Which Security Company Should I Go With?

Every company has a set of perks and weaknesses attributed to its services, the goal for you is to pick a company with a level of professionalism and service quality you enjoy and suits your particular lifestyle, not one that you have to tolerate because, after all, a monitoring service requires a contractual commitment on your part, so you might as well get the best of it while you can.

A few things you’re going to round up in your mind when you’re deciding between different monitoring service professionals: the company’s BBB rating, how friendly it is going to be towards you if you plan to move with the system, which standards of your lifestyle it’s going to support, what security features it will include, and how affordable it’s going to be.

Business Rating

When you join up with a security company’s monitoring plan, the goal is to try and make the process of monitoring your home somebody else’s task who’s professional and reliable. For this reason, a company with a poor business rating usually is a reflection on their services and equipment that they provided to homeowners like you, so steer clear if you’re unsure.

Can I Take the System with Me If I Relocate?

The answer to this question depends largely on the contract between the two of you. Some companies will require that you pay a new installation charge because the security system is hardwired and can only be removed by a professional. Other companies, even if the system is wireless and you move and install it yourself, will charge you with a new activation fee. Others, however, will completely support you moving to a new home and will send you perfectly proportioned boxes to move your system in.

Does It Fit with My Lifestyle?

Of course, your lifestyle alone is not the main reason that you get a home security system, but it’s important that it makes sense to your way of living and doesn’t become a chore to arm or disarm your doors manually before you go to bed every night. At a glance, the most recurring lifestyles that home security systems serve are shown below. You could fall into one of the following categories:

Travelers: If you’re a captain, flight attendant, or in any line of work that requires you to be away from home, you would be better off with a security system that can be accessed and controlled from any of your web-enabled devices which have the app. Virtually every company that’s worth its salt has this feature in its mid-range or high-end monitoring packages. You can arm and disarm all the entry points to your home (i.e. garage, front and back doors, and windows), automate your lights and appliances, and monitor your home’s energy intake and output from your phone with ease.

Parents & families: The old spare-key-under-the-door-mat trick simply doesn’t cut it anymore, it’s too risky. According to a survey researching burglar mentality, almost half of the burglar population reported that they target homes without prior planning, so you’re gambling every time you leave your spare key out for when the kids arrive from school and you’re not home.

With a good home security system, you don’t have to take that risk as you can remotely access the system’s doorbell camera and unlock the front door while you’re away at work.

An even simpler solution that comes with more than one home security company is the deadbolt door lock with different passcodes that you can customize and assign to each of your family members.

Pet owners: One of the key features common to most home security systems is the pet-proof motion detector which can be placed in strategic locations around your home. Motion detectors don’t only trigger an alarm when a trespasser makes it onto your property, some indoor cameras are more useful because they incorporate a small motion detector that triggers the camera to start recording when unusual activity is discovered in or outside your home.

Seniors: If you’re a senior over the age of 65, then you know that items which are hard to reach make living independently more demanding as you grow older, especially in the event of an emergency when every second counts. With most home security packages, a panic pendant is included that, with the push of a button, sends for help from the nearest monitoring station.

Professionals: Whether you work a 12-hour shift or two jobs in America, you know that time is of the essence and you want your home to be as accommodating to your needs as possible. With home automation, you can enjoy features like making your lights switch on and thermostat adjust when you’re a certain distance from home. This works by having a GPS tracker (comes with most systems) in your car that you can also use to locate the vehicle through the provider’s app if you lose it in a mall parking lot or it gets stolen.

Military families: Many of us know how frustrating it can be to be part of a military family. Relocating from state to state can be more frustrating than you would hope, especially when your kids have to readjust to a new clique at school and community. No one wants to be juggling between arguing with the U-Haul trucker, looking over the kids’ new school curriculum, and putting up with an uncompromising security company that’s supposed to have your back amid a family member who’s about ready to go serve their country. Luckily, you can make sure prior to signing any contracts that your provider will make the process of moving a breeze.

Need There Be Any Wires?

You have three options to choose from with most security systems: broadband, wireless, and landline. All three achieve the same overall results of connecting all your security system components to your provider’s nearest monitoring station but through varied methods.

Landline: The alarm triggered transmits a signal through your phone line to the onlooking monitoring agent. The system on its own may be a wireless system, but the communication between it and your provider will be via landline. Some providers who offer all three types of communication charge you least for a landline service.

Broadband: At least four times as fast as the landline option, broadband sends a signal to your provider through your internet broadband connection.

Cellular: Even faster than broadband, a cellular home security system sends the alarm to the monitoring station through a satellite connection. This option is also the safest as there are no wires or phone lines to cut – you’re protected no matter what.