National Home Security Services vs. Local Home Security Services

If you are in the market for a home security service, you have likely researched both local and national companies. Have you wondered if there were any differences you should be aware of when working with a local home security service versus a national competitor? If not, maybe now is the time.

You may like the idea of using local home security services and giving your business to a neighborhood-based company. Local companies have the potential to provide better customer service than their larger counterparts, and they are more likely to appreciate their customers’ business. If, for these reasons, seeking out a local home security company is a priority, then be certain to do your homework.

Many small, local companies are unable to man the monitoring portion of your service and must outsource to a larger business out-of-state. Another issue to be aware of when it comes to local security services is redistributors. Why pay the mark-up for a local company to simply turn around and resell the equipment and services that are actually being provided by another national security service organization? Since a local company is not likely to have a large customer base, it may not be able to provide the referrals like that of a larger organization. Therefore, you can contact the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) for guidance.

National home security services provide a level of stability with their years of experience and vast product knowledge. Referrals are easy to come by, thanks to a nationwide customer list and well-organized customer service department. With a few well-known national security services vying for your attention and business, you are apt to obtain a great rate from one of them.

The most common complaint when dealing with a national company is not with the alarm service itself, but something called an automatic renewal clause. Look for this clause in your contract before you sign; otherwise, you may find your security services will automatically renew every 12 months (unless you call and cancel your service in advance).

And the biggest complaint when dealing with any security service is when a customer finds out his or her alarm equipment will only work with one type of monitoring service. You may decide that you want to switch monitoring services to take advantage of another company’s promotion, or because you are not satisfied with your current service, only to find out you need all new equipment. Before this happens to you, be certain the equipment being installed is not proprietary and has built-in flexibility.

By now, you should be down to two or three contenders and ready to have a sales agent come to your home. Armed with these next few questions, you will be able to make an informed decision and choose a security service company with which you will be happy.

Questions to Ask When Researching Security Services:

• Is your installation staff qualified and certified?
• Does your company subscribe to the Installation Quality Certification Program?
• What is the cost of installation and monthly monitoring fees?
• What is the guarantee on workmanship and equipment?
• Can I add other safety measures like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors?

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