Questions to ask when buying a security system. Part 1

Like cell phones and most cable or satellite services, security systems often come with a low installation price and a 2 or 3 year commitment with a monthly fee (in this case for monitoring). When shopping for a security system there will be a lot of similar sounding equipment and pricing. It can be hard to tell which company is best based on a price difference of only a few dollars! It is the customer service that sets each individual company apart. Over the next few posts I will address some of the commonly overlooked questions you should ask to ensure you are getting the best balance of price and quality.

Part 1. Proprietary equipment and warranties. Two commonly overlooked questions that can cost you lots of $$ in the end!

1. Is your equipment proprietary?

Many companies use proprietary software in their security system installations. This means No other company can work on the system. What does that mean for you? After your initial agreement with your company is over, if you are unhappy or want to go in another direction: No one else can work on the existing system, you will have to have it re-installed which can cost you money! Proprietary equipment basically ties you with your initial company forever even if you are unhappy, because who wants to pay to have the security system redone? Warning: if you already have a fairly new system in your home and you are looking to have it monitored: some security representatives may say they are going to “upgrade” you to a new system. This can be a ploy to put proprietary software in your home. Some companies are legitimately upgrading you, so don’t be afraid of the word… just remember to ask if their equipment is proprietary. This is more common in some of the larger security system company chains.

2. How long is the warranty? Or What is the charge for Service Calls?

Ok… tooting my own horn a little. My company includes an extended warranty at no charge- meaning we never charge for service calls- but that is very rare. Most companies include a Three month warranty and you have the option to add an extended warranty onto your monthly monitoring. This often costs an extra $5 – $10 per month. It may sound steep but if you do not have a warranty and there is an issue you may pay service call rates of about $60.00 - $175.00 per hour! Most security system companies are charging around $35.00 per month for monitoring so if you add on a warranty you could be paying quite a bit- but compare that to being hit with service charges and you may want to consider it. Do the math with the sales representative of service charges vs. warranty and decide what is best for your situation. If your sales representative does not know the costs of service calls and is not willing to put it in writing- that is a major red flag!