One Of The Best
Investments A Homeowner Can Make by
Kathy Scott
Few industries enjoy a high positive customer
relationship like that of alarm companies. According
to a study done by Dr. Simon Hakim, director of
the Center for Competitive Government at Temple
University, 94 percent of alarm owners are satisfied
with their systems. With one in five homes currently
electronically protected, that’s a pretty amazing
statistic.
According to FBI statistics, a home is burglarized
every 14 seconds in the United States. Dr. Hakim’s
study reported that homes without security systems
are nearly three times more likely to be broken
into than homes with security systems.
Security Systems Save Lives
and Property
Alarm systems are no longer simply a first line
of protection for burglaries. Many safety related
features have been added to the main alarm system
like carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, smoke detectors
and flood detectors for high risk areas. Even
low temperature sensors are available which will
alert the alarm company if the temperature within
a home drops below a preset level. There is also
more sophisticated equipment such as closed circuit
television (CCTV), video cameras connected directly
to a television or VCR, which provide additional
surveillance.
Choosing the Right Alarm Company
With hundreds of companies and plans to cull through,
choosing the right alarm company can often be
overwhelming. Fortunately, the NBFAA offers help
and a checklist on choosing the right system for
you and your family. Not all alarm companies are
created equal. When interviewing different companies,
make sure to follow these simple steps:
- Contact your insurance agent, the NBFAA
or your local police department's crime prevention
unit for names of security system companies.
- Make sure the alarm company is licensed
in the state.
- Ask if pre-employment screening is done
on all their employees such as background
checks.
- Ask the salesperson for a free security
inspection and system recommendations.
- Get a written estimate for the entire system
including monthly monitoring fees.
- Compare similar systems and pricing.
- Determine if you will own the system or
lease it from the alarm company.
- Make sure your system will be monitored
around the clock (24/7) by the central station.
- Negotiate. Most alarm companies will negotiate
on system add-ons, providing a free motion
detector, additional keypads or even one month
free monitoring service.
- Make sure the system you choose is equipped
with a battery for backup power.
Once your system is installed, choose a user-friendly
code that everyone in the family can remember.
Let your insurance agent know that your home is
being monitored, and additional insurance discounts
may be available. Check to see if your municipality
requires homeowners with security alarms to register
with the local police department.
Monitored alarm systems are one of the best
investments a homeowner can make. Not only does
it provide security but it can provide safety-nets.
DID YOU KNOW?
The NBFAA is a valuable resource for homeowners
researching systems for their home. Many alarm
companies are members of the organization, meaning
they adhere to a National Code of Ethics and pledge
to render alarm services at the highest level
of quality possible. To learn more about home
security systems, call the NBFAA Marketing Department
at (301) 585-1855 for a FREE consumer brochure
or visit the NBFAA on the Internet at www.alarm.org.
|
