Category: Blog Posts

There is a misconception that it costs a great deal of money to have an alarm system installed in your home. However, you can get a basic home alarm system at a very affordable price. If your budget allows, you can add other options to expand your system and make it fit your lifestyle. When choosing the best home alarm system for your budget, you need to know what type of home alarm system you need as well as who can install it.

Know what type of home alarm system you need

The first step you need to do is figure out what you need for a home alarm system. Are you looking for something that alerts you if someone comes in the door without a code? Do you want cameras? Do you need a monitoring feature for an elderly person in the house? Do you have pets?

Any home alarm system you install needs to fit your family’s lifestyle and security needs. If the product becomes inconvenient or is hard to use, the family will start by-passing it which by-passes the security it provides. If the home alarm system does not meet your security needs, it is a waste of time and money.

A basic home alarm system will come with door sensors, a master control panel, panic buttons, yard signs, and window decals. The system ties into a central monitoring service that can respond to alerts and send emergency personnel as needed. You pay an initial installation fee plus a monthly fee for monitoring.

If you want to upgrade, you can add various options including links to your cell phone, indoor cameras, outdoor cameras and emergency lighting. Some options are one-time costs while others require a higher monthly service fee.

Know who can install your home alarm system

When considering a home alarm system, it is important to talk with alarm professionals. You should get at least two or three quotes from different companies. Ask what these professionals would recommend and if they offer basic packages for the budget conscious.

Once you have a service in mind, make sure the company is reputable. Look for online reviews and see what people are saying. You can also check the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of rating the company has.

If you are interested in adding a home alarm system to your property, give us a call here at 1st Alarm. We are a West Texas company, owned and operated by locals, proudly serving our neighbors. We have locations in the following Texas cities: Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo. Give us a call today at 1(800) 276-5559. You can also contact us via email. We look forward to providing you with the best home alarm system available.

The last thing you want to happen with a home security system is for it to fail. Someone gets into your home and the alarm doesn’t go off. You try to use the remote panic button, but no one comes. Those are the nightmare scenarios that you are trying to avoid by installing a home security system in the first place. If you are in the market for a home security system, there are certain questions you can ask the alarm company to gauge the system’s reliability.

How is the home security system installed?

The home security system should come with professional installation. The installer knows how each component works and how to test it to make sure it is working as expected. Plus, this professional can test the system all the way to the monitoring service to ensure signals are going through. If the alarm company sends you a box of parts and some cryptic instructions, that is not the company you want to do business with.

Is the home security system wireless or does it require hardwiring?

If you are installing an alarm system in an existing home, wireless is the better option. A wireless home security system does not involve knocking holes in walls or tying anything into the wiring. Installation costs are far less with wireless and easy to dismantle or alter in the future.

How many entry points are protected?

You need to have a sensor on every doorway into your home. You likely have a front and back door, which is two entries. You may have another door out on the deck, making three entries. If you have an attached garage, you need to protect the door between the house and the garage as well. If the home security system comes with less than three entry points of protection, you either need a higher level package or a new alarm company.

Do you offer a keychain remote?

You need to have full control over your home. The alarm company should offer a keychain remote that helps you do that. This device allows you to check the systems in your home, monitor who is coming and going, and receive alerts that you set up. This device lets you stay in control, even if you are at work or on vacation.

How are your monitoring services structured?

You need to know where the monitoring call centers are located, whether they are staffed 24/7, and what kind of training the staff receives. You are going to be relying on that staff to be there when you need them. You also need to know that the monitoring service will be available, even during a power outage.

What kind of warranty do you provide?

Home security system components will fail at some point. The alarm company should offer clear terms for the equipment you have installed in your home. Are you buying the home security system or leasing it? What happens if one of the devices fails? How long does the warranty last?

If you are in the market for a home security system, contact us here at 1st Alarm. We proudly offer residential and commercial alarm systems in the following Texas cities: Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo. We are locally owned and operated. Give us a call at 1(800) 276-5559 or contact us via email. We look forward to providing you with the best home security system available.

Comparing multiple home security systems is important before making a final decision. You don’t want to be stuck with a system that does not work the way you wanted it to or a system that costs too much with a company that has a bad reputation. First, read reviews to see what actual customers think of the home security system. Also, read professional reviews, if any are available. Next, determine how many sensors the alarm company would install. Then, look for an easy-to-use keypad and check for other features. Finally, ask about warranty and look at the price. Once you have a few quotes in hand, you need to start comparing them and the alarm companies behind them.

