National vs. Local Security Alarm Companies – Who’s Top Dog?
What’s the Difference Between National and Local Alarm Companies The struggle is real – Deciding between a national alarm company and a local alarm company can be taxing. But does it really have to be that difficult? You have large national companies throwing out catchy free system offers that the local security alarm company doesn’t have, but the local company offers a lower monthly rate. This is where the decision becomes hard. The good news is that you can figure it out. All you have to do is a little math. The first thing to look at is the value of the national company’s free system versus their monthly fee (usually less than $300 for a standard system). Consider that the national company is still making you pay for that catchy offer through a higher monthly cost than what a local alarm company charges. You can compare annual cost, but also look at the 10-year average lifetime cycle of a security system and you will find that the national guys cost more very early in the cycle. That puts that catchy free system offer into perspective, doesn’t it? Here’s an example: A national company installs a $300 security system in the home. The installation fee is $99 and the monthly fee is $48 per month. Now, let’s say they waive the $300 equipment fee. That leaves you with the $99 installation fee and the $48 per month. The cost is $675 in the first year and $576 for every year after. The local alarm company charges the $300 for the equipment, a $99 installation fee, and a monthly charge of $30 per month. The first year is $759, but the cost every year after is $360. You begin to see the cost savings of a local security company over the national company in just the second year. See the chart below reflecting the 10-year average of this scenario: National (year 1 cost plus $576 per year for total cost over 10 years) Local (year 1 cost plus $360 per year for total cost over 10 years) Year 1 (includes initial costs) $675 $759 Year 2 $1251 $1119 Year 3 $1827 $1479 Year 4 $2403 $1839 Year 5 $2979 $2199 Year 6 $3555 $2559 Year 7 $4131 $2919 Year 8 $4707 $3279 Year 9 $5283 $3639 Year 10 $5859 $3999 Total savings = $1860 The Service Level of Local Security Alarm Companies vs. National The differences between national companies and a good Rochester security alarm company keeps going. The home-town touch gives you the following: Faster response time – When using a national company, the signal from a triggered alarm most likely goes to another part of the state or somewhere else in the country. A local company usually has a 24/7 monitoring center much closer and can call the local police or fire department much faster. The typical response time when using a local alarm company is 20 minutes faster than when using a national company. Your neighborhood isn’t foreign – Your neighborhood can be a foreign land to a national company. Using a company that specifically serves Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo means your neighborhood is familiar territory. It’s good to have a local company that knows when a rash of break-ins is happening in the area. The dollars make more sense – National and local companies have their customers sign contracts, but the national company is more likely to have longer contracts with higher monthly charges. Those contracts usually say the rate can be increased at any time. You also have to deal with automatic renewals. Local alarm companies are easier to negotiate with so you can get more out of every dollar. A Local Alarm Company Serving Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo When working with a local security alarm company, you get the more personal customer service, more control, better rates, faster response times, and a company that knows your neighborhood and uses a knowledgeable monitoring center. To learn about SPS Fire & Security’s great prices and services, call 585-770-0348.
Hardwired Security Systems
Everything You Need to Know About Hardwired Security Systems In most homes and businesses there are hardwired security systems. These systems have a control panel that is normally located right next to the most commonly used entryway. There are some individuals or businesses that will put their control panel in a hidden location such as a closet or an area away from the door so a burglar can not see it. However, the presence of an alarm system can reduce the chance a burglar will enter a home or business, making the alarm alone a good deterrent. Everyone has their own reasons behind where they place their control panel. Different Components to a Hardwired Security System Hardwired security systems do not come in one package, as there are many different areas in homes and businesses that might need to be secured. Smoke Alarm – Will detect smoke. Ionization and photoelectric are two different types of smoke detectors. Heat Detectors – Works side by side with smoke detectors. This type of detector detects heat. Indoor and Outdoor Motion Sensors – these sensors will detect the motion of people and animals. Indoor and Outdoor Sirens – A siren alarm will alert the homeowners and neighbors of any sort of alarm interference. Panic Button – This button is normally hidden and can be pushed whenever the homeowner or individual at a business is feeling threatened. This button is connected to the security alarm company and the police. Going With A Hardwired Security System Hardwired security systems can be cost-effective. With this being said, it can be an intensive installation process. Homeowners and business owners can add and remove components. In the event of a power outage, the hardwired system has rechargeable batteries. Just for having the security system in your home, you can get a discount on your homeowner’s insurance. Contact An Experienced Rochester Security Alarm Company Not only is it a good idea to have a security system in your home or business but it is also a good idea to have a security system installer come to your house to make sure that you are getting all that you need to protect your property. If you or any one that you know is considering getting a security system contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.
