One of the best ways and most effective ways to keep your home safe and secure, is by having an alarm system installed and combining it with alarm monitoring. Home alarm systems, also known as home security systems, are great burglary deterrents and have been keeping families safe for many, many years.

Alarm monitoring is a great service and a service that proves to be invaluable to most families. To understand how alarm monitoring can benefit you, you must have an understanding on how it works. Sure, a stand-alone home security system is a good way to deter burglars, but if a burglar should break into your home with an unmonitored home security system, how will you know he was ever there?

If you subscribe to alarm monitoring services, your alarm is connected to a 24/7 alarm monitoring center that acts as an extra pair of eyes and ears on your home. Whether you are home or away, once you arm your alarm system, your alarm monitoring company will be notified immediately if a protected zone is violated in your home.

Once an alarm monitoring company receives an alarm signal from your residence, they will act swiftly to make the appropriate calls. For instance, when you set up your alarm monitoring account, you will be asked to give the company phone numbers and instructions on who you want called in the event the alarm trips at your home. It is always recommended that you keep this emergency contact list up to date.

Burglars do not like alarm systems, and they especially do not want to deal with monitored alarm systems. That is why it is important that once you get an alarm system installed that you elect to have it monitored as well. When you do that, ask your installing company or alarm monitoring company to provide you with alarm decals and a yard sign to display around your home. That way, burglars will see you have a monitored alarm system and will think twice before picking your home as their next target.

Having a monitored security system in your home is a smart decision, and one that will have you and your family sleeping better at night. Remember, alarm monitoring centers run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—even holidays. This means that you can rest assured knowing your home is being looked out for whether you are 5 minutes away from home or on the other side of the world on vacation. Alarm monitoring never takes a day off, and that is the main reason why so many people choose to take advantage of this service.

With so many advantages that a monitored alarm system offers, it is a wonder why some people choose to go without it. When asked, most people say they elect not to use the services of an alarm monitoring company simply because there is a fee involved in the service. While it is true that companies do charge nominal fees for alarm monitoring services, the fees are considered low for the service provided and are competitive among each company.

If you ask those who have a monitored alarm system in their home if the service is worth having, you will find that the majority, if not all, of the people will tell you alarm monitoring is a service they will never go without, and neither should you.

Here’s how:

Remote Arming and Disarming: Did you forget to arm your alarm system when you left home? Do you remember if you gave the housekeeper an alarm code to use while you are away? No problem. ADT Pulse allows you to arm and disarm your alarm system from any web-enabled computer or device such as an Android, Blackberry, or any other Smartphone. ADT Pulse even has an app for iPhone and iPad users.

Home Automation: Do you want the temperature to be cool and comfortable when you get home from work, but you don’t want to leave the air conditioning running all day? With ADT Pulse, you can easily change the temperature in your home without even being there.

Energy Efficiency: ADT Pulse offers you the ability to schedule when you would like your indoor and outdoor lighting to turn on, and when you would like some or all of the lighting to turn off. This not only makes your home more energy-efficient, it  helps cut down on home energy costs, and it also adds a bit of extra security to your home.

Email and Text Alerts: Do you want to know when your child got home from school? Would you like to be notified immediately when your alarm goes off, and what zone was violated? You can set up your ADT Pulse to send you instant notifications by email or text, along with video clips, for events such as burglar alarms, carbon monoxide and fire alarms, flood alarms, and more.

Remote Video Monitoring: Gone are the days of complex camera systems and recording devices. ADT Pulse simplifies video monitoring and allows users to view their cameras from the comfort of their home, or while they are away from home, via any web-enabled computer, device, or Smartphone.

Interactive Touchscreen: Instead of using a traditional alarm keypad, ADT Pulse provides an interactive touchscreen that puts your home automation and security features right at your fingertips.

Whether it is arming or disarming your system, adjusting the climate or lighting in your home, viewing video coverage, or going over past alarm events, your ADT Pulse interactive touchscreen will provide you with all the options you need to make your home more energy-efficient and safer than you ever thought possible.