Read reviews to see what actual customers think of the home security system

You want to take notice of how easy the home security system is to use and if it is effective or not. You also need to see what kinds of complaints the alarm company is receiving. If you see multiple negative reviews about poor customer service or slow response time to emergencies, that is a company you don’t want to do business with.

Read professional reviews, if any are available

Having the experts compare different alarm systems is invaluable. If you cannot find a professional review of the entire system, look for reviews of individual parts of the system. The quality of the cameras, the console panel, and the sensors can tell you a lot about the overall quality of the entire home security system.

Determine how many sensors the alarm company would install

Some alarm companies only offer sensors for two doors: front and back. However, many homes have more than two doors. You may find that an alarm company can install additional sensors, but at a much higher cost. See if you can find a company that will give you enough sensors without additional cost.

Are there any motion sensors included? If no one is at home, motion sensors can alert that someone has entered without permission. The home security system should include at least one motion detector for inside. Plus, make sure the sensor is pet neutral or pet sensitive. You do not want emergency services called every time your pet walks across the living room.

Look for an easy-to-use keypad and check for other features

You do not want to have a complicated, hard-to-use keypad. Not only are you going to have to use this keypad, but the rest of your family will too. The home security system should offer prompts for major functions and let you enter your passcode without going through a ton of menu options.

Check other features. Some home security systems come with built-in smoke detectors. Others include water or flood sensors. When comparing home security systems, you need to see what features are offered and at what costs.

Ask about warranty

What happens if one of the door sensors stops working? Most home security systems come with some sort of warranty. However, some are better than others. With some, the alarm company will send someone out to make the repair for no cost. With others, you may have to buy the replacement part and fix it yourself.

Look at the price

Unless you are a billionaire, you probably have a budget to keep in mind when looking for a home security system. Compare the installation costs for each quote. Also, look at what features you are getting for your monthly service fee. This research will help you determine what is a good bargain and what is not.

Take the time to compare home security systems to make sure you are getting the best system for the money. If you want to talk more about a quote for your home security system, contact us here at 1st Alarm. We have locations in the following Texas cities: Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo. Give us a call today at 1(800) 276-5559. You can also contact us via email. We look forward to providing you with the best home security system available.

Are you on the fence about deciding whether or not you should install a wireless home security system? You may be thinking that the cost is not worth it. You may not want to deal with the arming and disarming of the device. You may even think security systems are just for commercial buildings. However, you need to consider how adding a wireless home security system will benefit you and your family. Home security systems protect you and your family’s personal safety as well as your property. These products enhance the resale value of your house. Also, wireless home security systems lower your insurance costs and give you peace of mind.

Wireless home security systems protect you and your family’s personal safety as well as your property

You do not want to walk in on a burglar or find your house has been violated by an invader. Having a wireless home security system in place gives you a line of defense between you and a criminal who has entered or is trying to enter your house. An alarm product also acts as a deterrent, preventing these intrusions in the first place.

If you own electronics, jewelry, or other easy to carry valuables, you are a tempting target for thieves and criminals. With a wireless home security system, you have a way to keep your property safe even when you are not there.

Wireless home security systems enhance the resale value of your house

When you go to sell your house, a wireless home security system will become a selling point for your realtor to talk up. Many home buyers want to know they and their families will be safe in their new house. This product will add real value to the property while making it easier to sell.

A wireless home security systems lower your insurance costs and give you peace of mind

Many insurance carriers will give you a premium discount if you have an actively monitored wireless home security system in place. The exact discount rate will vary from one insurance company to another. However, this discount can save you quite a bit over time.

When you have a wireless home security system in place, you know that your family is safe. This added protection will let you worry less and just get on to enjoy life. With 24-hour monitoring, you know that if something happens there is always someone there to help or to alert emergency services.

Contact 1st Alarm for more information on the importance of wireless home security systems. We have locations in the following Texas cities: Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo. Give us a call today at 1(800) 276-5559. You can also contact us via email. We look forward to providing you with the best home security system available.

Listed as one of the top ten cities in Texas with the highest crime rate, Lubbock is no stranger to burglaries and thefts. Over a few years, the rate of property crimes including burglary, theft, auto theft, and arson has significantly increased the chances of becoming a victim. Previously, about 1 in 20 property crimes were reported in Lubbock, Texas. Now, the chances of becoming a victim is 1 in 16, with burglary at the top with a 1 in 9 possibility of having your home broken into. This rise in burglaries is mostly due to increased technology in our society. However, with a wireless home security system, you won’t become a victim of burglary. These systems allow easy of access with a wireless home security system app that you can access anywhere at any time from your cell phone.

