Agreement

What to Ask When Choosing An Alarm Company

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to the safety of you and your loved ones, including the best company to work with to provide security and peace of mind. That’s why asking the right questions before signing the dotted line on an agreement can mean the difference between great services, great customer support, years of experience and…being locked into a long-term commitment with a company that has no experience and won’t return your phone calls.

For the first part of this three-part series, here are a few good questions to ask when choosing a security system provider:

1. How long has the company been in business?

The longevity of a security company can tell you a lot about their experience in the industry as well as the customer support and services they provide. If they have been in business for a long time, something is working right — and even if you can start with a newer company for cheaper, you can trust that a long-standing security company has a history of customers who are happy with their service.

2. How does the security company provide training to operate the system for new and existing customers?

Are the field technicians certified in the products they install? Do the technicians stop and take the time to explain the in and outs of a system before they leave you to run it on your own? Do they explain to you how to properly arm and disarm your system, and what zones mean? These are important steps for operating your system correctly and making you feel confident in the system you trust to keep you safe.

3. What kind of technology does the company offer?

Security systems are advancing all the time and have a wide range of capabilities. If you are looking for specific technology — for instance, one that lets you arm or disarm your system remotely, send video clips to your phone, or adjust your house temperature when you are away from home — ask the company if they are able to provide these services.

4. Does the security company operate its own in-house monitoring center, or does it outsource to another company?

It’s a little known fact that alarm monitoring for many companies is sub-contracted to a monitoring center outside of the home state of the security company, which helps the economy in other areas, but not your local economy.  While operators can technically work from anywhere with the correct equipment, it’s good to think about whether working with local operators is important to you or not and asking the company about it.

5. What kind of alarm response does the company provide?

“Alarm response” means different things to different companies. A good question to ask is: Does the security company offer alarm response with their own, professionally trained security officers, or do they call the police to respond to an alarm? Choosing a company with their own, in-house alarm response can make a drastic difference in response speed.

Selecting the right security provider for you can be a big and challenging decision, which is why it’s important to understand how the company works and have the answers to all your questions before you choose the company that is right for you.

To learn more about the services First Response offers, contact us today.

 

About First Response

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Beaverton, First Response Security is one of the largest privately owned security companies in Oregon. Our commitment to “A Higher Standard” enables us to deliver the client service we believe you deserve.

PR Team