Home security systems are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in the United States. What used to be enjoyed only by the wealthy is now a standard purchase for most homeowners. For first-time alarm system buyers, it can be difficult to understand all the tech talk, and many buyers are disappointed to find out later that the system doesn’t do what they want it to do or that their neighbors have a better system to do it. a cheaper price. This short article will serve as your guide to choosing the right alarm system for you.

Monitoring Service

The first thing to decide is what type of monitoring you want. Monitoring is the term for the service the alarm company provides when it “monitors” the signals sent by your alarm. Your company receives, for example, an alarm signal from your back door sensor and proceeds to call the police.

When determining your monitoring service, you must first determine how you want your system to communicate with the monitoring station. You can send signals through your phone line or through cellular service. Providing a monitoring service through a telephone line is the traditional method of monitoring for alarm signals. However, in the last five years, there has been a dramatic shift from monitoring phone lines to cellular monitoring. There are two causes for this change. The first cause is the recognition that burglars can cut the phone line and thus disable the alarm system. The second cause is our social shift from landlines to cell phones. Because so many people no longer use a home phone, the alarm industry was forced to adapt by implementing cellular monitoring for those who did not have home phone service.

If you have a phone at home and you are okay with the possibility of your line being cut, then you can choose the traditional monitoring service through your phone line. This service shouldn’t cost you more than $35 per month, assuming the company provides you with the equipment as well.

If you want the peace of mind that cellular monitoring provides, or if you don’t have a home phone line, you should choose cellular monitoring. Any time you talk to an alarm company, ask them how much it will cost to upgrade to a cellular system. Most companies that offer promotional packages do not include cellular equipment and monitoring. For cell monitoring, you can expect to pay $40-$50 per month.

In addition to choosing between landline and cellular monitoring, you should also consider whether or not you want two-way voice service. Two-way voice monitoring means that instead of just calling your phone, the monitoring company will actually come through an intercom built into your keypad to talk to you whenever an alarm signal is received.

This can be beneficial for several reasons. The main benefit is that this service allows the monitoring station to verify if the alarm is real or false. When the alarm goes off, the company can listen to what is happening in your home. If it’s a false alarm, they’ll ask you if you’re okay and don’t rely on the landlord to answer the phone. Because this service offers a better method of verifying alarms, a small number of jurisdictions require a two-way voice service for dispatch. You can expect to pay $4 more per month for this service.

Team

Once you’ve decided on the monitoring package that’s right for you, you need to decide on equipment. Don’t be afraid to shop around. When big companies like ADT and Broadview offer their promotional packages, they are offering the cheapest and simplest equipment possible. It will do nothing but send a signal. Two-way voice isn’t usually an option and cellular monitoring requires an upgrade, so be sure to ask before you buy.

In recent years, there have been substantial improvements to the equipment. Alarm systems can now provide home security and automation, integrating with your lighting, thermostats and appliances. They are also easier to use as touch screen systems become more prevalent.

Also, if you choose cell monitoring, you can add an interactive service that allows you to monitor your alarm/home via your smartphone or over the Internet. This service is becoming a hit throughout the United States. Parents love getting an email every time their kids disarm the system, letting them know that their kids are home safe from school or that their teen really didn’t make it home at 12:30.

The bottom line is that alarms can do a lot more these days than they could 10 years ago; and in most cases, the price will be about the same. You can expect to pay $99 up front and enter an agreement for the monitoring service. The standard contract is for 36 months.

National vs. local company

Having worked for both local and national businesses, my opinion is that most consumers will be happy with the service provided by a local business. First, you can usually get a better price from a local company. For example, most companies nationwide only offer three door sensors and one motion detector for the $99 package. A local company can cover all of your vulnerable doors and windows for the same price. Second, it’s much easier to fix your system, fix billing errors, etc. Third, you can usually get more personalized service.