How to Choose a Home Security Company

Buying a home security system is a bit different from many other purchases. You’re not just buying the equipment, but you’re also entering into a contract with a company to monitor that equipment and take action if there are any problems. Therefore, you should make sure that you make all the necessary inquiries before you come to a decision. In most cases, you should be looking for a mix of the good, old-fashioned, company that makes you feel secure, but with the most modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

Most people would agree that the best way to start is to try and get a recommendation from someone you trust, someone you know has very high standards and only accepts the best. However, you’re still going to need to speak to people in the company you’re considering, because the security needs for different homes are necessarily different. And don’t just speak to salespeople – maybe they’ll be knowledgeable and helpful, but maybe they’ll be more interested in making a quick sale. You need to find a person with technical knowledge, someone like an operations manager.

When you find that person, don’t be shy about asking some probing questions.

Length of time in business is important, as are good references from satisfied customers. In that respect, home security is an ‘old-fashioned’ business that still rests on reputation. In another way, home security is one of the latest innovations and the company should have a range of state-of-the-art systems to offer.

The contemporary aspect of home security is the adoption of the latest technology for your needs. The use of thermal imaging, motion detectors, wireless devices that can be easily added to an existing system and other aspects will give you clues about their forward-looking viewpoint, or lack of it.

The installation personnel should be more than just carpenters or car stereo installers between jobs. Special licensing applies to the implementation of a home security system. Inquire whether the installers have the training and certificates to prove it.
The old-fashioned aspect of the business entails the use of reliable, competent staff. Grill the operations manager on things like licensing, firearms training (if the guards are armed), experience (ex-police officers?, former airport guards?) and more.

Arriving quickly when an alarm is triggered is important, but they should perform well once they’re there. Sometimes there are false alarms. But companies have protocols to minimize these. When the real thing happens, the guards need to be prepared to act somewhat like police officers would.

At the same time, security companies and guards need to have a good relationship with the local police. They’re not authorized to carry out all the same functions and it’s not in your self-interest to have them stepping on one another’s toes or pointing fingers. You will invariably wind up in the middle of a bad situation that way.

But possibly the most important aspect is day-to-day monitoring, since that’s exactly what they’ll be doing on a daily basis. When you call, you should get someone efficient and courteous on the phone. They should know who you are, where you live and be able to provide you with the status of your system at any time of the day or night.

As we have seen, the choice of a security company is a very important affair. Your safety, and that of your family, is going to depend on them. And, of course they are going to be charging you quite an amount of money to provide that service. So, make sure you settle only for the best. This is a business where it is not a good idea to look around only for the lowest bid. You owe it to yourself, and to your family, to get it right!