ADT Pulse is currently available in Select, Advantage, and Premier packages, which combines home security and home automation into one affordable solution.

Who should I choose to install my alarm system?
Not one alarm company is going to be a perfect fit for everyone. You do however want to pick a company that is reputable, knowledgeable, and a company you feel comfortable with. Our best advice would be to start by getting recommendations from family, friends, and colleagues. The chances are that many people you know not only use the services of an alarm company in their home or office, they will have a good recommendation for the company they used to install their home alarm.

Which is better, a hardwired or wireless home alarm?
Wireless home alarm systems currently are the premier choice for renters and for those who want to have a home alarm system installed without wires being ran throughout their residence. A hardwired alarm system on the other hand, offers durability and has proven its reliability for many years. Both alarm system choices do an outstanding job at home protection. There are pros and cons to both installations that should be heavily weighed before making your final choice.

Is a phone line necessary to have a home alarm monitored?
With cellular alarm monitoring, the need for a phone line connection for alarm monitoring is no longer necessary. Cellular alarm monitoring is an extremely reliable form of alarm transmission and is the best alternative for those who want alarm monitoring without having an actual phone line at their home.

Is it OK to install motion detectors in a home with pets?
If you have pets, you can still protect the interior of your home by having pet immune motion detectors installed with your new home alarm. Be sure to tell your alarm company rep that you have pets when getting a quote so that he or she makes sure only PI motion detectors are used in your home alarm installation.

How can I make sure my home alarm doesn’t false?
False alarms unfortunately, are caused most of the time by homeowners themselves. For example, having pets but not having pet immune motion detectors installed is one way to have false alarms. Forgetting to give the code to the babysitter or housekeeper results in false alarms too. Running inside your home to grab something after the exit delay time has passed, and then leaving without resetting the alarm, is a guaranteed false alarm. Then of course, there is the matter of using a company that used poor quality equipment when they installed your home alarm. All of these factors can cause a home alarm to false. As you can see, false alarms can be prevented by taking certain precautions.

By choosing an established and reputable home security company, you can rest assured they will not only handle your installation, they will be there should any questions, concerns, or issues arise with your new home alarm system.

Some of the most recognized names in the security industry have been around for years. ADT for instance, has been around since the 1800’s. Being in business for that long proves that the company is well established and takes the security of any home they protect seriously. If they didn’t, well, they wouldn’t have survived this long in the industry. A good thing to look for when comparing home security companies is how long the company has been in business. If they have been around for a while, especially for as long as ADT has, the company is definitely worth considering for your home security needs.

Of course, how long the company has been in business is not the only thing you should look for when shopping around the many home security companies that are out there. You want to look into the reputation each company holds. There are many online review sites and independent sites that offer reviews of each home security company you may be considering. What would be better is if you could get feedback from those you know and trust that use the services of an alarm company. Chances are, a friend, colleague, or neighbor will have an alarm system. Ask about their experiences with their chosen company.

After you’ve gathered information about potential home security companies, read up on them. Do your research. Check their history with the Better Business Bureau. See if they are a member of any trade associations such as the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, the National Alarm Association, or other reputable trade associations. Just being members in good standing with any of these associations is a good sign that the company is responsible and shows their stability.

Home security companies that are Underwriters Laboratories listed are considered great options in terms of reliability. For a company to be UL certified, they must meet strict criteria and uphold high standards not only to become certified but maintain their certification. If you have the choice, choose a UL listed security company to provide your home security. Many of the larger home security companies are UL certified. You will also find several smaller, independent security companies that are UL listed as well.

Full-service home security companies are also a prime choice when it comes to securing your home. They do the installation, service, and the monitoring of your home security system. If you can’t find a full-service company that you like, at least get a company that owns their own monitoring station or uses a reputable one to monitor their alarm systems. Not all home security companies own their own monitoring centers or do their own service, so it is important to ask this upfront.

