What is the Best Home Security System?
Stay One Step Ahead of The Burglars
This article is written by one of our readers (who wishes to remain anonymous), a local home security expert who has taken their valuable time to share their home security tips with us. The take away message here is that turnkey home security installations by alarm company providers are often too insecure "out of the box." Your home insurance protects your belongings while you're gone, but who protects your loved ones while you're sleeping? Take the time to setup and understand your security system right the first time.
No Alarm System is "Free"
One of the first things consumers need to understand about the alarm industry is that there is no such thing as a free alarm system.
We are a legitimate business. We don’t “steal” our equipment. Our employees all get a salary and benefits. The alarm equipment, service personnel, installation and monitoring all cost alarm companies money. If you are signing a three-year contract at only $30.00 per month, then nothing is being given to you for free. The only reason that three-year contracts exist are to satisfy repeated consumer requests for “easy monthly payments” rather than having to immediately pay the entire cost of the alarm system “up front”. If you read the fine print, you cannot cancel a three-year contact without being required to pay 80% -90% of the outstanding balance. Why? Because you haven’t completely paid off the money (investment) it actually cost to supply and install your alarm equipment.
Read Your Alarm Contract
The misunderstanding I see being created within the industry is that some companies continue to promote “free alarm and only $30.00 per month for monitoring”; this does not readily, nor clearly, explain that the client will only complete their financial obligation for the equipment and services they have acquired in three years time. Additionally, since very few consumers actually read the fine print before they sign a contract, they are shocked to discover what they consider as “excessive cancellation fees” when they try to “stop their monitoring” before the contract term is up. Understand that if you decide to sign a three-year contract, you should read all of the fine print before you sign to prevent misunderstandings. Alarm companies are not trying to “rip you off”; they are simply trying to re-coup their investment. Contracts are entered into in good faith and the consumer is expected to honor contracts which they have signed. You can cancel the contract after the three year term. Read your particular contract to see its specific requirements before you sign it.
Contract-Based vs Up-Front Payments
Consumers can always choose to deal with an alarm company which doesn’t tie you into a three-year contract provided that you pay for the supply and installation of your alarm equipment, in full upon completion of the job. An additional benefit may be the reduction of costs associated with monitoring after paying upfront for your alarm system. Typically this type of monitoring contract will only be for a one-year term, or on a month-to-month basis, with much easier conditions to “stop the monitoring services” if you lose your job. Do your homework and shop around for alarm monitoring providers, as this is a very competitive market and the quality of services offered is not necessarily equal.
This is so important that it bears mentioning again: Before you sign anything, read the fine print.
Recognizing a Good Alarm System
I’ve already mentioned that a very good and decent home alarm system becomes ineffective if it is badly installed. Some of my clients, who have been referred to me after having disagreements and issues with their former alarm installing company, are less than pleased when I indicate and explain possible security deficiencies that I see in the installation of some of my competitors’ alarm systems, or in the choice of the actual product (self-contained all-in-one keypad alarm unit) itself.
This means that they now have to pay me additional money should they desire to correct these concerns. Of course, they all feel that these issues should have been addressed and taken care of by the original installing company in the first place. However, this is not entirely true; I will explain to you and your readers how these customers, unfortunately, “got exactly what they paid for”.
The "One Size Fits All" Mentality in the Alarm System Industry
The consumer has repeatedly asked for an inexpensive and affordable alarm system. The easiest way for the alarm industry to respond to this request is to “pump out alarm installations in a quick and efficient, uniform and repetitive manner.” We now have a “one size fits all” mentality and approach within the industry, as this is the easiest way to mass-produce, replicate and respond to consumer demands.
"Cookie Cutter" Alarm Systems are Less Secure
However, there is a security shortcoming to this method: If all of the alarm systems in the homes in your neighborhood are installed in exactly the same way, in a “cookie-cutter fashion”, then once a criminal figures out how to defeat the alarm system in one home, he has now learned how to defeat all of the security systems in that neighborhood.
Think about what I’ve previously told you about the all-in-one self-contained home alarm systems and you’ll see that each and every single one of them are being mass-marketed and promoted as “kits” to be installed in homes in exactly the same convenient and easy fashion by the homeowner.
If you want security, then you don’t necessarily want your alarm system’s most vital components to be installed identically (in the same location of your home) as with all of your neighbors’ homes, particularly if this location is easily and quickly accessed by someone who has broken into your house with the specific intention to very quickly disable your alarm system.
Alarm Systems are No Longer "Feared" by Burglars and Thieves
Statistics accurately show that a home with an alarm system is less likely to be targeted by a thief; homes that have alarm systems and which are broken into, suffer less financial loss than homes without alarm systems. The logical assumption is that the thief will spend less time inside a home that has an alarm system; the belief is that once the sirens start ringing, the criminal will take what he can and quickly leave. Unless - he quickly disables your alarm system and/or silences your siren(s).
There once was a time when an alarm system was an unknown and “feared” product. However, as knowledge of alarm systems spreads throughout the criminal community, we now see some homes being broken into which have surface mount sirens and alarm control panels being ripped off of the walls. A reader of this forum (see: this is true) has recounted his own personal experience of coming home to find his all-in-one self-contained alarm keypad unit (which is the “brains” of his home alarm system) on the floor, thus disabling his equipment and his home was vandalized.
When I was approached years ago to offer my clients this exact same model of alarm system, I refused to even consider the product; I feared exactly this same type of scenario occurring to them once criminals discovered its design weakness (which was immediately obvious to me). The purpose of this forum is to gather information and learn from others’ experiences. This is why I have pointed out the need to hide and secure your alarm system’s vital components, such as the main control panel, and why I don’t personally recommend this type of self-contained alarm product.
A Good Security System Installation is Unique
Understand that it is much more time-consuming and labor intensive for a professional alarm installer to look at each home individually in order to custom-design its own unique security system. It takes more time to be creative and to hide the vital control panel components of the alarm system in a different location in each home, and therefore this is a much more expensive service to provide to the consumer. Please take note of the word “service”. One must be expected, and willing, to pay for good service. Any successful business revolves around “supply and demand”. Consumers have to start to demand “security”, as well as “service” and be willing to pay the additional associated costs to obtain it.
A Good Security System Installation Takes Time
When you read glowing customer reviews of alarm companies, the “good comments” are usually that the complete installation was very quickly completed in a couple of hours and that the installers cleaned up after themselves before they left. You don’t generally read comments such as “the installer took the additional time necessary to properly demonstrate and explain the use of the alarm system, as well as supplying us with valuable information on prudent security practices in and around the home” because that is not what the typical consumer is asking of him, nor have they indicated that they are ready to pay him for his time and professional expertise gained through many years of service in the alarm and security industry. So please, as a consumer, don’t blame alarm companies for doing their best to try and provide you with exactly what you’re asking for, at the lowest price that you’re willing to pay.
Criminals today have a much better understanding of alarm systems and how they work, so I believe that it now becomes necessary to be creative, invent new, advanced technologies, and change what was once considered as “standard installation practices and methods” to stay “one step ahead of them” in this game of cat-and-mouse.
