The 5 values to find before making a educated descision:
* 5-Star Service
– The focus should be first and foremost on customers. A happy customer is more likely to become a repeat customer, so it's in their best interest. Stay away from or hang up on companies that adhere to "close the sale" techniques to earn your business.
* Up Front Costs
– Security system pricing structures can be confusing. There's up-front fees, system install fees, monthly monitoring fees, accessory fees, and even potential cancellation fees (if you've ever had trouble switching away from your cable television provider you know what we're talking about). Look for a pricing structure that lays out all the costs up front (ie. no hidden fees).
* Quality Product and Assessment
- The Equipment that a company sells is foundation of a secure home or business.
- When you are faced with problems with equipment there is no amount of customer support that can make up for your safety.
- Make sure a quality assessment is done of your home or business, systems should be tailored to your needs and most "package deals" are usually lacking.
- Be sure your property is properly protected, its best to think of how cover your property and make sure there are no " holes" in your system.
* Money Back Guarantee
- A good alarm company should provide at least a 30-day money back guarantee, if you're unsatisfied for any reason. You should also get your postage (shipping costs) reimbursed and should not get hit with a restocking fee (some of the competitors we evaluated will charge you restocking fees on returned systems, despite their "money back" guarantee).
*Interactive Services
– The alarm industry has been offering the same types of home security products for decades. The result? Thieves have learned how to get around them. Therefore, you want to go with an alarm company that is on the cutting edge of security technology. Look for an interactive monitoring option that let's you keep an eye on the house through the Internet, your cell phone or PDA, etc. while you're away. That will not only give you peace of mind that your house is in good shape, but with this feature you can potentially expand the network of "eyes" (by signing up family and friends to get alerted when an alarm is triggered) on your house beyond the local authorities.
* Cellular Monitoring
– a cellular connection to your alarm monitoring station is the highest in both quality, safety, and reliability. However, it is also the most costly to install and maintain. We believe in this day and age, a cellular connection outperforms alternate system configurations (phone-based, broadband, etc.) to the point where the additional cost is justified. With a cellular connection, you don't run the risk of your Internet going down and severing your alarm connection (Broadband systems), or worse, a thief cutting your phone line (phone based alarm systems).
* Do It Yourself
– while this may not be for everyone, there can be a huge advantage (and cost savings on installation fees) to a self-install alarm system. The industry has advanced to a stage where these systems are easy to set up and don't require a day off work and a frustrating experience with someone in your house drilling holes and running wires. In addition, you're in control of where the sensors are placed - that way you can ensure that you don't forget to cover an area. If needed, you should be able to purchase more sensors from your security provider.