There are so many great companies out today that are offering reliable home security services at competitive pricing. However, there are also a few not-so-reliable companies out as well. Once you start doing your research, you will be able to figure out what home security companies are good and which ones are not.

Do alarm systems protect homes 100% from a burglary?
Nothing can guarantee that your home will not be a target for an unsuspecting burglar. Fortunately, statistics work in favor of having an alarm system. For instance, homes with alarm systems have less of a chance of a burglary than those homes without one.

Are alarm systems only for those who own their own homes?
Absolutely not! Just because someone rents a home instead of owning it, does not mean they don’t have family and valuables they want to protect. Wireless alarm systems are a great way for renters to protect their loved ones and their belongings from the event of a burglary. Having a wireless alarm system installed may also get renters a break on their renter’s insurance policy too.

Can an alarm system be monitored without a phone line?
Yes. These is a service called cellular monitoring. Many home security companies offer this service to their customers who want to have alarm monitoring but do not have a phone line installed in their home. Alarm systems with a cellular radio installed have become very popular over the years.

Do alarm systems work with VoIP home phone service such as Comcast or Vonage?
There are mixed results with this. Some home security companies have had success making their systems compatible with VoIP phone service. However, many companies will not guarantee that this form of alarm communication will work all the time.

Don’t take a chance with using VoIP phone service with your alarm system. You are better off getting a cellular radio as a back-up to your VoIP phone service for times that it does fail. It’s simple: Have a cellular radio installed only or stick with a traditional land-line as a form of alarm transmission.

Do pets cause false alarms?
Most false alarms that are caused by pets are interior alarms (motion detectors). Have pet immune motion detectors installed if you want to protect the interior of your home, but do not want Fido to trip them every time he roams around the house. Very rarely do pets cause false alarms on perimeter zones such as doors or windows.

Are there insurance discounts for having an alarm system installed?
Besides protecting your home and family from harm, having an alarm system installed in your home could save you money on your homeowner’s insurance policy. Many insurers recognize the benefits to having alarm systems installed; therefore, they are offering discounts to their customers who get one. Since every insurer has different policies, it is advised you contact your agent to see if your insurance company offers incentives for homeowners who installed alarm systems in their homes.

Everyone knows that a home security system is a fantastic way to deter burglars and keep a home safe and more secure. The problem with a security system without alarm system monitoring is the fact that if the alarm system is tripped, who is going to know?

If you are not home and a burglar tries to enter your home through a protected area, your alarm may emit a tone at the keypad or ring a siren if one was installed—that’s all. If you are not there to hear these sounds, you are depending on others to hear it for you. Certainly, your neighbors cannot sit around and listen for alarms coming from your home all day, and you shouldn’t expect them to. This is where alarm system monitoring comes in handy.

In the event a burglar attempts to break into your home through a protected zone such as a contacted door or window, an alarm signal will trigger and immediately notify your alarm monitoring company. They then take immediate action. This is usually done by calling the police, you, or your emergency contact list that you provided them when you signed your alarm system monitoring agreement.

Typically, when you have an alarm system installed and monitored by a company, they will provide you with yard signs and decals to put up around your home to let potential burglars know that your house is secured with a monitored alarm system. Most burglars will move on once they see these. If not, they know that once they trigger your security system, your alarm system monitoring company will be right there to handle the situation. You can bet that the burglars will not stick around too long in a home that has a monitored alarm system.

For times that you travel, you never need to worry about finding someone to watch over your home, because an alarm system monitoring company will have you covered. A monitoring center acts as a set of eyes and ears on your home anytime you are away from home, and for any amount of time.

The greatest benefit of all that a monitored home security system brings, is the peace of mind knowing that your home is being protected 24 hours per day, 365 days a year by a competent and professional alarm system monitoring company.

