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.