How to Choose a Home Alarm Monitoring Company

Conducting Preliminary Research

• 1

  Contact the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association. Ask them to provide you with a copy of the brochure "Safe and Sound: Your Guide to Home Security," and ask for a list of member companies in your area.

• 2

  Read the brochure and familiarize yourself with some basics about home security and terms used by the industry. Visit security Web sites for more information.

• 3

  Ask your insurance agent, friends and neighbors for referrals.

• 4

  Call several companies on the list that the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association provides as well as the companies recommended by your insurance agent, friends and neighbors. Ask if their employees are trained and certified by the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association and whether they participate in the Installation Quality Certification Program. Ask the companies if they have the appropriate state and/or local licenses.

• 5

  Contact your local police department's crime prevention department, state licensing agencies, consumer protection agencies and the Better Business Bureau. Inquire about the status of the companies you are considering.

• 6

  Narrow your selections down to about three or four companies.

• 7

  Call the companies and arrange for a visit from a representative at a time when all members of your family can be present. The representative needs to know your lifestyle habits to determine what components to use in the system. You want to be certain that all members of the family fully understand how to work the system the representative will recommend.

Meeting a Company's Representative

• 8

  Ask the representative how long the company has been in business.

• 9

  Ask whether the company uses Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed equipment and whether the monitoring station itself is UL certified.

• 10

  Ask the representative about the company's training programs. Are the monitoring operators, technology advisors and sales representatives trained in the operation and installation of the equipment, how to design a custom security system and how to handle troubleshooting problems?

• 11

  Ask if the monitoring station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and if the company has a customer service department that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• 12

  Ask if the company has a backup monitoring center. If the main center experiences power problems, you want to be sure your home will still be monitored.

• 13

  Ask if the monitoring center has built-in redundancies for its power, computer and phone lines. If something goes wrong, the redundancy ensures that the center can continue monitoring.

• 14

  Insist that the representative inspect your home and make recommendations and a quote in writing. Ask the representative to explain why he or she made the recommendation as well. A good, easy-to-follow explanation is a good sign you're dealing with a knowledgeable person and an honest company.