Former Burglars Reveal Reasons for Targets
Why Do Burglars Choose Certain Homes? Did you know that 71.9 percent of burglars target homes? That’s a staggering number. This figure was released by an NBC affiliate that sent surveys to convicted burglars throughout New Jersey and Jew York. The idea was to uncover the strategies that they used to break into homes. Below is what they found out, which is important for you to know so you can boost your home security and keep you and your family safe. The Biggest Findings The biggest findings had to do with unlocked windows. Forty-two percent of the burglars that completed the survey said that they entered their target homes through unlocked windows. Thirty-eight percent of them entered through unlocked doors. That is a lot of people leaving their doors and windows unlocked. The most common place they found valuables was in the bedroom. This was the first place that 75 percent of burglars looked after they broke in. The most targeted items were cash and jewelry. 84 percent of them went for cash and 80 percent of them went for the jewelry. Home security alarms do scare off burglars. Forty-two percent of burglars said that they left immediately when they saw an alarm system. Give Your Home Security a Boost If you don’t have a home security alarm, it is time to invest because that is the biggest deterrent when it comes to burglars entering your home. Here are some tips to help you give your home security the bump that you need: Install image sensors near all your windows or doors so that activity can be detected. If activity is detected, then the notification is sent to the monitoring center and to you. Smart lights are very good because they trigger at random times. This makes it appear as if someone is home although they aren’t. The lights can also be set to respond to certain events, such as movement in the home. If someone breaks in, a light can come on, and that can make the burglar go away. Surveillance cameras where there are high-valued items can be very useful. You can also place them near windows and doors. They can be placed inside and out. Back to the monitored home security alarm, one burglar gave advice to his own mother and that was for her to invest in an alarm system for her home so she would be protected. That says a lot when a burglar is telling his mother to protect herself against people like him. Other Security Tasks In addition to the items listed above, there are other things that you can do aside from keeping windows and doors locked and installing a security system. One thing is to make sure you lock your valuables away in a safe. Because burglars like to look in bedrooms first, you don’t want those things hiding under a mattress or in a drawer. If the safe is one that can be bolted to the floor or installed in a wall, you won’t lose those items. Also, never keep valuables sitting where a burglar can look through a window and see them. When they case the house, they are going to look through windows to see what they can steal. During the holiday season or even around birthdays, don’t leave empty boxes to electronics out with the trash. When a burglar sees that you have gotten a new television or computer, they are more likely to break into your home to steal those items. Make sure your windows and doors are locked while you’re inside. It is preached often that you need to lock them when you leave, but there are burglaries that happen while the occupants are home. This can be a very frightening experience. Make sure your doors are locked, windows are locked, and that your home security system is armed. That way if someone enters your home, your security system will alert you and the monitoring center will be alerted as well. Contact A Rochester Home Security Company One of the biggest things that you can do to ensure your home is safe from burglars is to contact SPS Fire & Security. Our experience, state-of-the-art equipment, and excellent service will help you protect everything that is important to you. To learn more, call us at 585-770-0348.
Keeping Your Home Safe During Halloween
Easily Protect Your Home on Halloween It’s almost that time of year when the ghouls and goblins come knocking at doors, asking for a trick or a treat. If you aren’t home because you are enjoying Halloween festivities or taking your own children to knock on doors, the last thing you want is for the trick to be on you. Having a good home alarm system on your home is one way to protect it from tricksters with far less than pure motives. However, there are other things that you can do to make sure you’re keeping your home safe inside and out among the Halloween mischief. 1. Inside and Outside – Candles It can be very tempting to light candles inside and outside of the home in order to give it that eerie glow on Halloween night. Unfortunately, Trick-or-Treaters can easily knock over lit candles that are outside and lit candles can also pose a fire hazard inside the house, especially when they aren’t supervised. LED tea lights or strings of orange decorative lights can be great ways to safely light the home for Halloween. 2. Inside – Keep the Lights On When you are out trick-or-treating with the kiddos or you are at that Halloween party you’ve waited all year for, you should leave lights on so that no one knows that you aren’t home. While there may be a lot of Trick-or-Treaters around the house, thieves may try and make their way in through the back or an area they won’t be easily seen. 3. Outside – Surveillance If you don’t already have video surveillance outside, now is the time. This can be part of a good home alarm system. With outside surveillance, you can catch those that vandalize your property. Unfortunately, spray paint, toilet paper, and smashed pumpkin pranks are common on and around Halloween. 4. Outside – Jack-O-Lanterns There’s nothing like having a good old Jack-O-Lantern sitting on the front porch, but do you use real candles? You may want to replace those candles with LED lights so that you don’t have an unsupervised flame outside. Unfortunately, Jack-O-Lanterns can be kicked or tipped over and that means the flame within could escape. 5. Inside – Strange Visitors It is very important that you not let children and their parents inside your home during Trick-or-Treat. A thief may be counting on this because it helps them case homes. All it takes is one peek inside and your home becomes a target. Sitting outside at the bottom of your porch steps is best. It keeps children from having to walk up steps and keeps thieves’ noses out of your business. 6. Outside – Handing Out Candy You don’t necessarily have to stay home in order to hand out candy. If you are part of a church that does a “truck-or-treat” event or any other organization that sets up in a parking lot and hands out candy, that may be your best bet. It keeps thieves from seeing where you live. Just remember that you want to set your home alarm system before you leave so that your home is safe while you’re gone. 7. Outside – Outdoor Lights Make sure your outdoor lights are working. Having security lights and other exterior lights lit up means people with less than pure motives will most likely stay off of your property. If they aren’t working, replace bulbs accordingly. Better lighting also helps outdoor video surveillance pick up vandals and thieves that may come onto the property. 8. Inside and Out – Decorations Make sure that indoor and outdoor decorations are a reasonable distance away from lights. Even if a strand of lights seems safe, it’s just better to be safe than sorry when decorating. There is an unfortunate history of strand lights catching holiday decorations on fire. 9. Outside – Know Trick-or-Treating Hours Make sure you know Trick-or-Treat hours. No one should be trick-or-treating after a certain time. If they are and they are knocking on your door, don’t answer the door. 10. Inside – Lock it Up Even if you’re home, make sure you keep your doors and windows locked at all times. You could be handing out candy on your front porch and someone could be walking in your back door or climbing through a window knowing they have a few minutes without getting caught because you’re busy handing out candy. Let SPS Fire & Security Protect Your Home So here you have ten tips for keeping your home secure and safe during Halloween. It is a fun time of year and there is nothing like seeing happy children getting treated while wearing a wide array of costumes. What’s not so fun is realizing your home has been broken into and that you have become a victim. Remember some key points, which are to arm your home alarm system, keep it locked, never let strangers inside of your house, and keep everything safely lit up. To learn more about how to protect your home, call us today at 585-770-0348. We serve the Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo, NY areas.