If you’re having your alarm system installed by a professional, explain to them that you want the control panel hidden away, out-of-sight, and that you’re willing to pay the additional costs to do so. They will all be very happy to bend over backwards and respond to your needs once you clearly tell them exactly what your needs are and also indicate that you understand that the installation will require additional time that you are willing to pay for. I’ll provide other useful instructions on how to properly select and install a home alarm system further on down (below).
Are You Protecting Your Family, Or Just Your Belongings?
Another issue I have is that consumers are buying home alarm systems for all of the wrong reasons, such as “I’ll get a discount on my home insurance policy” or “I’m out of town on business frequently”. No bodily harm can occur to you if your home is broken into while you’re away on business or saving money on your home insurance premiums. Here’s the right reason that consumers should be clearly indicating to their alarm providers, as to WHY they want to own an alarm system:
“I want an alarm system that is properly conceived to help secure my home while I’m inside sleeping. While I understand and acknowledge that no alarm system or warning decals can prevent a deranged person from breaking into my house or apartment, I don’t want to find out about it only once the thief is in my bedroom. I need an alarm system designed to remove the element of surprise (and danger) created by someone entering my home unannounced while I’m sleeping. Siren(s) must be activated once the perimeter is breached, long before the intruder makes it to the bedroom”.
A Good Security System Has More Sensors
If this reason becomes the intended goal and design standard for your home alarm system, you’ll see that the “two door contacts and one motion detector home alarm system package” cannot possibly fulfill this legitimate security requirement, particularly since the motion detector will be inactive while you’re at home sleeping with your alarm system armed in stay mode.
Arm Your System While You Sleep
When you set about to purchase the equipment needed for your alarm system, you must first take into consideration the most important usage of the alarm, which is at night, while you’re sleeping, when you’re the most vulnerable. I am absolutely shocked when I learn that some homeowners never arm their alarm systems at night! Your home alarm system must include the additional components necessary to detect intrusion from all potential entry points when you’re inside sleeping. You must accomplish this design requirement to a security level that you can “sleep comfortably with” and in a lot of cases this goal must be achieved without the use of motion detectors.
You Are Purchasing a Security System, Not Home Insurance
You don’t need an alarm system while your residence is unoccupied; that’s what you need home insurance for! If your alarm system can “do the job properly” while you’re at home sleeping, it will have no problem performing when you’re away and the house is empty. If the motion detectors in your home are inactive (bypassed) at night while the alarm system is armed in stay mode, you must compensate for this reduction in intruder detection by installing additional door and window contacts, glass breakage detectors, pressure mat sensors, etc.
Installing Additional Keypads
One “easy fix” would be the very simple and inexpensive addition of installing an extra keypad inside your bedroom, which will allow you to activate and use all of the motion detectors in your home (which are outside of your bedroom) during the night while you’re sleeping. You can now fully arm your system, including motion detectors, from within your bedroom before you go to sleep. You’ll also have the reassurance of knowing that the alarm has been armed at night since you’ll easily see the status displayed on your bedroom keypad. You can disarm the alarm system from within your bedroom before venturing outside. For families who all sleep on the upper floor of a residence, an additional keypad can be installed in an upstairs hallway, in addition to, or instead of, a keypad inside the master bedroom. This permits the motion detectors on the main floor and in the basement to be active during the night. The first person who gets up in the morning will disarm the system using the hallway keypad before proceeding downstairs. Note that if the only keypad in the home is at the front door, you can still activate and use the motion detector(s) which are in the basement since you won’t be going down there during the night. You will have to disable (bypass) the motion detector(s) which are in the path of you getting from your upstairs bedroom to the front door keypad.
Bypassing Sensors and Using Keyfobs
A proper understanding of your alarm system’s functions, such as “bypassing” is important for you to learn in order to achieve the maximum security benefits that a home alarm system can offer you. You could also use a wireless push-button keyfob to arm and disarm the motion detectors from your bedroom, but there are security risks involved with a simple one-button disarming method versus a more secure 4 or 6-digit access code being entered at a keypad. For homes with family members who sleep on various floors at the same time, a proper and unique security system design which takes this information into account is necessary. You can now easily see why the “one size fits all” attitude of the “standard alarm system kit-in-a-box” doesn’t necessarily always work for everyone, considering that home designs and family behaviors are different and varied.
Add a Motion Sensor to Your Master Bedroom
I recommend installing a motion detector inside the master bedroom. This is considered a “hot-point” that is sure to be visited by a thief. If the master bedroom is on the upper floor of a three story home, a motion detector can be placed either inside the master bedroom, outside on an upper floor hallway, or both. This will detect the presence of an intruder on the upper floor when the home is vacant, as the motion detector(s) will be bypassed when the homeowners are sleeping upstairs. There was a time when homes were only wired for alarm systems on the main floor and basement. The thinking “back then” was that access to the upper floors was difficult when there were no exterior staircases leading to the upper floor and that putting additional alarm equipment “up there would be more expensive”. However, over the years as back-yard trees matured and criminals got “smarter” about house alarm systems and their installation practices, they starting climbing these full-grown trees to enter the homes via the upstairs floors, where they could do as they please. As long as they contained their activity to the upper floor, the alarm system would not be activated unless they ventured downstairs (due to the lack of alarm detection equipment on the upper floor). To make matters worse, some homeowners would leave upstairs windows ajar, which helped to facilitate criminal entry and their master bedroom would get “cleaned out”. With today’s ease of installation and inexpensive cost, there is no legitimate reason now against installing a wireless motion detector inside your master bedroom.
Securing Your Property From Your Own Guests
Properly understanding how to use your alarm system to its full potential can also save you from an unexpected robbery from your own invited guests; let’s imagine that you’ve invited some family and friends over for a dinner party. One of them asks to leave to go to the bathroom. While your attention is occupied entertaining the remaining guests, this particular individual decides to take advantage of the situation and to very quickly poke their nose into your master bedroom. Can you imagine the surprise and excitement that occurs as your home alarm system’s siren(s) sound as the door to your master bedroom is opened? Most everyone has heard personal stories of how jewelry has gone missing in the home after a dinner party.
The ability to properly understanding how to “bypass zones” on your alarm system allows you to select which areas and rooms of the home can be entered, which doors can be opened, and you can then arm the rest of the components of your alarm system. Your home alarm system can prevent “bad guys outside your home” from opening your front door unannounced if you’re in the back-yard entertaining, while at the same time it is “keeping an eye on your invited guests” that you don’t want sneaking around in your basement or in your bedroom unescorted.
A Complete and Effective Security System
Once you do your homework and start to understand the real reasons for owning an alarm system, the multiple uses that it has, the security benefits and peace of mind that it provides, only then can you begin to recognize that a properly installed, complete and effective alarm system is truly a very valuable addition to your home.
I haven’t even mentioned smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, sump pump overflow detection, water detection for washing machine’s hoses bursting, low temperature detection for your vacation home or high temperature detection so that the meat in your basement freezer doesn’t spoil. These are all additional benefits which can be added onto your home alarm system, which some consumers only believe are useful for “when they’re not home”.
