There are a handful of house alarm companies that also manufacture monitoring equipment. These companies then provide their products to thousands of dealers that sell the equipment and install the alarm systems.
Be wary of companies that install proprietary systems that they claim only work with their licensed monitoring systems. Also alarm companies that will not allow you to change your pass code on your own or switch to another monitoring company when your contract has ended. A good rule of thumb: Make sure your system uses non-proprietary components and you have access to all codes and programming features.
Talk to three or four alarm companies and have them do a risk assessment to determine what your security challenges are and how to address them. Make sure the company offers to do an on-site inspection free of charge. Don’t even consider a company that tells you it won’t need to send a representative to your home.
Get some references from previous clients. Did the company install the equipment within the given time frame? If there was an equipment problem, was it dealt with promptly? Was the system explained to everyone living in the home? If a client had an intrusion, were the police contacted immediately? Will the company send you notice before it sells your contract to another monitoring station?
Get price quotes in writing and make sure they include set-up, equipment, monthly monitoring fees, and warranties. Expect to pay $1 to $2 per square foot of your home for a basic system installation and $25 to $40 per month for monitoring. Add an extra $10 per month for intercom communication. Add an extra $50 to $300 per month for dual-tech sensors and pet alleys. Add an extra $5 per month for fire protection. Add an extra $75 to $100 one-time-only fee for a remote control.
Set-up/installation fees vary according to the type of equipment installed, number of individual security devices included, and the size of your home. Expect anywhere up to $1,500 for a 3,000-square-foot house with a multiple set-up. To add fire protection, add $200 to $500. Be wary of alarm companies that charge an additional fee to connect to a central station. Typically, those fees are built into the pricing.
Installation time varies, of course, with bigger homes taking up to three days, especially if no previous alarm wiring is present. In smaller homes (approximately 1,200 square feet), it generally takes a day or less if any pre-wiring exists.
Wireless installation takes only one to three hours.
Once your system is in place, you may be required to sign a three- to five-year contract with the alarm company. Make sure the contract guarantees no fee increase during its duration, and ask if breaking the contract before the expiration will result in penalties.
After the expiration of a contract, you usually get to keep door contacts, motion detectors, and glass-break sensors. Make sure this is part of your contract.
Many police departments require two permits to have a monitored home security alarm system installed. The first is a state monitoring permit with the local police and the second is an electrical permit to install and monitor the system. Charges for false alarms vary by area; check with your local police about the policy.
