Home Alarm Contracts: Secrets & Savings

Home Alarm Contract Richmond Petersburg Fredericksburg

August, 2012
by John Allen
I've never met a customer who's said the word "contract" enthusiastically, usually its, "Is there a contract?", "How long is the contract", "I don't like contracts".  

The reason there are contracts is because the Home Alarm company is installing equipment which costs the company money, the installer cost money as well as the salesperson and overhead. Companies would go out of business if they installed systems for free, gave away the equipment for free, with little or no activation fee, and have no guarantee the customer will stay a customer long enough for the company to recoup its costs; equipment, installer, sales person, and overhead.  

Back in the old days before contracts. Home alarm systems cost a lot of money. Without the contracts they still do. You can get a system from most companies without a contact. But in most cases you will have to pay a lot more then $35 to $40 + activation fee. Most likely to have an alarm system installed without a contract it will cost you around $1200. 

If you currently have a Home Alarm system find your contract and read it. I have met many customers who have had all kinds of problems because they never read their contracts. And sometimes what they were told did not match the contract they had signed. You signed it you should read it.

Red Flags

• If on the front page of the contract, in plan sight, it does not state the basic "Terms" (monthly rate, activation/installation fee, length of contact), you might want to look for another provider. 
• You should be told clearly how long the contact is and it should also be clearly written on the FRONT PAGE of the contact. If not you might want to look for another provider. 
• You should be told if there is an automatic renewal. If a company has one they seldom advertise it. If you find a automatic renewal clause and were not told about it, contact the company and ask a lot of questions. If you are not satisfied you might want to find another provider.
• On the front page of the contract there should be a place where they write out the total cost of the contract. If there is no place for it or it was left blank contact the provider and ask why its not there or its blank. If you do not get satisfactory response you might want to look for another provider. 

If you have said yes to any of the above statements and you are in the "3 day right of rescission" window or you are now out of contract with your Alarm Company. You might want to look for another provider. If so call us we can help.

Do It Yourself companies in most cases still have contracts. But if you install it and damage the equipment you might be responsible. Also their warrantees might not be as encompassing because they are not installing the equipment you are. 

If you are in the market for a Home Security System and you would like to DIY check out the images below.

What's the Best Home Alarm Company for you?

What is the best Home Alarm Company for You?

August, 2012
by John Allen
People in Fairfax, Virginia Beach, Prince William, Henrico, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, Glen Allen, Chesterfield , Loudoun , Norfolk, Chesapeake , Arlington want the best security system, from the most ethical company, with the widest array of features, most reliable monitoring, largest warranty coverage, at the lowest price. 

Many customers do not go to the Better Business Bureau's website to see if a Alarm Company is accredited or has complaints. Many customer's don't know which alarm company's have their own central station monitoring. Does your alarm company contract out to a third party central station? Many people do not know which central station are CSAA Five Diamond Central Station or not. Too many customers have not even read their contacts, to see if there is an automatic 2 years renewal unless a notice of cancellation sent in writing 30 days before the end of his original contact. 

Not all Home Alarm Companies have offices, employees, (accountable people) in the same state as their customers.  Look up a Home Alarm Company in your area at the Better Business Bureau website. Type in the company's name, your zip code and state. See if they have an office in your state. Check out the companies complaints. See if they are accredited. If a company has legal actions against it,  more than a few complaints, is out of state, you might want to keep on looking. 

When looking for the Best Home Alarm System I would start local and look for a company who's monitoring is a CSAA Five Diamond Central Station. CSAA stands for Central Station Alarm Association.  Here is a LIST of CSAA Five Diamond Central Stations, click on the words you will be taken to the list. Below tells about about CSAA. 

What is the CSAA Five Diamond Central Station Certification Program?
The Five Diamond Program is a balanced certification program providing a differentiation in the central station monitoring marketplace because:
It signifies five points of excellence:

1) Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as FM Global, Intertek/ETL and UL.
2) Commitment to the highest levels of customer service.
3) Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its central station operators certified using the CSAA online training series.
4) Commitment to raising the industry standards through CSAA membership and participation in its activities.
5) Commitment to reducing false dispatches.

Who can become a CSAA Five Diamond Central Station?

The CSAA Five Diamond 100% Operator Certified Central Station designation is granted to central stations that:

Companies achieving and maintaining their CSAA Five Diamond Certification are committed to serving the public and the AHJs through the professional development and standardization of training for all of their central station operators.

