How to Find a Home Security Alarm With 24-Hour Monitoring

Do a Web search for "home security alarm with 24-hour monitoring" and you’ll get more than a million matches. Here's how to find the best and most reliable service.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Call local companies. You want a company that can meet with you face-to-face.

2. Set up meetings with three or four different representatives. Have them come to your home and assess the security risks of your property. Ask them how they would go about protecting your home.

3. sk them how much their services cost including equipment, installation, warranties and monthly monitoring fees. Get three or four price quotes in writing so you can compare them.

4. Ask for references. A good company will have customers you can contact to ask questions. When you call them, ask about their experiences with the company. Ask them if the setup was quick and smooth, the contract was clear, the customer service adequate and whether or not they’ve ever had a break-in.

5. Do some extra research. Find out what kind of equipment each company offers and read some reviews about each specific component. If it is a wireless system, make sure that it has good range and will be able to detect all the devices in your home consistently.

6. Mull it over. Don’t make any hasty decisions. Enthusiastic salesmen can be pushy, but be firm and wait until you feel confident about your decision.

Tips & Warnings

• On average, 24-hour monitoring costs $25 to $40 a month.
• If you are willing to pay more, you’ll get more. More complex equipment is more expensive to set up and monitor ,but it pays off with extra security.
• Installing a reputable home security system could get you discounts on your home owner’s insurance.
• Make sure your company isn’t going to sell off your contract to a larger company that will charge you more—it’s one of the most common scams.