Without all of the facts, information, advice, examples and valuable life lessons being offered in this forum, I’m beginning to understand now why there are so many consumers who are eagerly trying to get bargains and price shopping for the cheapest piece of junk being offered as “an alarm” on the market. People are naturally reluctant to invest money into a product that they don’t fully understand or appreciate.
What Makes the Best Home Security System? Key Points
Returning once again to trying to answer the question: “What is the Best Home Security System?”, my key requirements, recommendations and advice are:
- Be very, very cautious of “proprietary alarm equipment” and understand what you are getting yourself into by purchasing this type of product. This is alarm equipment which has been specifically designed for, and which can only be programmed and serviced by, the original installing company that you bought the product from. While a consumer may be able to acquire some very unique, cutting-edge and innovative alarm equipment that is not being offered by other competitors, you have to understand all of the points associated with this type of product in order to make an informed decision to purchase. The downside to “proprietary alarm equipment” is that should you ever develop a disagreement with the installing company after your contract expires, you cannot get service or monitoring from another alarm company since we have no access to programming information about your alarm equipment. This means that you will have to purchase a new control panel, keypad(s) and any wireless devices that came with your system, if you ever want to be serviced by another alarm company. The hard wired devices of your system can be used with any alarm panel. You have to ask this question before purchase, as most companies who install their own product will generally not openly volunteer this information to you. Understandably, they are also very reluctant to provide any installer programming documentation for a product which they have invested years of research money and development into. This is another reason why it is important to do business with a reputable alarm company which provides good service and treats its clients well. With “proprietary alarm equipment” you can get an excellent product, but you better have a good and long-lasting relationship with your “alarm guy”.
- For non-proprietary alarm equipment, such as the same alarm panel being offered by several different alarm installing companies: You will not have difficulty changing alarm service providers since we can all program your alarm panel. However, ask if the installing company’s policy is to place an “Installer’s lock-out” on the alarm equipment. Typically, the installer will only change the default installer code after programming the panel to safeguard his entries. If we want to change the data when we take over an account, we either need to know the “Installer’s Code” or we perform a complete re-set to factory defaults and then re enter all of the data. If a lock-out has been applied, we have to change the main processor board, which may incur an additional fee to the homeowner.
- Choose an alarm control panel that has the capacity for at least two partitions (the ability to be divided into two independent alarm systems). You may eventually decide to hook up the garden shed to your alarm system in the future. With a two partition system, the shed will remain armed when you disarm the house. Most alarm panels can be divided into two or more partitions, which is a very practical feature.
- Choose a home alarm system that has the capacity to expand and accommodate your future needs. This is usually achieved through the addition of zone expander modules to increase hard-wired zones. Wireless zones add on effortlessly with the addition of a wireless device receiver. Most alarm panels on the market today can easily expand to 32 or more individual zones.
- Choose an alarm manufacturer whose product is backwards compatible with previous versions. This means that when the model of keypad of your current alarm system gets upgraded in the future, the new, improved keypad will be able to work with your current alarm panel (if you need an additional keypad or if one of your keypads becomes defective). Additionally, the new, improved control panel main processor board will work with all of your existing, older version keypads and equipment. If your alarm system is not backwards-compatible, you had better ensure that it’s a popular product being offered by many dealers which increases the probability that enough inventory will be available for the next twenty years or more. Unlike today’s kitchen appliances, alarm systems last for over twenty years.
- Select alarm keypads which are easy to read and understand. A keypad with the ability to display 32 zones is preferable over one that only displays 6 zones. If you expand your alarm system beyond 6 zones in the future, you’ll have to change the 6 zone keypad(s).
- Effective and complete conception and design intended to detect intrusion from all possible entry points while the occupants are inside the residence sleeping.
- Consideration and compensation for motion detectors which must be inactive (bypassed) at night in stay mode.
- Hidden installation of vital alarm system components such as the main control panel
- The alarm system must supervise the main control panel, so that an alarm is triggered before intruders approach and attack the main control panel, especially at night while the homeowners are sleeping.
- The ability of the alarm system to “stay alive” long enough to alert sleeping occupants on the premises (via sirens) of a potential intrusion danger.
- Do not install a siren right next to the alarm control panel. While it may be very easy and convenient to wire up the siren directly into the alarm control panel, the noise from the siren will actually draw a criminal directly to the location of the alarm control panel, which is supposed to be hidden.
- Siren(s) intended to “sound” outside the home are best installed in attic soffits where they are not seen but heard through the ventilation grilles. If this is not possible, select exterior grade siren models made of stainless steel or aluminum which will not rust due to the elements.
- Interior siren(s) must be installed at least 10 feet above floor level and away from any railings or furniture that can be climbed on to provide access to the siren(s). These installation requirements are intended to prevent the interior siren(s) from being easily attacked by intruders and simply pulled off of the wall. If this is not possible due to low ceiling height, the interior siren(s) must be placed inside protective metal enclosures and solidly screwed to wall-studs inside a closet. The thief now requires tools and time to attack and disable the interior siren(s).
- The more sirens that are generating alarms inside the home, the better, particularly in larger homes. Bear in mind that there are limits to the number of sirens that an alarm panel can support (based on current draw) before you require an additional power supply to drive additional siren(s).
- The ability of the alarm system to “stay alive” long enough to complete its transmission to the monitoring station (if monitored).
- A more secure alarm transmission method such as a wireless radio or cellular communicator is preferable over an unsupervised telephone line.
- If you are using a standard, unsupervised telephone line for monitoring purposes, try to better secure the line from potential attack by having the telephone demarcation box moved to a higher height. Or, you can protect the telephone wires entering your home with a metal sheathing, or cover, to prevent their being easily cut. If a thief’s intention is to cut your telephone line and you make it difficult for him to do so, he most likely will simply move on to the next house.
- If you have the finances to afford a professionally installed alarm system, a hard-wired system is preferable over wireless. The devices are smaller and more esthetic, and there are no batteries to change. I prefer to only use wireless devices in areas of the home that are difficult to pass alarm wiring.
- If you are having your alarm system professionally installed, stay away from the all-in-one self-contained huge keypad units.
- Self-contained all-in-one keypad alarms: This is not my recommended product of choice. However, if you are opting to self-install a wireless, self-contained all-in-one keypad alarm unit, then additional security precautions are necessary. The main control keypad should be hidden and only used as a communicator. You should also disable the siren within the main control keypad to avoid drawing criminals directly towards its hidden location when the alarm is activated. Install additional siren(s) and keypad(s) as necessary.
- Wireless devices: I didn’t say that they weren’t good! But - Consider the evolution of wireless telephones and you will notice that the operating frequencies have changed over the years. Are you still able to find a replacement handset today for your 10 year old cordless telephone? Wireless alarm devices from different manufacturers all operate on different frequencies, so that means that they are not interchangeable.
- Wireless alarm systems are the best choice for do-it-yourself installation. Verify that the batteries are easy to obtain and change. Find out if the alarm company that you are purchasing the wireless equipment from can tell you how long (years) that they intend to have replacement wireless parts available for the system you have purchased.
- The ease in which the homeowners can understand how to use the many different features of the residential alarm system. There is no point in having a sophisticated 16-zone alarm system if you cannot easily, and immediately, determine which of the 16 zones is “open” and needs to be “closed” before that you can arm your alarm.
