Alarm Systems Not Just for the Wealthy Anymore

Over the last 25 years that I have been involved in the security alarm industry, I have seen quite an evolution. The changes have not only taken place in what type of equipment is available, but also in how the consumer buys and uses the equipment.

When I first started in the business, alarms where used mostly for commercial applications. Businesses had to have them to watch over their product while they were closed. Insurance companies made sure their clients had one installed.

Residential alarm systems were owned mostly by well to do professionals who could afford such a luxury. As the years progressed people in or near big cities were getting burglarized and wanted to send future burglars to the neighbor’s house by installing a system in their home.

In the nineties large alarm companies speculated that the potential of the residential market was not being realized. Homeowners were not willing to layout thousands of dollars to protect their color televisions and stereos because that would be like buying them again anyway. Homeowners would rather gamble on the hope that they would not be victimized anytime soon.

As crime increased almost daily and alarm companies made purchasing a system affordable, the residential market grew considerably. Many more homeowners were realizing the peace of mind they could have by protecting their things while they were out. Many that didn’t purchase a system were getting burglarized and would then of course pay for a high cost system without hesitation, so that they could prevent the inevitable return.

What happened next in my opinion is the biggest change the industry has undergone. As more homes were being burglarized and changes in lifestyles allowed people to come home at different hours of the day, the terrifying prospect of walking in on a burglary in progress became all too possible. The burglars also became so desperate and brazen that they started to invade homes while they were occupied. These types of burglars started to commit crimes of a much worse nature against the homeowners that confronted them. In reaction, alarm consultants began to change their focus: alarm systems should be designed and utilized to protect people first and property second.

These days most anyone can afford an alarm system. Arm yourself with the knowledge of how to get the best deal and most protection for your money. There should be no reason that you allow yourself to become a statistic if you don’t want to be one. The hardest thing you may have to overcome is the feeling that you live in a safe neighborhood. What does a safe neighborhood look like? Is it possible you may be confusing a nice neighborhood with a safe one?

Do you need a system?

Very few people that I have met in my many years of security consulting knew before they were burglarized that they needed a system. For those that did have the unfortunate experience of being victimized, I would actually have to talk them out of buying more than they needed. I took great pride in my ability to calm down the customers enough to learn how to properly protect their family and home from future invasion. This approach always made my clients very appreciative of my services and would generally result in a long term- user of our monitoring service and in many referrals.

For those that had not yet been burglarized, I found that the consultations started with their feeling that security was just a luxury they were considering as a tool to protect their things. I then would show them exactly what was going on in their neighborhoods in the way of burglaries and the always unexpected number of sexual predators. This would always surprise the homeowners, unless they already knew that they had moved into an area that was not so safe.

Most people believe that the lovely neighborhood they chose to live in is safe. Think about it. If a burglar is going to break into a house, don’t they want to steal the most valuables they can on each invasion? Doesn’t the perpetrator of more violent crimes want to prey on an unsuspecting victim? Please don’t be so naive as to confuse your nice neighborhood with a safe one. Many people in your neighborhood fall into a false sense of security and don’t even lock the front door while they are home during the day. How easy is that for someone to enter through?

After showing a potential client how a home security system would protect their family and themselves from several different types of crimes as well as assisting them in emergency situations, the necessity of having a system would become obvious to them.

If you can afford to install a security system before something happens to you or your loved ones, or before you have to find out what it’s like for some creep to rifle through your personal belongings, do it now! You will get much more out of your system if it prevents these crimes because you are likely to spend whatever you have to after the fact.

Absolute Security Alarms will be happy to show you, without obligation, how to get the best available equipment to help you with your family safety campaign, at remarkably affordable prices. Our consultations are performed by highly trained, salaried employees and not commission hungry sales people. Our consultations are always without cost and you will be educated properly on all the options that are available to you.