicated and fiddly system may not get used.
Ask your friends and family who already have an alarm system. Would they recommend
their system? Is it simple but effective to use? Do they receive and reliable and
fast service from the alarm monitoring company? Did they feel happy with the work
carried out by the installation technicians?
Be mindful of the type of contract you may be sold. Don’t get tied into a long term
contract as this reduces flexibly in swapping contracts sooner for a more cost effective
deal. Be aware of a “cooling off” period after signing a deal and cancel the deal
if you at all concerned as getting out of a contract could be very expensive. Be
fully aware and understand the warranty you are offered on the alarm system.
Get several quotes to compare both the alarm systems and monitoring contract as
well as prices. A good alarm system representative could spend as much as 2 to 3
hours designing your system, looking both inside and outside of your property.