- Simplicity in the use and understanding of the keypads. It shouldn’t take 15 key touch entries to arm your alarm!
- Upon returning to your home from even a very brief absence, the keypad should immediately and easily display to you that, “While you were gone no alarms occurred”, or “Be careful: Here’s what happened when you left”.
- A motion detector inside the master bedroom.
- My personal pet-peeve is a home alarm company that provides the installer with only a 2” by 2” keypad sticker in which they must do their best to hand-label and describe the 16 individual zones on the system. This is a sure-fire recipe for confusion!
An alarm system is not a guarantee that misfortune will not come your way, but it does greatly improve your odds against it happening. At the very least, as I mentioned, a properly conceived and installed home security system removes the element of surprise from an uninvited “guest”. Learn about and develop prudent security practices to complement your home alarm system, such as sleeping with your cell phone placed on the night table beside your bed. In the case of an emergency during the night, it’s right in your hands and you can immediately call out for help, even if your telephone line has been compromised.
It is possible to achieve a competent self-installation of a home security system if you apply the guidelines which I have provided. Since I can’t personally install everyone’s alarm system for them, my intention is to help homeowners avoid going to sleep with a false sense of security; they should now have a better understanding of how to avoid purchasing an inadequate and incomplete alarm system. Does it make any sense to pay less for your alarm system than what you paid for your big screen TV? I understand how everyone loves to get a great deal on a used car or a piece of furniture, but we’re talking about a home security system, which besides offering you and your family better peace of mind, will also increase the value of your residence. A “basic alarm package” is only useful in a small apartment, store or office. It’s being sold and promoted as a starter kit, not a complete system! The majority of homes require additional equipment to properly supervise the premises.
Now that you have all of the information that I believe you’ll ever need, the only remaining step is choosing the right “alarm guy” to do the job for you, or to take care of your monitoring needs if you install the equipment yourself.
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Post a CommentTravel a lot, leaving house empty? You need a security system
I have actually had the good fortune to research quite a bit about home security systems. I also am an owner of one system in my home. I will not name the system I own and the service I subscribe to, but I will explain some of the features and things that I like about if you may want to find your own system. I would tell you, but I do not want this to come off sounding like an ad or anything and I think there are a lot of options out there that you have as a consumer to find a similar service.
The main reason I decided to purchase a security system in the first place was because I travel a great deal for work and my house will sit empty for a couple weeks at a time. I live in a place that has pretty severe winters so what I am most fearful of is the heat to somehow get turned off or go out and I would have a pipe freeze and burst, causing a flood. My system monitors the temperature in the house and if it falls below a certain temperature, an alert will be sent to the monitoring center that my system is wired into. They will then contact me and offer assistance in locating a technician to go fix the problem or at the very least letting me know that I need to call a friend to go check it out.
It is also comforting to know that the home is monitored for break ins as well. I live in a pretty good neighborhood so I generally am not worried about crime taking place. However, you never know when tragedy can strike and the impossible can happen. My system is based on a hard-line phone being in my home and is subsequently wired directly to the police and fire departments so that no call needs to be made in order for authorities to show up immediately, the system makes it happen automatically. This can save precious seconds and minutes in case of an emergency.
Perhaps the thing that I like the most is that this system is not just catered around security features, although it obviously is rooted in that. However, it does have a lot of other functionality. I can set it to email me alerts when certain things occur. I can set certain lights to go on and off within the house and even open and close the garage door remotely. Basically, anywhere I can access the internet I can effectively “manage” my home. It is a very nice thing to be able to do and I really enjoy the ability to do so.
The story about home security
The story about home security customers complaining about the quality of their system and the guy simply saying “you get what you pay for” a little bothersome. I have worked in the construction and home improvement industry in the past and I understand the trouble with trying to do quality work in a market driven by price and consumer fear. People want to believe that they can get a quality product and install for a price that is generally much less than is realistic. Good businesses that do good work have to make good money to do so.
But home security is a little bit of a different animal to me than something like replacing windows or building a deck. Home security is sold on the premise that you and your family will be safer from outside threats while in your home. Doing sub-quality work does not just mean repairs in the future or more maintenance, it could potentially mean the loss of peoples’ lives. Is it moral to offer a level of service that will not truly protect the people paying for it? Perhaps better to not offer it at all if you it cannot be done at a price that will get it done effectively.
I realize this is kind of a deep issue for the nature of the story, which is aimed more at the nuts and bolts of what a good system should be and how it should be handled as far as installation. I am talking about something a little more fundamental. I think a lot of people are highly motivated by fear these days and spend a lot of their money trying to chase it away. As a country we throw trillions of dollars at National Defense and as individuals we will spend thousands of dollars on home security. But for those who are driven to fear by advertising and what they see in the news and cannot afford these things, they can get fooled into buying sub par solutions that will ultimately do them no good in the face of an emergency. Now they are out of their money and their property and worse off than when they started.
Ok, I went a little “The Jungle” there, but honestly I just get so fed up with how commercialized this country has become and how blatantly companies can purposely make people feel crappy about themselves, about their lives, and about whatever they decide will make that person believe that their product or service will make it all better. I believe in freedom of speech, but can we make an addendum to say that if you do not have anything nice to say then do not say anything at all? Then there should be some kind of vigilante justice law that says we can go after people who are openly ripping people off and then laughing in their faces about it. Ok, I’m done now.
Thanks for your comment-base your purchase decision on knowledge
Thanks for your comment. Believe me, I understand you perfectly when it comes to trying to do quality work in a market driven by price. The true craftsman is dying a slow death because he is unwilling to perform quick and shoddy work that is beneath his standards.
I wrote the article to provide an explanation of what is being offered, and more specifically, what EXACTLY you are getting in installation standards, by some “$30.00 a month alarm basic packages”.
If you now decide that this type of “basic package” is inadequate for you, then hopefully I have provided you with the knowledge necessary to specifically indicate to an alarm installer what work that you want performed in your own home.
The alarm industry is not “ripping anyone off” with their “basic alarm packages at $30.00 per month”, especially since this is exactly what the consumers have asked for. Higher levels of security do exist which require extra installation time, additional equipment and more overall cost.
Are you going to install a 10 x 16 cedar deck for $300.00? If that’s the budget that the client is willing to pay, then I won’t blame you if you substitute less expensive pine instead of cedar and if you don’t use stainless steel screws.
However, how will you feel when the customer complains that you “ripped him off” because his wood is rotting and the cheap nails that you used are causing rust streaks all over the deck? At $300.00, I don't call this a "rip-off". You've done your best to provide a deck, yet now the client's unhappy.
This is what I meant by “getting what you paid for”.
The truth is that you probably wouldn't get the job had you told the client what it would cost for you to build the deck "properly" with cedar. But then again, the client didn't specifically ask for a cedar deck - - he wanted one that cost $300.00.
Don’t worry about going a little “Jungle” on us. I get that way myself when I realize that burglars are on the catch-and-release-program.
What’s the cut-off number? Fifteen? Forty? After HOW many burglaries should the guy just remain in jail?