Rise in burglaries due to increased technology

Many things have contributed to this rise in burglaries, but it is mostly caused by the increase in technology in our society. Today, burglars have that advantage of having tools that can assist with a break in without alerting the resident. With these advances in technology, sometimes just simply locking your doors and securing all entrances doesn’t completely assist in preventing burglaries in Lubbock, Texas.

That being said, we still suggest locking your doors and windows. You should also keep attractive items, such as jewelry or weapons, out of the view of windows and openings. Be sure to keep your home or business well lit at night time to give the illusion of not being unoccupied. You should even check into local security companies to see what wireless home security systems are offered to help in the securing of your property.

Ease of access with a wireless home security system app

In response to the rise in burglaries and their improved techniques to succeed, Lubbock security companies have also enhanced their technology with system use. You can do away with that requirement to have a house phone line to activate the system. The new wireless home security systems are directly linked to your cell phone. In the event of an attempt to deactivate the home security system by cutting the phone line, there will still be emergency notification.

Technology in smart phones has allowed the access of wireless home security system to be attained on an app you can simply download. Sometimes you may forget to lock your doors or can’t remember if you did. This Lubbock, Texas home security app allows you to see if your doors are locked and even lock a door from your phone.

This new system contains a monitoring device that can detect every entry to your home and advise you when one is opened with or without your permission. This is all done just by sending you a message on your phone. The phone app can even activate and deactivate your wireless home security system from anywhere as long as you have your cell phone.

One of the best security features is the camera that is installed wirelessly in your Lubbock, Texas home. This camera takes live footage and sends you video feed to your phone home security system app when you are away. You can see certain areas inside your house in the event of an alarm activation or just simply out of curiosity.

wireless Home security systems are an easy way to ensure your house is protected in case a burglar tries to enter and violate your privacy. Most are very inexpensive and simple to use for all ages. For more information as well as a demonstration contact 1st Alarm of Lubbock, Texas. Give us a call today at (806) 792-3510 or send us an email. We look forward to providing you with the best wireless home security system you need with features that suit you and your family.

As parents, the responsibility to ensure the security and safety of our children lies within our hands. Children normally start staying home alone after school around the age of 11 or 12 up until they are 18 years old. The majority of jobs held today by parents of those children don’t end for the day until 5:00 pm or later. That leaves the children at home alone for at least an hour and a half without parental supervision. The best way to help with the security of children home alone would be to check into your local security system companies. Find the security system product with the right features to fit your needs. Some helpful features include video surveillance and ease ability for home security systems.

Video surveillance for home security systems

Today, security companies have increased their technology, which has also increased the features and output of home security systems. The webcam with active video surveillance is one of the best features today. This feature allows parents a window into their house while away simply from their mobile device. These cameras can be set up in any room or location of the home and has 360 degree rotation capability. All the parents have to do is access the smartphone application from their mobile device and view the cameras at any time. Parents will also have the capability to rotate the camera from their smartphone to get the view they want of everything in the room.

Ease ability for home security systems

Another great feature to ensure the safety of children while home alone is the ease ability for children ages 10 and above. This feature allows older children to use the security system that has been installed.

The screen installed into the home is a touch screen that guides you through how to arm or disarm the system. You can have the home security system read instructions aloud or you can simply read the instructions on the screen to arm your system. Children are capable of setting the alarm once they get home, increasing security while you are away.

Also, remote controls are available to arm and disarm the home security system within a certain distance. If your children ride the bus, walk, or get a ride from a friend, they could disarm the alarm from their remote. Then, the children could unlock the door, enter the home, and lock the door behind them. Once safe inside, the children could then rearm the alarm using the remote. As the parent, you will get notification from your smart phone app each time this process happens. These notifications will give you clarification that your children are now home and safe inside with the alarm on.

Parents can’t always be there, but they can increase the safety of their children while away with a home security system. Contact 1st Alarm for more information on ways to protect your children. We have locations in the following Texas cities: Midland, Odessa, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, El Paso, and San Angelo. Give us a call today at 1(800) 276-5559. You can also contact us via email. We look forward to providing you with the best home security system available.