Some people today will tell you that security systems are a waste of money and you are better off leaving it up to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to cover any losses you incur should your home ever be burglarized. You should ask him or her if they have ever become a victim of a home burglary. Chances are they have not.

While it is true that some homeowners or renters insurance policies will cover losses in the event of a burglary, they may not cover all of it. Besides, the paperwork and claims process can be time consuming, to say the least. If you speak to anyone that has ever had to do an insurance claim when their house got broken into, they will tell you that their insurance policy did not cover the majority of their losses.

Most people will not only lose things of monetary value during a break-in, they will also lose precious, invaluable, and irreplaceable items such as family heirlooms, portraits, and more. These things can never be replaced and often hurt more to lose than plasma TV’s or computers. The majority of the people that experience home burglaries are people who did not give home security systems a chance.

Do security systems protect homes 100% from being burglarized? No. Nothing can guarantee that your home will not be the latest victim of a home burglary. However, statistics show that homes with security systems are a lot less likely to be broken-into than homes without one.

When home security companies install home security systems, they offer homeowners yard signs and decals to put up around their home and in their yard. This is not necessarily done for advertising purposes, as most people assume. This is done so that any suspecting burglars know that your home is secured by a home security system. Oftentimes, burglars will bypass a home they see with a yard sign or alarm decals displayed and move on to one that doesn’t have any signs of having a security system.

If a burglar does decide to choose your home as their next burglary target, even though they clearly know you have a security system, they will not stay inside too long with an alarm siren blaring in their ears. More importantly, if the burglars suspect your home is monitored, they are going to want to get in and out as fast as possible because they know the police are on the way.

Having burglars get in and out quickly will definitely help limit your loss and keep them from taking their time inside your home. Security systems, as you can see are great burglary deterrents.

If after reading this scenario, you still are not convinced security systems are worth the money, there is something else. By having a security system installed in your home, you could qualify for up to a 20% discount on your homeowner’s insurance premiums. Home insurers know that homes with security systems are less likely to be burglarized and are offering their customer’s discounts for getting one installed and monitored.

As you clearly see, security systems are far from being a waste of money, and they offer quite a few benefits to those who choose to have one installed in their home.

On top of the many different options a homeowner has to protect their home, they also have many choices when it comes to purchasing home alarms. The choices are wired, hardwired, and combination systems that are designed to protect homes from the threat of a burglary. All of the home alarms mentioned can easily be installed and maintained by a professional home security company.

Why are home alarms so popular these days? The answer is simple. It has been proven that a home secured with an alarm system is less likely to be a target for a burglary than one that does not have one. Just having alarm company yard signs and decals displayed in a yard is enough to ward off potential burglars.

Home alarms do much more than deter burglars though. A home alarm system equipped with smoke detectors can protect a family in the event a fire breaks out in the home. If nobody is home at the time the fire occurs, a monitored alarm system equipped with such smoke detectors will alert the alarm monitoring company and will have help on the way in no time.

If you have pets that are alone during the day, a monitored alarm system with smoke detectors is a must-have. There have been many cases where home alarms have helped save the lives of many beloved pets, at times when a homeowner was away at work or out running a simple errand.

Carbon monoxide detectors are also great devices to add to a home alarm system. Since carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased hardwired or wireless, they are easy to add to existing or brand new home alarms.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer and one that can easily be prevented with the use of carbon monoxide detectors. It is recommended that everyone have at least one carbon monoxide detector installed with their new home alarms.

Medical buttons and pendants can also be added to home alarms in the event a medical emergency arises in the home. Medical buttons are not just for the elderly or bedridden anymore. These buttons can be used for anyone that may need access to immediate medical help and can be a lifesaving feature to have on a home alarm system.

Tons of great options and additional features can be added to home alarms these days. There are also many helpful and time-saving choices available as well. The best advice for anyone looking to secure their home, would be to start with finding a good home security company. A reputable home security company will then discuss the additional benefits home alarms offer and can then provide a quote for a system that will fit the family’s needs.