Don’t get me started…
I do understand and appreciate your concerns about panic buying based on fear. My hope was to provide information so that the purchase decision is based on knowledge, and that you are not taken advantage of by people using your fear against you.
Wired or Wireless
As a home security system consultant, one of the most common questions I am asked in whether a wired or wireless type of system is best. While I certainly have my personal preference, the answer usually depends upon the specific situation of the client.
There are also a number of factors to think about when making this decision. For example, if you want to use a hardwired system this will likely involve having workers in your home who will be drilling holes in walls and routing wires in all sorts of weird places and strange ways. It can become a long and tiring process. However, this is the old and traditional method of installing a system.
Newer systems take advantage of more advanced technology. A wireless system will not be difficult to install and use. Of course, the cellular network (this is different from the lines which carry ordinary cell phone calls) must be developed enough in your particular area to even make this a reliable option.
Personally, I really cannot imagine a situation where a homeowner would willing consent to having their walls drilled into and even cut up just to route some wires. Yet, there are people who prefer a wired system. As with most other decisions, a lot of it will come down to personal preference.
Another cool feature of a wireless system is the ability to have total control and remote access. Just a few clicks on your cell phone and you can literally know everything which is going on in your home from anywhere in the world.
So, which type of system would you prefer? If you want a wired system, go for it. Just make sure to have some kind of automatic battery back up in case the power should go out. Or, use a wireless system that you can control and monitor from your cell phone.
If you are considering a home security system, then you certainly want to make the right choice. Modern technology has advanced to the point where the wireless systems of today are highly reliable and offer a number of advantages over typical wired systems.
First, your system will not go down if power is lost. This is a big advantage. Some of the older systems even needed to be reinitialized and programmed after the power returned in order to come back on line.
Many burglars now attempt to look for wires and cut them before entering a home. This is done in order to disable a security system. Remember that this is their business.
A wireless system run on a high tech network that is even more advanced than that which allows you to make cell phone calls. This network is highly developed and highly reliable. You will also have the ability to control many of these systems right from an app installed on your cell phone. Many systems also come with a remote keychain that allows for control of individual alarms, lights and appliances. Make it look like you are home even when travelling out of the country.
Why I think hard-wired home security systems are superior
You are misinformed on several key elements of our industry, such as confusing WIRELESS alarm detection sensors with WIRELESS communication means to the monitoring station, among many other issues which I will clear up for readers.
Here are the facts:
Homeowners willingly consent to “having their walls drilled into” by a professional alarm installer on a daily basis. I’m not just referring to existing homes which are undergoing renovations at the time of the alarm installation or pre-wiring a new home during its construction.
It is entirely possible for competent professional alarm technicians to pass wiring to install hard-wired alarm system components in existing homes with absolutely no visible indication that alarm wiring was passed after construction. We have specific tools and the experience to accomplish this and no repairs or re-painting are necessary after we’re done. The installed sensor, such as a hard-wired motion detector, covers the hole that was drilled and also conceals the alarm wiring from view.
For areas of the home which do not permit an “invisible installation” of hard-wired devices, the homeowner has the option of either:
- “touching up” mouldings which are removed and then replaced after hiding alarm wiring, or
- we install wireless devices.
Interactive alarm services or features that you described, such as using your cell phone to arm or disarm your security system and receiving email or SMS TEXT message alerts, are available with BOTH hard-wired and wireless alarm systems.
Interactive features include, but are not limited to, security, lighting, temperature control and camera viewing and are all easily accessible via the internet with the appropriate equipment on your hard-wired or wireless alarm panel.
Interactive alarm services are NOT limited to today’s modern alarm panels.
Some older security systems can acquire interactive features provided that the alarm panel has “opening and closing reporting” capabilities, a “key-switch arming zone” and a “programmable output which can provide armed status”. These three alarm panel options (which have been available for many years) will allow remote interactive STAY arming and disarming via the internet with the appropriate third-party equipment available today. You’ll also know who armed the panel with the closing report, and who disarmed it with the opening report.
Here’s how it works:
Older alarm panels don’t have a separate AWAY ARM or STAY ARM button which makes life simple on a modern panel.
Instead, older panels always arm in what we now refer to as STAY ARM while the system “watches” to see if an exit door is opened. If an exit door is opened, the system assumes that everyone has left the premises and then activates the interior motion detector(s) so that the system is now “AWAY ARMED”.
The “key-switch arming zone” can be activated remotely with one particular add-on interactive product that I’ve seen, but since the manufacturer hasn’t included a way to remotely “open” an exit door, the older alarm system is now remotely armed in only the STAY mode.
Remote interactive AWAY arming on older panels usually requires re-programming the motion detectors so that they always arm. The end-user then has to manually bypass the motion detectors in order to STAY arm the older system while on site.
Hard-wired and wireless alarm systems BOTH require a back-up battery for their respective alarm control panels. The fact that wireless sensors have batteries inside them is irrelevant if they cannot communicate with a control panel (which then relays the message to a monitoring station) because the control panel is lacking electrical power.
Alarm systems do NOT have to be completely reprogrammed when they lose power for extended periods of time. All of the most vital information, such as user codes, account number and communication to the monitoring station, remain intact and immediately functional once the power returns.
The only lines that burglars can cut BEFORE entering the home are power, cable or telephone which DOES NOT disable the alarm system, as it will still activate its siren(s) when the criminal enters the home. If the alarm panel’s communication means to the monitoring station is made through the internet or a telephone line, then the alarm panel’s communication means are disabled, not the entire alarm system.
However, the internet polling will stop when the cable line is cut, so the monitoring station will be aware of the loss of alarm communication within ten minutes. The monitoring station will only realize that the telephone line has been cut the next time that the alarm panel misses its check-in report.
This is why a WIRELESS communicator, such as a cellular unit or radio, is preferred for transmitting messages to the monitoring station. A wireless communicator is not disabled by a burglar cutting exterior lines.
Finally, there are absolutely no advantages being offered by a wireless alarm system over a hard-wired system other than ease of installation. Hard-wired systems perform every feature available in wireless, and it is the hard-wired system which has advantages since:
- The actual sensors are smaller and more esthetic since they contain no batteries to replace.
- Security-wise, communication between a hard-wired sensor and its control panel is more reliable than a wireless sensor. If you move a fridge or other large metallic object between a wireless sensor and its control panel, the fridge might block the transmission.
Older homes have plaster walls with metal screening which may impede wireless sensors' transmissions from reaching the control panel. Before installing wireless devices, wireless placement tests are first performed to ensure that signal transmission is good before attaching the wireless sensor to the wall.
Hard-wired sensors can be supervised with end-of-line resistors to provide notification if the alarm wiring is cut, shorted or tampered with.
Given the above facts, it is clearly the hard-wired sensors which are superior.
There are 30-year old hard-wired alarm systems that are still in use today. When their ultra-sonic motion sensors (remember them?) eventually die, they’ll be easily replaced by one of today’s modern and very tiny motion sensors which use the exact same four connection wires. Only time will tell how easy it will be to replace today’s wireless devices in 30 years time.