You’ve Had a Break In, Now What?
Protect Yourself from Future Break-Ins Now that you have had a break in, what are your options? You could continue to be the person you are and not look into having more safety precautions or you can look into your local security company to get a security alarm to better protect your home. If you continue to think that your dog is going to protect your house now that you have had your break in, you may be putting yourself at risk. Many people after having their property invaded are going to look into where the burglar broke in, what they stole, why they broke in, and what made them choose the house. Those are questions many people will ask themselves before jumping to other options. A burglar may have broken into windows that are within reach, such as a downstairs bathroom, bedroom or a sliding glass door. In that case the options that you could look into would be to get security sensors or check out the locks on the windows or doors to see if they are damaged. In addition, there are hundreds of individuals that live in communities where the crime rate for burglary happens to be low. Since the rate is down, many residences don’t feel like they need to be locking their doors to their home or cars. One home burglary in your community better be a sign to start protecting your home. How Are You Going To Protect Your Home Now That You Have Had A Break In? The main questions now that your property has been the victim, is what are you going to do to protect you and your family? Are you going to continue to live in the world where you think that you are ok to do exactly what you did before all this happened? Or are you going to step up your game for the next time that a burglar decides that your home is once again their target? Are you going to invest in a security system that has all the protection you need, such as sensors for your windows and doors, video surveillance, motion detectors, and better locks for your doors? Those are all of the things that you need to think about. Now if you think that security alarms are very costly, you need to think about how many times you’ve taken your dog to the vet. The amount of money that you put into your dog is the same amount you could put into your home. When looking into getting the proper system for your home, the best results would be to have a technician come to your property to talk with you about what it is that you are looking for and how much it would cost. You could start out little and, once you think that you need to get more protection for your family and home, you can add more. If you have kids, you definitely should be protecting the home while your kids are there. Your kids are a blessing and you don’t ever want something to happen to them. So when your children get off the bus, and they are allowed to stay home for a little while, you as a parent would like to protect them and, at the same time, know what they are doing. You as a parent can get video surveillance or sensors that monitor when your kids get home and when they lock the front door. Having an alarm when your kids are home is always a good idea, especially if your home has ever been broken into. Your kids might not feel safe to be there alone anymore if that has happened, but knowing that there is an alarm to protect them with make it easier. And here is something else to think about: Was your home broken into because you were a good target through a friend or a kid’s friend? Many times a burglar is someone that is in contact with a person that knows you or your family. Perhaps you have expensive jewelry, such as a wedding ring or another piece of jewelry, that is of value to you. Perhaps you had to do the dishes and set your rings aside. If you forget to put them back on, they are now sitting in your home. How would you feel if your valuable wedding ring that your spouse gave you on your special wedding day was stolen? It would be devastating. Do you lock up jewelry you aren’t wearing? Even if you do, there is still the potential that your jewelry and any other valuables could be stolen. What Is Your Next Step to Protect Your Home? Contact A Security Company Set up an appointment for a technician to come take a look at your home. The technician will talk about the different packages they offer. Explain to them what has happened to you and your home. They will talk with you about the equipment and what best suits you. How Much Are You Willing to Invest in Your Home? What you invest in your home says a lot about how much you are willing to protect your home. The more you put in the more you will be protecting. When choosing a security package for you home, always think about the important things you are trying to protect. Check Locks On Windows and Door Double check all locks on windows and doors. Replace any that are not working properly, especially when you are away from home for any amount of time, lock windows and doors. Never leave a key or code in any hidden place outside the house for someone to see. Don’t even do it if it is for your kids. If they cannot remember the code for the system or the home key, chances are they aren’t mature or responsible enough to stay home alone. Once The Alarm Is in, Monitor Daily Activity Monitoring daily activity through