This certification, and its annual renewal, demonstrate a commitment of the CSAA Five Diamond Central Station to the continual upgrade in the performance levels of the central station operators who are the first line of defense in private sector emergency response.

Whats the Best Home Alarm Company in Fairfax, Virginia Beach, Prince William, Henrico, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, Glen Allen, Chesterfield , Loudoun , Norfolk, Chesapeake , Arlington Virginia? There are many differing aspects to the question. What is the Best Alarm Company for you is whats most important. The equipment which most major alarm companies use is the same, GE Simon XT, a GE Concord, Honeywell Lynx 5000 or the Lynx 5100. Where Home Alarms really differ is their monitoring, warranty, service, contracts, rates and fees. Also is the company going to last. All Brinks customers were transferred to ADT without their input. And then there are companies which have no offices in the state of Virginia. 

The best Home Alarm system is from a company which is not going make you sign a contract which is 3 years when the sales persons says its 2 years. Which is not going to have a hidden 2 year renewal. Which does not contract out their technicians so you know who's servicing your home. Does not raise your rates year after year. Who has a Five Diamond Central Station Monitoring not a third party station. Who's rates are unbelievably low.

I hope this was helpful leave a comment down below and give me a call if you need a system no matter where you are. 

Fairfax, Virginia Beach, Prince William, Henrico, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, Glen Allen, Chesterfield , Loudoun , Norfolk, Chesapeake , Arlington 

Is A DIY Alarm System right for you?

Is a Do It Yourself Home Alarm System right for you?  

August, 2012
by John Allen

Most Home Security Companies offer equipment from just two manufacturers, GE or Honeywell. Yes there are other companies which make home security equipment. Visonic and 2gig come to mind. But most national home security companies stick with Honeywell or GE. You might find a local company which will comply with every customers request. A customer might find some information about a specific manufacturer. The customer has read its the best security system ever designed. And local company X wants to please every customer. So they purchase equipment which their technicians have never programed or installed and which none of their other customers have in their home. Who's monitoring station is not familiar with the product. And... you get the idea. In this scenario there are many opportunities for things to go wrong.

For the equipment to function properly it has to interact with the phone lines, cell towers, telecommunication carriers, as well as the central monitoring station's equipment properly. Products which are not used widely have had some challenges in the communication chain. My recommendation would be to stick with the equipment the company you are doing business uses most and who sales people, technicians, monitoring stations and local telecommunication carriers, have all come in contact with and which has a proven record of no problems.

GE and Honeywell equipment has a proven record of little to no problems in the Home Security Industry. I've been to installs where a technician have worked for hours trying to get a keypad to work. Only to switch it out for another keypad and presto everything works. These companies produce thousands upon thousands of keypads senors keyfobs etc. Very very few are manufactured with a defects. But with the two main producers of equipment if there is a problem its easy to find out and replace. Most technicians have spare equipment on them or can obtain it fast. If you are requesting equipment which the company normally uses it will be a help the technicians and yourself. Stick with what your provider knows. It will save you time and money in the long run. And if you are going to go down the DIY route. Make sure whom ever you are purchasing the equipment from has good technical support, a warranty and a good return policy. I have seen some videos from the DIY companies where they showed how to instal the equipment incorrectly. Every home security technician I have known has a horror story about some job. Things go wrong and some places have more challenges than others. Just because a company says "can be installed by a 6^th grader" does not make it so. Also some 6^th graders are more advanced than others. Know your limitations and verify claims made. I was at a trade show where a manufacturer was making claims his 16 year old daughter could install their new keypad and program all the senors and keyfobs with no help from anyone. I believed him being I'm not a technician. Afterward I spoke to a few technicians. They all had the same response, “Oh yea I've heard that before.” None of the professionals who actually installed equipment believed him for a second.

What these new home security systems can do today would have been science fiction only a few years ago. They are advanced. I know many people who can read something once understand it completely and are technically able. I am not one of them. I'm all thumbs. If you decide to install a system yourself contact the provider. Ask a lot of questions first. You can never ask too many questions. And also contact companies which install systems. You might learn something about the whole process. You can never learn too much. You will be more informed. You have have any questions contact me at John Allen in the Richmond area (804) 723-1315 

 Central Virginia  

Richmond (804) 723-1315