With all due respect, you do not appear to be the person that I would refer anyone to for home security system consultation.
Read your security system contract carefully
Personally, I would rather deal with an alarm company that does not try to trap me in a contract that lasts years into the future. It is far better to pay all installation costs upfront and immediately get the problem out of the way, in my opinion. First, there is the time value of money and all those handy little calculations that basically show the opportunity cost of spending money out through the long term is higher than you ever think it is. I mean, consider what else you could be doing with those 30 dollars every month! You could start investing that money in a savings account or even an investment portfolio and help it to grow, rather than paying it to a security company. This would actually be more beneficial for you over the theoretical three years even if you did have to pay upfront, because you are allowing your money to do the work for you, and the higher short-term costs is cancelled out by the greater long-term benefit. Even if you do not re-invest the money, you still have it free to spend on unexpected costs or luxuries throughout the month. Thirty dollars is nothing to laugh at. If you pay for music, that's at least three albums. If you like having friends over, that's at least three six-packs of beer. It can make quite a lot of different in time.
My other reason for really liking the upfront payment idea is pure simplicity. I already have enough payments to make every month. By the time the online bill and mortgage and phone bill joins the water and power and gas bills, I'm done. I'm through with bills. All the little subscriptions and service fees make it even worse. One less bill to face and worry about every month is one less care on my shoulders, and I really appreciate that no matter how it happens.
On a purely practical sense, you should probably save up and ensure you have enough money for a high quality security system before you choose a company and buy one. This serves two different functions. First, the time in which you are setting aside the money to pay all the upfront fees you can start searching through security alarm companies and looking at their contracts to see which offer the upfront option and which option will be the most advantageous for you (some companies may offer a discount for upfront fees, of course). Second, it helps you to be financially responsibly while you are planning for the investment. If you cannot raise enough for an upfront payment, do you really need such an elaborate alarm system? Is there another, less-expensive option that might work better for you?
In general, always read contracts very carefully – I wholeheartedly agree with the article on that point. If you are going to make an investment with your money, take the time to do it right. The same is just as true when it comes to your phone contract or mortgage paperwork. Reading through, including the clauses and fine print, will show you what to expect and remove any surprises.
protect the inside of your home
It is also very important to consider about how to secure and protect the inside of your home. Home burglaries are one of the most common crimes and also one of the easiest to prevent. The first tip is to install cameras and motion detectors throughout the home. The first place to start is the master bedroom. A burglar will most certainly make it a point to go through this room. One of the old tricks that burglars use is to try and enter a home from one of the upper floors. This is because not many people will include sensors or cameras on their upper floors. So, they have learned how to climb trees or take other measures that allow for entry through an upper floor.
Installing some kind of sensors or monitoring devices on the top floors and within the master bedroom can help to defeat these criminal tactics. A motion detector is now very easy to install and they can be programmed so that it is bypassed while you are home and sleeping.
Of course there are many steps that you can take to prevent a burglary in the first place. One of the first things to do is always make your home look occupied. This is especially important when you are away, but should also be done even when you are just going to work. Use automatic light timers. These should be able to be set or programmed and match your normal patterns. Get ones which have some kind of battery backup. This way if the power goes out, you will not lose them or have to reprogram them. These timers can also be used to turn radios and TVs on and off.
Timers can also be set up on other things. Consider having drape and curtain openers which work on timers. If your drapes are always closed or always open, this is a clear sign that no one is home. It is also one of the first things that burglars look for.
Consider your telephone. If you are really going away on vacation or a trip, the best move is to have your calls forwarded to another number. Maybe send them to your cell phone. The main thing is that robbers will often call you right before they attempt to break in.
Try to maintain appearances of your home. This means having someone to cut your lawn if it is time to do so. Perhaps hire someone to shovel or remove snow from your property if this happens while you are away. Rather than stopping your mail and paper delivery, have a neighbor pick them up for you. Just make sure that they are reliable, there is no other tip off any clearer to a potential robber than seeing several days worth of mail and papers piled up on your front porch or mail box. Also consider having a neighbor use your trash cans and remove them from in front of your house after they have been collected.
types of home security sensors
There are a number of different types of sensors which can be used in your home security system. This is true whether it is a system that has been purchased from a dealer or something that you are configuring on your own. Some of these types of sensors include motion detectors, water and flood sensors.
Motion detectors can come in all forms, shapes and sizes. This also means prices. Some are very simple and inexpensive; others can be quite advanced and pricey. This is probably one of the more important factors to consider, since you will need a fair number of these to adequately protect your home. Some should be placed outside and around the front door, the backdoor, at least a few of the windows and maybe other select spots like the around the garage or even a basement door or other entrance.
Motion detectors also come in a variety of configurations. Infrared are really very nice, and may even allow for type of limited picture taking, even in the dark of night. Another type of detector is called pet immune. After all, what good is something like this if it is constantly going off whenever your dog or cat walks into a room or runs around outside near the home? Having one of these is perfect if you have pets in the home. Some others have dual technology, which means they may be a combination of a number of features. Some will be specifically configured for outdoor use (and these will be weather proof and usually have strong housing), while others will be designed specifically for indoor use.
Pick a motion detector which is battery powered. Having one that is wired is just asking for trouble. Even if a burglar does not cut your wires, you will be relying upon the power grid. Personally, I much prefer having something that runs on battery power or is dual powered and switches to its battery back up whenever the power goes out. Better yet, a wireless system of sensors that runs over an advanced cellular network is even more reliable and secure.
Another type of sensor includes water and flood sensors. Some of the best of these types of sensors are also integrated with the valve system within your home. This way, if a leak is detected, it will automatically turn off the nearest valve and stop the leak from getting any worse. Others will simply send out an alarm and may even send you notice, via a phone call, text message or an email.
It is best to place these sensors in areas which are prone to leaks. If you have been in a home for some time, then you will know where your specific problem areas are. For most homes, this means behind the dishwasher, washing machine, water heater and underneath all the sinks. In many cases, you can even find a sensor that is specifically designed for a type of appliance (ice makers or dishwashers come to mind as examples).
Wireless sensors are essential for a safe home alarm system
One of the easiest ways to keep your home safe and protected is to equip it with a security system that makes use of sensors. You may want to consider using sensors on your doors and windows, at a minimum. The whole idea behind theses sensors is that they will detect motion and movement. Once this is detected, your system will emit a loud, shrill siren that is designed to scare away any intruder or potential burglar.
Having such a sensor based system is a great way to avoid a potentially deadly confrontation. It is a well known fact that many home invasions lead to a confrontation between an angry home owner and a cornered intruder. Trust me, this is not the kind of situation you want to be in. Many deaths have occurred due to just such an encounter. Having a sensor based security system will likely avoid this possibility altogether.
You should also consider installing sensors around the exterior of your home. This way, you can be alerted if someone may be lying in wait or a potential intruder is close by. This is also valuable for those who live in areas near mountains or forests where the threat of wildlife is a real possibility. New developments which have recently been reclaimed from forested or mountainous areas are some places where this would be especially helpful.
