What to Look For in an Alarm Monitoring Company
Every homeowner and renter wants to feel comfortable in their home. You never want to feel like you need to worry when you lock your door and drive to work for the day. The problem is, in today’s turbulent economy, more and more home burglars are breaking into homes and taking valuable items. In fact, home burglaries make up about 90 percent of the non-violent crime in the nation. You do not want to fall victim to home burglars just because you are not prepared. The best way to protect yourself in this situation is to invest in a monitored alarm system. Choosing the best alarm system and the best monitoring company is key. Learn what to consider when you are shopping around for an alarm monitoring company and choose a company that will keep an eye on your property when you are not able to.
What Are Your Options?
There are dozens of different monitoring companies you can choose from. Some of these companies are available only in certain cities, others are available all throughout the nation. If you are not sure which companies service your area, you can start by contacting the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association. When you get in contact with the association, you can ask for a list of the member companies in your area. When you contact NBFAA for this information, you know the company you choose has passed all of quality testing required by the association. This is one of the most important steps you can take to choose a quality company.
Contact Each of the Companies Servicing Your Area
After you get a list from the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, you can start narrowing the list down to make your job easier. The key is to call each company before you cross them off of the list. The first question you should ask each representative you are speaking with is whether or not the company participates in the Installation Quality Certification Program. This means that they are certified and trained by the National Association and they use all of the right techniques and methods.
When you are speaking with the representative it is your time to ask all of the questions you need to ask to make the right decision. You should find out how long the company has been in business and where the central monitoring stations are in your area. It is important that the company has a central station in your area so that they have a relationship with all of the fire stations and police stations that are around. Knowing the company is local will give you greater peace of mind.
Find out what the procedures are for calling the police or the fire department. You want to know that the company’s response time are quick. Taking action fast will prevent burglars from getting away or fires from burning all the way through your home. You also need to know that the representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There should be no time of the day that their business offices are closed.
When you are choosing an alarm monitoring company, you are choosing a company that will look over your home. This means that you should never choose the company based strictly on the cost of their services or you might regret your decision. Do all of the necessary research, get a list of providers, and start narrowing down this list. Once you settle on a company, make your installation appointment and get the protection you deserve.