Home alarm systems are generally a very good investment for protecting your family, your home, and your valuables. Home alarms are designed to provide a warning at the earliest possible moment of a break-in, or attempted break-in. Alarms do not by themselves prevent a break-in, but they do act as a very good deterrent. Many home alarm systems now available are well within the price range of most homeowners. If you are considering purchasing a home alarm sometime in the future, read below for some helpful information about purchasing an alarm system.

Purchasing a home alarm is like buying most other products these days. If you have a little knowledge and understanding of the products, you can often save a lot of time and money and in some cases considerable frustration. One of the first things to do is discuss your alarm needs with at least two or three different alarm companies. You should ask them to tell you what they think you need for your home alarm based on your personal needs and habits. Every home and family is different, and as a result, your security system should be customized to meet both your individual security needs and your budget.

You should never make any kind of commitment to a company that has not visited your home and inspected your property. Remember to ask the alarm company for references from other satisfied customers in your area. Find out how long they have been in business and what sort training or expertise their staff has been involved with. For example, ask if they have taken any alarm technician training programs or courses.

The Alarm System

An alarm system is typically installed for the purpose of deterring and detecting intruders. The most basic type of home alarm system will include perimeter and space protection features to secure your home. The perimeter refers to access points of you home such as doors and windows. The space protection feature refers to interior motion detectors that will monitor movement inside the home. When speaking with alarm company representatives, make sure they fully explain to you what each device can do and how it fits into the overall security of your home.

You must also consider how the alarm system operates in relation to your family’s lifestyle. A skilled alarm technician should evaluate how your family and your pets use and move about in your home. They should also check for any vulnerable aspects of your home that needs additional protection and advise you of it accordingly. After inspecting your home, they should be able to thoroughly explain the workings of the alarm system they are proposing. The alarm system should also be able to accommodate any future expansion that you may require on your home such as a regular house extension, or the addition of a garage. It should also allow the flexibility to include zoning, panic buttons, fire protection, sirens, and easily changed keypad codes used to arm and disarm the system.

One of the big choices to make is whether you want a hardwired or a wireless system. If you go with a hardwired home alarm, then all detectors and sirens in the system will be connected back to the alarm control unit by cables. These cables supply the power to the detectors and monitor their signals. Wherever possible these wires are hidden from view by fitting them inside wall cavities, under carpets, through ceilings, or under floors.

The major costs involved with the hardwired home alarms, are the labor costs of installing and concealing the wiring. This is why hardwired home alarms are usually sold with the property instead of removing and re-installing them somewhere else when the owner moves. These alarm systems range from the very basic up to the very sophisticated. These systems will warn of intruders, plus they can be used to notify authorities of a medical emergency, monitor smoke detectors, monitor water levels or pressures, or even be linked into the house wiring to control heating, or lights using your mobile phone or computer to control them.

On the other hand, wireless home alarm systems operate by transmitting radio signals from the sensors or detectors, to the control panel. Each of the detectors has its own replaceable battery to power them, which in normal conditions has a lifespan from six months up to three or four years. The battery life mostly depends on the type of battery used and the amount of activity (number of movements, opening/closings) monitored by the specific sensor.

A great feature of wireless home alarms is that you can have mobile panic buttons in the form of key fobs, or pendants that can give you constant protection wherever you are in the home or outside (providing you stay in range). These are especially useful for the elderly who may not be able to reach one of the fixed panic buttons in time, in an emergency situation. It is possible to use a wireless panic transmitter and other wireless sensors or detectors with a hardwired panel by installing and connecting a separate wireless receiver unit in the main control panel.

The majority of the cost of a wireless home alarm system is in the equipment itself. Due to the minimal wiring involved, the wireless security systems are easily removed and installed in a new home if the homeowner moves. They are especially convenient and cost-effective for those who are renting their homes or apartments and want protection while they are living there, but do not want to pay for the cost of installing a system that they will have to leave behind when they move.

The following is a checklist to refer to when you start shopping around for a home alarm system:

• Make sure to get at least three estimates and compare all the equipment that will be included (compare part for part, sensor for sensor).
• Make sure your quote contains a detailed list of what equipment is being installed.
• Determine whether the estimates are for straight purchases or if they are for rentals or leases to purchase.
• If it is to be a monitored system, ask where the monitoring station is located and who is doing the monitoring. Some companies will subcontract their alarm monitoring to a third party. If you do not have a contract with this third party, your legal recourse may be limited should there be a problem.
• Ask what the duration of the monitoring contract is, and most importantly, how much does the monitoring cost.
• Ask for the credentials of the sales representative and the installation technician.
• Find out exactly what the alarm monitoring company's policy is when an alarm is detected. Do they phone the residence first when an alarm sounds, or do they call the police?
• Get clarification on what the warranty period is and what it actually covers.
• Make sure the alarm system comes with adequate documentation and instructions.
• Find out who is responsible for repairs or upgrades to the system if any are needed.
• Determine who is actually installing the alarm system. Some alarm companies subcontract the labor out to a different company.
• If the system is to be connected into your phone line, make sure you have a telephone company approved alarm jack.

 

Here are some questions to ask from the alarm companies you contact:

• Ask if they have all applicable provincial and municipal licenses.
• Ask for a written estimate.
• Ask if they will provide you with a contract once the system is purchased.
• Ask for a written warranty on the equipment and labor.
• Ask how long they have been in the security alarm business.

Make a point of talking to several of the best home alarm companies in your area before you get anything installed. It may be tempting to jump at the first company that offers a great price, but make sure to take your time before agreeing to anything. You will want to make sure you get the best balance of both price and security. Once you receive the quotes and narrow down your search of the best home security companies, then you can check out their references. Ask the references why they chose a particular alarm provider over the others, and ask questions about the level of customer service they received.

Do not forget that your home alarm system should be the most important appliance in your home. It is one of the first things you should buy after purchasing a new home. The best home alarm companies range from large corporations who maintain their own sales forces and local offices, to the smaller resellers that work as authorized third-party installers. Most home security alarm installers can provide all-inclusive services that will include equipment plus the installation and monitoring service. Today, more households than ever are starting to appreciate both the necessity and the value of good home security to protect their families. If you are preparing to make an alarm purchase, be sure to get all the facts and shop around for the best deal.