Home Security is a very
personal issue.
We want the reassurance of knowing that our homes are secure when we’re
away and that we’re safe while we are at home. We also want to make
sure that we have quick access to help if it should be needed.
At one time or another, most people
think about home security but they don’t take action. They wait
until a burglary forces them to react. By requesting this brochure,
you are taking the initiative and preparing to protect your home and
family with a home security system. Our goal is to help you buy the
right system, and these 12 questions can assist you in making that
decision.
The 12 most
important questions to ask before
buying a home security system
1. Will the company perform a
thorough initial security survey? Do
not be dazzled by the electronic equipment’s "bells and
whistles." While the hardware is important, a company’s
commitment to home security is fundamental to getting the right
protection. The place to begin is with the home security survey. While
you expect the salesperson to lay out a proper system, you should also
expect him or her to conduct a total security survey of your home,
neighborhood conditions, exterior lighting, shrubbery, possible
intrusion locations, quality of door and window locks, fire protection
and an evaluation of personal lifestyle needs. Any company can sell
you a system, but only a qualified, committed firm can provide you
with total home protection.
2. Does the company make it too easy
to buy a system? It may
seem easy or convenient to buy over the telephone or through the mail,
but this only saved the company money. The cost to you may be an
improperly designed system. Beware of anyone who tries to sell you a
system without seeing where you live. How can you expect to be
properly protected when no one has surveyed your home?
3. Are you getting an over-the-counter product or a proper home security system? You
can buy a home security
system off-the-shelf at various home improvement and retail
electronics stores. Without question, the price will be attractive.
Even if the store will have it installed for you, are you really
getting a proper system or is the store interested in simply selling
you something with little concern for how it will perform in your
home? The answers should be obvious. No two homes are alike and
lifestyles differ. A home security system should be designed by an
expert, not a sales clerk.
4. Will you be charged for so-called
‘extras’? This is a
very good test. Will you be charged for having a telephone connection
in order to hook up the monitoring? Many companies tack on a
substantial fee (up to $75) for this connection which should be part
of the package. Will you be charged extra for fire and medical
emergency monitoring? If these are not included you may want to look
elsewhere.
5. Does the company sell price or
protection? While price
is always a major issue when making a purchase, a security company
with an overall commitment to home protection will take seriously the
responsibility of designing the right system for your home. If it isn’t
appropriate to install a full system at one time, the company should
offer a phased-in approach. On the other hand, if the goal is simply
to "get the job", you may be buying a system that is
inadequate to protect your home.
6. Is the company dedicated to home
security? This may seem
like a strange question but there are companies in totally unrelated
fields that are now venturing into home security in order to support
their other operations. This can include oil dealers, utility and
telephone companies and even retail stores. The security of your home
should not be a sideline business. You want a security company that
has in-depth security experience to protect your home.
7. Is the company’s monitoring
center UL-certified? Chances
are you will never see the company’s monitoring center, although you
may be shown brochure photographs. There are sophisticated monitoring
operations with backup systems to make sure the center provides
uninterrupted service even in an emergency. Unfortunately, many
centers are not up to these standards. It is prudent to make sure the
security company’s monitoring center has been certified by
Underwriters Laboratories.
8. Who will be coming into your home
to install and service your system? Remember,
installation and service personnel are guests in your home with access
to the entire premises. You want to make certain the service people
are reliable. Ask for references in your immediate area and then check
them out. Contact your local police department and Better Business
Bureau.
9 Will the company give you the
service you expect? While
it is easy to talk about service, it is often more difficult to
deliver it. Look carefully at the size of the security company. Many
firms (even those with big Yellow Page ads) are often one person
operations. Will the company be around when you need them? There are
also the big national companies where you will be known only by your
account number. In between are companies that have a community
commitment and a local presence.
10. Will you receive thorough
instruction on operating the system? While
most home security systems are easy to use, you deserve to be
completely educated in order to take full advantage of the system. Ask
for full instructional information. If you are not satisfied with the
explanation, you may want to consider talking to other security firms.
Understanding how to use the system properly is key to proper home
security.
11. Will the company sell your
monitoring to someone else?
It can and does happen every day. You think the company that installed
your system is handling the monitoring and you discover that your
account has been sold to an unknown "monitoring center." You
have no way to investigate the quality and dependability of the
service. You want to make sure your security company has a continuing
interest in the protection of your home and family.
12. Does the company offer total home
protection? As you learn
more about the home security industry, you will discover that there
are differences in companies. Some are small while others are large;
some are totally sales-driven while others are customer-committed.
There is another important distinction. There are a few security
companies that respond to your individual lifestyle. Look for one with
this total home approach. The monthly monitoring you pay should give
you total home protection. While the answers to these 12 questions
cannot cover every aspect of buying a home security system, they can
serve as a guide to help you make an informed decision.
