Security and Alarm Systems Blog

Security systems are becoming very popular these days as people want to protect their home, family and belongings. If the burglar sees the stickers or sign of a security company around your house, a burglar will move not target you most of the time. A security system will scare off a thief and send him to another residence that has no security. But, not all security companies are created equal. Therefore, selecting the proper security system company can be very effective at scaring off would be intruders.

Many large security companies are notorious for false alarms, and dysfunctional systems. Also, some one-man operations are unlicensed, and will leave you with great liability. This makes it very important to scrutinize over which security company you choose. As I write, a Brinks Home Security commercial has come on. I have to laugh because Brinks and ADT systems are among the least reliable. Their burglar alarms can be so dysfunctional, and their service so bad, that some of their customers don’t even use the security system. You can’t blame them, if they have had several false alarms, and the security company is unreliable in servicing their alarm systems.

If you personally are looking into burglar alarm systems, what are some things you should be keeping in mind for your selection? How do you know which one is the best for you, and what features do you need? The answer will be different for everyone, because everyone has a different home, and different security needs. So, why would security companies even offer a generic $99 security system? Because this is a foot-in-the-door technique. Unless you live in a 100 squarefoot studio apartment, the $99 system will need expensive add-ons. Most ADT and Brinks customers end up paying hundreds or thousands, because they do need more security equipment than the $99 system offers.

You will be best served by avoiding the too-large and too-small security businesses. ADT and Brinks have notoriously horrible service, where they take too long to fix any problems, and their equipment has a high faulty rate. Because they are so large, they end up subcontracting the installation of your system to a smaller company that may or may not have the necessary experience, and usually install the least expensive equipment they can get away with. The subcontractor install security with a focus on trying to increase their margin, because ADT has a very domineering subcontracting agreement, which doesn’t leave the subcontractor with very much room for profit. Therefore, the subcontractor has to decide to either work for less than minimum wage, or cut corners on the installation.

So, who should you trust to install your home security system? The sweet spot is right in the middle. Try to find a company that is not too big, and not too small. They should have their own, in-house installation crews for quality control. The number of years in business tells a story about how a companies security installation methods work. In such a high liability industry, where the worst case scenario is failed security and burglary. Therefore, a company that has been around for a while is trustworthy. Price should definitely come into play, but you should try to compare apples to apples between different companies, and ask questions until you completely understand what you are getting.