It is also very important to consider how these sensors will be connected and their power source. Having a wired system is one possibility, but probably not the best idea. Someone who is intent on breaking into your house will likely try cutting the wires to disable the system. It would be much better to use something that ran on battery power, or at the very least had a battery back up that detected the loss of power automatically and then switched to the battery power. Or, you could maybe use a wireless system. This should run on either a cellular network or something even more secure. Now, having your wires cut would not be anything to worry about.
Some of these sensor systems can be programmed in a number of different ways. If anything is ever activated or an alarm goes off, the system could automatically call you. It could also send you a text message or even an email. In some situations you may be able to set it up so that it does all of these things together.
Installing sensors together with your home security system is a great way to be alerted if anything should ever happen. It is also an excellent way to give yourself advanced warning of any possible threats. Personally, I use this in my own home and have established a perimeter of sorts. There are actually three circular rings of sensors which extend out from the home. This way I know whenever anyone gets within 500 yards and then 250 yards and then 50 yards. This is in addition to the sensors connected directly to the home itself.
Alarm Response
What a wonderful and informative article. Our home was recently involved in a B & E. The intruders kicked our front door down (after a long battle) shortly after 8:00 a.m. I returned home 5 hours later to missing TV's, laptop and all of my jewelry.
When I called 911, the response time for law enforcement was 1 hour. We live in the country and are not covered by our local police department.
We are seriously considering having a security system installed. However, if the response time is 1 hour or more, what good is it to have a monitored alarm system.
I appreciate your insight on this.
RE: Long response time by Police
I am sorry that you had to go through this ordeal but grateful that you weren’t physically hurt since you were not home when your break-in occurred.
Your unfortunate experience clearly reinforces why a security system has become a necessary investment for any homeowner, and also why an alarm must be custom-designed to each residence and its applications.
The burglar obviously “chose” your home because he considered it a “better opportunity” since it is alone and isolated in the country. This implies that your home is not “ordinary” and as such, an “ordinary alarm system” will not suffice.
In your example, your alarm system design must also take into account that Police services require a longer response time since you live in the country.
While one or two sirens may be fine in the city where houses are boxed close to each other and your neighbors are practically looking into your windows, additional sirens and /or exterior strobe lights are absolutely necessary for your country home.
Dependent upon your budget, you could incorporate add-on features that can also flash your interior house lights once your alarm is activated. Your alarm system must create an environment which criminals don’t want to “be comfortable”, or “hang around in”. Criminals will spend a much longer time inside homes when they don’t feel “threatened”.
If your country home’s alarm system is set off by a burglar, he must immediately think, “Hey, this suddenly isn’t the “easy job” I envisioned before I took all the time necessary to break down the front door. There are now lights flashing everywhere with more sirens and NOISE than I ever imagined.”
This type of alarm system "reaction to an intruder" will get him thinking about quickly leaving instead of sticking around and calmly going about “his business.”
Isolated homes typically have a long, private driveway leading to the residence. Driveway sensors can be installed to alert you of a car on your property approaching while you are inside sleeping or away at work.
E-mail or text messages can also be sent to you and neighbors whenever any alarm sensor is triggered.
Video surveillance via the internet is an excellent feature for homeowners who wish to keep an eye on their country homes. Burglars have been caught “in the act” and Police response is much quicker when they have video confirmation that criminals are still on-site. Thieves have also been identified “after the fact” because of captured video images.
I'm also sorry that it took Police over an hour to get to your home after you called them to report your break-in. Response after a crime has occurred is not considered "a high priority", so they will not be speeding to your home to make a report of the items which were stolen.
I must point out that Police response is MUCH faster for a personal emergency situation IN PROGRESS, such as a panic button activation or a cell phone call being made by a homeowner directly to 9-1-1 DURING a break-in.
Police response to a monitoring station operator reporting that a motion detector has been activated inside an empty home is also considered "low-priority", since no lives are being immediately threatened.
It is your own personal choice to have your alarm system monitored or not, but I’ll help you to examine your options:
Let’s imagine that, under the best of circumstances, it will take the Police 15 minutes to reach your country home once they receive notification. You MUST have emergency contingency plans prepared and in place that clearly outline what you will do during that 15 minute wait, whether or not that your home alarm system is monitored.
If your alarm system is NOT monitored and an emergency situation DOES occurs, it is YOU who has the sole responsibility of notifying the Police via your cell phone (provided that you still have access to it) BEFORE the 15 minute "Police response countdown" can even begin.
Otherwise, the Police are NOT coming at all, meaning you and your family are completely on your own!
At the very least, you now require a decent alarm system and a plan.
Given these considerations, I also hope that you now see the value of wireless monitoring, regardless if the Police take an hour to arrive.
I highly recommend that you opt for one of the more secure wireless methods of transmission, such as a radio or cellular communicator, to help ensure that emergency alarm signals reach your monitoring station.
Consultation with a trusted, professional alarm installer will bring you up to speed on the numerous security devices, equipment and options available towards safeguarding your home and family, in consideration of your particular situation and needs. He’ll also be able to help you prepare an emergency plan to implement with your family and neighbors.
Country Home Security System
Thank you so much for your response and suggestions. I will be contacting security alarm companies.
I want to feel safe in my home again.
Country Home Security System
Thank you so much for your response. I will be contacting various security alarm companies to discuss the options you suggest.
I want to feel safe in my home again!
Use of an alarm system without police backup?
Hi there,
First off, we're sorry you had to go through the B&E ordeal and lose your valued possessions. We know how painful this experience can be and hope you are recovering well from the incident.
The "police delay" question is a good one. My first instinct is that an alarm system could still be useful by providing:
- Notifications if there's an unauthorized entry. These notifications can go to you, your neighbors, etc. via phone call, email or text message.
- A loud siren noise to scare the burglars away.
- Video surveillance. You can capture the burglars on video and have the police make arrests based on camera footage.
I should also point out that many burglars are deterred by simply having a security sign in your yard and stickers on your glass doors and windows.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Large home, 14,000 sq ft
I just purchase a large home and I am in the process of installing a gated driveway. Do I have my home alarm system integrated with the driveway, or keep it separate? Also, what about garages that are attached to the home?
I literally just closed on the home, and I am now shopping for home security.
Please note, the retaining wall attached to the gate would be approximately 5ft tall, so a very determined burglar can jump it, so can you give insight on security for that as well (motion sensors, etc.). Also, are outdoor motion sensors weight driven? In other words, would a raccoon or dogs running around the property set them off?
Clear inference is to engage a security professional
I found your article very informative - thanks for posting it.
My clear conclusion is that the right way to go is to engage a security professional with no monitoring company affiliation to advise you before starting to talk with those firms.
My question is, how does one find such a person? Do they advertise their services in a separate way than in the context of a monitoring service agreement sale?
Finding the "right alarm guy"
I’m pleased that you found my article to be informative. Finding the “right alarm guy” can indeed seem like a challenge.
I hope that I’ve provided you with enough information so that YOU can convey to any competent security professional what your needs are, and then THEY should be able to easily follow your instructions and directions.
I hope that readers can recognize that this is not the same thing as getting a “salesperson trained in the art of closing a deal” (who probably has no idea of how to hang an alarm keypad on the wall) into your home so that he/she can sell you their “package of the month”.
