Thursday, June 21, 2012

Alarm Monitoring-Why the cost varies wildly.

As a security industry professional I have had the opportunity to work with multiple alarm companies and their central stations. A central station is the location where your alarm signals are received and processed for dispatch. Large national brands such as ADT and Monitronics own and operate their own central station locations. Your local alarm company may have their own central station-but this is not as common as it used to be. It is far more likely that a larger dedicated monitoring company provides this service to many smaller alarm companies-including yours. 

Now for the facts that every consumer should know-All reputable monitoring companies provide essentially the same service. You read that correctly. It doesn't matter whether your monitoring is provided by a large national brand or a smaller regional operation so long as you are doing business with a reputable company. This brings me to my next shocker-The price you pay for monitoring has almost no bearing whatsoever on the quality of service you receive. 


So, you ask, "Why is my monitoring so much higher than my neighbor's?" This is a perfectly legitimate question and there are multiple reasons why this could be.

If you signed up for a 'FREE w/ $99 installation fee' system then your monitoring cost will be higher because the monthly fee includes the amortized cost of the equipment. In this scenario, monitoring will typically range from $30 -$100/ month depending on the amount of equipment you received at the time of install.

The alarm industry national dealers borrowed this business model from cell phone providers, who figured out long ago that offering a 'free' or reduced cost phone with a 2-3 year contractual commitment sold better and substantially increased their business. This due to the fact that most people live paycheck to paycheck and can't come up with the $800-$1500 an average basic residential alarm installation costs-but they can easily budget the monthly expense.

If you purchased your equipment at the time of install, or you have completed your contract with a national company you own the equipment outright. You can purchase monitoring on a month to month basis as a separate service and comparison shop. You will find options ranging from $15-$50 for basic monitoring services depending on whether you are communicating your signals with a telephone line, a GSM (alarm cellular communicator), or a Wi-Fi or IP communicator. 

Whichever way you choose to purchase an alarm system, once you experience the peace of mind of having an electronic security system, you will never choose to live without one again. Feel free to contact me via email with your questions.

14 comments:

  1. True, Ace! People want to be perfectly safe from harm even when they are in their safe haven. It’s better to safe than sorry, right? Installing a security camera can be very expensive, but there are providers who offer the same protection, at a more affordable price. Homeowners can choose from different varieties in the market. They just have to be very explicit and practical about what kind of security cameras they need.

    Fernando Severns

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  2. I've tried this in my home with this installation. This is also better to get away from crimes, try this remote signalling.

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  3. “Whichever way you choose to purchase an alarm system, once you experience the peace of mind of having an electronic security system, you will never choose to live without one again.” You’re right. It is a way to show how one values his/her home and property and everything he/she has invested in. More importantly, an alarm system not only safeguards one’s material possessions, but the important people living in the house as well.

    Odessa Hanton

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  12. I hired security installers in Sydney for my home. It can be very expensive, yes, but I am more concerned with my family’s protection than what it would cost me. Alarm systems in Sydney are known as effective deterrents to potential burglars. Regardless of how expensive it is, I think it is a security tool every home should have.

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