When asked, many of these folks will usually give similar excuses as to why they do not have a monitored alarm system in their home. One of the tops reasons given is cost. Many people believe that home security systems are unaffordable and home security monitoring is expensive. Both of these reasons could not be farther from the truth. Especially given the benefits having a security system combined with home security monitoring offers.

Let us say you work a normal 9-5 job outside of your home. Your other family members are also away during these hours at school or work as well. For at least those 8 hours, your home is unprotected. However, if you had an alarm system installed and chose to have home security monitoring, your home is always protected.

You should know that the majority of home burglaries occur during the daytime hours when burglars see no cars in your driveway and can tell that nobody is home. Once you or your family members leave the house for the day, by simply arming the alarm on your way out, you are handing over the responsibility of watching over your home to a home security monitoring center.

If by chance a burglar tries to enter your home through a protected area, your alarm system will sound and your home security monitoring company will take action. Once burglars realize they are in a home with a monitored alarm system installed, you can bet they will not take their time inside the home. They know that help is on the way and they need to get out of your house—fast.

There have been many success stories where the police have actually caught burglars in the act or close to the home after a burglary, thanks to the swift actions of a dispatcher at a home security monitoring company. Even if the burglars were never caught, a high percentage of burglary victims sustained losses that could have been much worse if they did not have a monitored alarm system in their home.

The benefits of home security monitoring are endless. If you are a person that travels a lot and are afraid to leave your home unattended for any amount of time, a monitored alarm system would be the perfect solution for you. It is always wise to let your home security monitoring company know the dates you are going out of town and emergency contact numbers to call in the event your home does experience a burglary.

Parents of school-aged children also find benefits having a monitored alarm system. By having their child disarm and arm the alarm back up when they get home from school, gives parents confidence that if a burglar tries to enter the home, the home security monitoring company will act immediately to insure that the parents and the authorities are notified right away. This benefit alone has given parents much relief leaving their children home for short periods after school when they cannot be there.

There are so many benefits to having a monitored security system installed in your home that we have barely scratched the surface. Contact a reputable home security company today to discuss how home security monitoring can benefit your family too.

Listed below are a few questions that you should ask any potential security companies.

Will my alarm equipment be leased or will I own it?
Many security companies install equipment that is leased and is owned by the company. What that means to you is that if for some reason you cancel your contract with the company, they will need to recover the equipment from your home. If you own the equipment that is being installed, after any contractual obligations are met (if there were any), you can have any security company you wish service and monitor the alarm system.

Is the alarm system being installed a proprietary system?
Several security companies install proprietary alarm systems in their customer’s homes. While some install equipment that can be used by anyone. If a security company installs proprietary equipment, it simply means the equipment is unique to their company and will be useless to other security companies.

What does that mean for you?
If you spend a lot of money on an alarm system installed by a company that only installed proprietary alarm equipment, it can only be used with that company. Let us say for some reason that you choose to sever your relationship with that company because of dissatisfaction with their service or something similar to that; you cannot use the alarm equipment with any other security companies. You own your equipment but cannot use it with any other security company but the installing security company.

Can I have a home security system installed but opt out of having it monitored?
Several security companies will install an alarm system for you even if you decide not to have your new security system monitored. The question is why would you want to opt out of alarm monitoring? Sure, an alarm system alone is a great burglary deterrent, but a monitored home security system is by far the best way to go.

Is the installing security company the same company that will be providing the service?
The best choice for any homeowner would be to use the services of a full-service security company. Full service security companies offer their own sales, installation, alarm monitoring, phone and technical support, and service. Many of the larger home security companies are full service companies and do not subcontract any of these services out to any third-party company.

Does your company provide wireless alarm monitoring?
Many people are deciding to go without a land line in their homes nowadays. Some people are deciding to use VOIP phone service in their home. In cases such as these, cellular radio monitoring would be ideal. Many security companies offer cellular alarm monitoring, and it is definitely worth going with a company that does.