How to Find the Best Burglar Alarm System

Contact the company that provides you with homeowner's insurance. Many offer discounts from 2 to 20 percent, as stated by the Scottsdale AZ website. The agent can provide you with what types of alarms qualify for the discounts if lowering your bill is a high priority.

Pick three or four companies that supply burglar alarms and call the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the company.

Arrange appointments with the companies so they can inspect your home and demonstrate and discuss the types of security they offer. If you have small children or pets that may accidentally trigger the alarm during the night, so companies can discuss your options with you. It is best that all family members who are old enough to operate the alarm attend the meeting if possible. This ensures that they can set and disarm the alarm quickly and safely to avoid false alarms.

Ask the company representative if the business complies with the National Code of Ethics, if the employees are certified or trained by a nationally recognized service such as the Electronic Security Association, whether the employees are subjected to background checks or drug screenings before employment and if the company holds any applicable state licenses that are required.

Talk to the representative about how the alarm system works. The monitoring is often done via phone lines, cable, cellular radio, Internet and VOIP. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Study the reliability of the alarm system versus the other features you feel is necessary. Phone line monitoring is the most reliable, as stated by the Electronic Security Association, but it lacks the additional features and speed of other types of monitoring.