If you don’t feel that you, the CLIENT, or your home are being looked at and treated in a personal and individual manner, or you start to hear what you believe to be the same “sales pitch” thrown at every “prospect”, you probably are not dealing with the right company.
Personally, I believe that there’s value in getting an experienced installer out to your home for your evaluation, consultation and estimate, which isn’t always easy to do with larger firms. My reasoning is that there’s less chance of communication error between teams; the same guy who examined your home is also doing the install.
I also hate that many competent installers are on the receiving end of hearing complaints from their customers of, “But the sales guy promised me that you would do this.”
You’re better off dealing with the same person from start to finish, or, being referred to a company that has a solid reputation of good communication and follow-up between teams to ensure client satisfaction.
This site has provided a lot of information as to the value and security benefits of a monitored alarm system, but you could also have what we refer to as a "local alarm system" (non-monitored) installed for you.
As to your question about advertising - - have you checked the Yellow Pages for a general contractor or home renovator recently? According to those ads, they’re ALL experts. Seriously, how does Mike Holmes keeps managing week after week to find all of the lousy, dangerous “professional construction work” that he has to tear down and do over for his TV show on HGTV?
You can’t believe ads and I wouldn’t believe any ads posted on this web-site either. Sorry, but they have to be verified and documented somehow, otherwise everyone who posts an ad is an instant “expert”.
You will have to seek out the right individual (or company) through personal references or from the “feeling” that you get (backed up with the knowledge I’ve provided) once you have several different alarm technicians into your home and then size them all up against one another.
You should be able to determine who has your best interests at heart, who immediately values you as a long-term client, who appears to be knowledgeable and competent to do the job right, versus who is trying to pressure you into signing.
Don’t listen to something one alarm company has told you which sounds interesting and then try to get the second alarm company to do it for you “cheaper”; if the second guys haven’t mentioned it, they might have completely over-looked it in the first place (RED FLAG) or they might not have the expertise or experience to do it for you at all.
I find it amazing what some companies will promise (which they know nothing about) to try to “close the deal quickly”. Honesty can be refreshing, as in, “I haven’t installed that product before but my suppliers have it and I can look into getting it for you, if you’d like.” You’re probably best off negotiating a better deal with the first company who proposed the additional work / feature, etc.
Also, in fairness to alarm companies who are doing their best to try to properly serve you: As a client, please compare apples with apples, not PRICE.
I lost one sale to someone who eventually told me that he was quoted $50.00 less by one of my competitors. Rather than call me back to ask me to match their price, he went with them because their fast-talking salesman pressured the client to close the deal that very night (another RED FLAG).
It turned out that he ended up buying an inferior 8-zone alarm panel compared to the 16-zone model that I proposed. Now he has 14 detection devices crammed onto 8-zones with no room for future expansion, confusion as to which of the two devices on the same alarm panel zone created the false alarm, but heck, he saved himself 50 BUCKS!
He obviously wasn’t listening to me when I explained to him why he needed the larger panel for his present and future needs. If his intention was to respect a lower budget which I was unaware of, then I would have probably sold him an 8 or 10-zone panel at a better price saving than the $50.00 my competitor offered. This is not what I consider to be smart consumer shopping.
You’ve correctly understood that an important part of the decision process is to choose the right alarm guy since you’ll be doing business with him for many years to come.
Finally, if you do have several alarm companies out to your residence to provide you with an estimate, here’s an additional suggestion for you to consider:
Once you’ve made your decision on which company to award your contract to, please e-mail back a brief note to each of the “non-winning” sales people who came to your home. Your note should indicate that you’re grateful for their time but that you’ve decided to go with another firm.
No other information or explanation is necessary in your e-mail and you don’t have to volunteer which alarm company that you’ve decided to do business with.
An e-mail is a non-confrontational way of informing a rep that they’ve lost a sale. This small courtesy on your part will save reps the time and effort of re-contacting you and they can now move on to another dossier.
Good luck with your search and please post back to let us know how it turned out!
Where to find home security professionals
Great question. Besides searching the BBB (Better Business Bureau), we're not aware of any type of online index or specific way to track down the best local security professionals that specialize in alarm system installations in your local area (probably due in no small part to the fact that the larger alarm companies have such a grip on the home security market).
We welcome local security professionals to contact us or comment here with their expertise, credentials, area served, and contact information.
DSC's new wireless self-contained alarm system
DSC (Digital Security Controls) has just announced their new wireless self-contained alarm system IMPASSA, which they indicate is a "distributed wireless system" with a main unit and the possibility of adding on additional, separate wireless keypad(s).
Here's what their new product literature has to say:
"Because IMPASSA is a distributed wireless system, installers have the flexibility of positioning the panel away from the premise’s entry point. This allows for the installation of the WT5500 2-way wireless wire-free keypad near the entry point so that even if the premise is compromised, the main unit (the IMPASSA panel) cannot be located by the intruder and tampered with.
For additional protection, install 2-way wireless sirens away from the IMPASSA alarm system to further camouflage and protect its location".
It looks as if DSC has been paying attention to some of the advice being offered in your article.
The best security system
Thanks so much for your insight on properly installing a security system. You have certainly enlightened me on several things that my local security company didn't tell me.
Thanks for printing my article!
I like the way that you’ve divided my article into segments with their own headings. I hope that the “flow” made sense to you and that I’ve provided a better understanding of alarm systems and our industry, which I feel are both misunderstood. Both are being judged badly and unfairly, and I’d like to help correct this.
If I haven’t addressed your readers’ concerns entirely, I will be checking back to read comments anyone posts for me. There is still a lot for consumers to learn about alarm systems, such as how we supervise our alarm wiring against criminal tampering using end-of-line resistors, but too much technical talk could bore your followers to death.
I’ve included much, much more knowledge and pertinent information than a typical homeowner who has owned an alarm system for the past five years is aware of; few alarm users ever recognize, understand or use the full potential of their equipment.
My hope is that your readers will better appreciate our security products and services once they understand what it’s capable of and stop looking at alarms as “some cheap mass-produced toy”.
The only “very minor issue” I have concerning my article that I should indicate is that I have never said (or written) that a home alarm system provides “protection”. Those are your words which are in your headings.
I don’t promise my clients, or your readers, something which I can’t personally deliver; “PROTECTION” is defined as: “A person or thing that prevents someone or something from suffering harm or injury”.
I cannot guarantee anyone that a crazed madman will not break into their home; I can only assure them that I will take all steps necessary in the design of their home alarm system to ensure that he does not come in UNANNOUNCED.
If someone wants “protection”, then they’re probably better off with an armed guard, a bullet-proof vest and a trained german shepherd.
I’m not trying to be “anal”; rather I’m trying to be truthful, open and honest, which I hope that you and your readers can appreciate.
My personal desire is that more homeowners will now understand how to better secure and safe-guard their homes through the knowledge gained in this forum. Existing alarm owners should revise their security systems and upgrade to include additional intrusion detection devices if they are needed.
No, thank you!
Thank you for providing this great content for our readers. I've made the edits you asked for. If you'd like us to add or edit anything going forward, just let me know!
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