So when choosing a security company to do business with. You should take into consideration not just the price of your security system, but also the experience and customer satisfaction rating of the company, as well as the monitoring services and warranty they offer.
There are a couple questions you should ask yourself to find the perfect match for your home and your situation.
1. Do they perform a Security Analysis of the property?
The sign of a good security company is they will chat with you over the phone and provide recommendations for your home or business. Most companies will want to send a sales rep out to your house and try to upsell and hard close you into a system. A good company will chat with you first and schedule a visit with a technician (not a salesperson)
2. Look at the company a little deeper than just what you see online.
Call them #1. I would recommend you call and chat with them to see if they honestly care about who you are and your security or are they just on the phone to close a deal. You can tell pretty quickly who wants to assist you and who wants to take advantage of you!
3. Do they provide just security or do they also provide home automation?
The majority only provide home security. While very few are providing home automation. The biggest difference is the fact that they are roughly the same price. Home security entails; motion sensors, glass break sensors, CO sensors, Panic buttons, recessed door sensors and much more. Home Automation includes; wireless security cameras, automated door locks, energy efficient thermostats, remote access, and zwave light switches.
4. Who does the installations of all the equipment?
You'll find 1/2 the companies simply send you a kit and you install and the other 1/2 will send a professional to install the system for you.
I honestly, prefer a professional to install my system, this way I know I will be covered by any warranty they have and offer and I know it will be done right. I also know if I have any questions I can simply ask and make sure I know exactly how to operate everything before they leave my house!
You will find, however, that those who have professional installation will either charge you $400-$2000 for installation (this does include the cost of equipment). While others will provide all the equipment and installation free.
5. Who handles their Security Monitoring and Customer Service?
You'll find 90% of the security companies are simply an escrow service. They sell you the equipment and installation and set you up on a contract. Once you are a customer, they simply turn and sell your contract to a 3rd party monitoring call center. That 3rd party call center is then in charge of dispatching police, fire, medical for you in the event of an emergency. For customer service you would then contact the original company who has already made their money (doesn't seem like they would provide you the best service available)
Only a handful including Vivint, Monitronics, and Protection One handle their own security monitoring and customer service. This is a much better situation a. your personal information stays with the original company b. you are paying monthly the same company who will handle everything for you!
6. What type of Warranty do they provide?
Do they provide a full life time warranty on all parts and labor? Or do they provide no warranty? Or somewhere inbetween. You will definitely, want to find out those questions to make sure you are covered in the future if anything happens or breaks, whether accidental or because of a breakin!
For more information or to see what security system I choose to go with recently during my upgrade, please visit my personal family blog:
http:// jsdhill.blogspot.com/
If you have any questions as you search for your own security system, please message me. Much Success
