Central Station
Home Security Monitoring
The first home security monitoring option that you should really consider is to have an alarm company’s central station monitor your DIY alarm system.
Of the
three home security monitoring options
available, central station monitoring is usually your most expensive choice.
(Monitoring fees can range from $8 to $20 to $50 to $100 + per month).It’s also referred to as third party monitoring.(Click here for a more detailed look at the second and third monitoring options). © TerryJ | istockphoto
In order to choose the right service, you must consider the following:
The Advantages - The biggest advantages of Central Station alarm monitoring is the:1. reliability of service and2. the human factor.Advantages that cannot be found in other monitoring options. © HHLtDave5 | istockphoto 1. A reliable service will give peace-of-mind.It is extremely comforting to know that qualified central station operators are keeping an eye on your alarm system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If your alarm system does signal a problem, they will dispatch the proper emergency personnel to help you.
2. The human factor is not present in either Stand-Alone and Technology-Based monitoring. Both are great options, but they rely on your electronic alarm system calling you or sending you an email in the event of a problem. But what if you miss that call or email? An automatic phone dialers can be programmed to call 911, but central station operators are trained to take decisive action. They are trained to use their own human judgment and adapt to individual situations.
Being UL Certified - Make sure that the alarm company is
UL certified
. The Underwriters Laboratories is a non-prifit organization has been around for over 100 years. They are a world leader in public safety, certification, in product testing. A UL certified central station is one that can provide standards-complying service to monitor your alarm system. It has met all monitoring and safety requirements set forth out by the UL. These includes: - receiving and monitoring equipment
- building structure
- installation
- ongoing service
- staffing
Finding the Company - More and more alarm companies are now willing to monitor DIY home security systems. Their central station policies are now more flexible so as to accommodate this ever-growing market.
© jhorrocks | istockphotoThe challenge is finding them. You can search the Internet. A search term that brought us good results was Central Stations That Monitor DIY Alarms. But use any search term you feel is relevant.
The Disadvantages - The home security companies that are willing to monitor your DIY alarm systems will charge you a monthly fee to do so.This price can range anywhere from $8-$10 dollars a month or higher. This is still a lot cheaper than what the big alarm companies charge. © jgroup | istockphoto They may ask for a 12 month payment in advance. They typically add a one time activation fee of about $100 on the bill, and try to lock you into a 2 or 3 year contract. The golden rule is not to be in a rush. Take your time when choosing a home security monitoring service. Get quotes from many companies and compare: - price
- activation costs
- services offered
- contract commitment
Don't be afraid to ask them what their average response time is, and give them the model number of your alarm system. At this point they will try to sell you extra sensors, keypads, detectors and other home security products. Don't be intimidated by scare tactics. Decide how much protection is right for you. For more information, visit the
Home Security Review
page. Home security monitoring via an alarm company's central station is clearly your best option.
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