Without exception, all homeowners want to protect their loved ones, homes, and valuables. Outdoor areas are also a concern, especially when it comes to vandalism. Before you choose a home monitoring service company, it’s essential to ask the right questions about services. Here are some major considerations for making the best choice.
Ask About Years of Experience and Reputation
A good home security monitoring service company should have a solid history and a good reputation with customers. To find out a company’s history, you can check with your local Better Business Bureau, ask family and friends about the company and request a client list. You can also read online reviews at Yelp, Google Places and Angie’s List.
Inquire about how long the company has been in business and what training employees receive. Finally, ask what sort of background checks they complete for employees to guarantee client’s homes are safe during installs. You want to be absolutely sure passwords and other security knowledge will be kept completely confidential.
What Services Do They Offer?
To many people, a security system is a simply control panel homeowners can arm and disarm. But today’s home security services are vast and include an array of products and monitoring capabilities.
Beyond the basics, you want to ask if these systems can provide remote monitoring via PCs, laptops or mobile phones. Other features should include:
- ·Motion sensors for indoor/outdoor areas
- ·Fire and smoke alarms
- ·Carbon monoxide detectors
- ·Video surveillance cameras
- ·Medical alerts and the ability to get needed medical emergency service
- ·Window and door sensors
- ·Mobile accessibility, texts, or email alerts
- ·Easy-to-use systems and training for all users
Research the Latest Technology
It’s great for a home security company to offer remote system controls, but they should also use the latest in technology.
For example, even properly installed system may have outdoor wires that could be cut by burglars or intruders — what is the backup plan in the event this happens? Do they have wireless fail-safes? How does the backup system work?
Ask about their communication centers and the types of servers they use (whether cloud or in-house), and inquire about average response times. Ask the company’s representatives to explain their monitoring centers in detail, including how they’re staffed. There could be a major difference in quality and speed of response if it uses an outsourced call center instead of an in-house staff.
Learn About Packages and Prices
Someone who lives alone may not need a sophisticated system geared for family dwellings. Subsequently, the home security company you choose should have a variety of packages based on your particular needs.
Price should also play a big role. What’s included in various packages and does that price include installation? What are monthly monitoring fees? Are there other fees for remote controlling? Each package should have a clear price that explains all the fees. Be sure to ask about other fees as they might only found in the fine print.
Everyone wants to feel safe inside their homes and know their home will be safe when they’re away. If you’re considering a new security system, asking these questions will help you make the right choice.