Choosing the Best Alarm Company
Choosing the Best Alarm or Security company to install and monitor your alarm is the single best deterrent to crooks wanting to break into your home. They look for yard signs, window stickers and the indication of the alarm being armed; a red led on the security keypad.
In 2014, burglars broke into more than 2,400 Houston homes. Knowing your home security has been breached by being alerted to activity by your monitoring company is very important. Also effective, after the fact, is to have high quality video of the exterior and interior activities.
Choosing the Best Alarm Company – Questions to ask
To choose the best and right security company you have to ask the right questions. The number one question is, “are you licensed and insured in the State of Texas?”
Every alarm company in Texas and all of the employees must be licensed with the state. They should carry the license issued by the Department of Public Safety. You should ask to see it and don’t settle for just company identification. You can also look up the name of any alarm company or employee online to be sure that they are licensed and bonded in Texas.
You also want to make sure that the best alarm company is using a monitoring facility that is UL-certified. Many locally owned companies will use a third party monitoring vendor, which is fine.
Many companies offer you free installation, but they have to make money to cover the cost of equipment and monitoring in your monthly fee structure. In order to assure profitability, some will extend the monitoring contract for up to five (5) or six (6) years.
Understand completely what you’re signing and the term of the contract. Understand that you’re not really getting anything for free. You may end up signing multiple contracts as security system installations are often kept separate from camera system installs. This is fine. Just read what you are signing and be sure to read both sides of the agreement.
Also, be wary of the home alarm salesman who goes door-to-door. Ask to see their Texas Security certification. If they ring the doorbell as the first point of contact with you (You did not call their company and request an appointment) then ask them to leave their card as they caught you at a bad time.
They will try hard to talk their way into your home. They will mention they have “helped” several of your neighbors, dropping names right and left. Most of these salespeople do not even live in the area! They are highly trained to do one thing… get your signature of their contract. Be extra careful if it is during the summer as many national companies bring in students and others for marketing blitzes. Their last rebuttal is usually, “We can put a camera on your doorbell!” Well, any local company can do that with a trip to Home Depot!
If you do sign a contract with someone who came to your home, by law you have three days to cancel that contract.
Our sales professionals are available to come to your home upon your request. A time will be set over the phone and they will communicate directly with you. They will provide you options and systems that best serve your needs. No high pressure, or offers only good for today! We have been in business for 16 years and treat our customers as friends and neighbors.
Additionally, most of our monitoring contracts are for 36 months. They will not pressure you and want to be sure you get the best price for the quality installation our team provides. Remember, locally owned and operated businesses have a reputation to protect. They want you to be happy and you are more than just a number in their pocket to them.
Finally, as you are choosing your Best Alarm company, always ask, “What happens if the burglars cut my phone line”? Today’s options offer a redundant cellular communicator that operates independently from the alarm. Both are backed up with batteries in the event the power is out.
Asking these questions will help you be in control of the sales interview and show you know what you are talking about.