Homeowners who are seeking to install a home security system can easily get overwhelmed by the sheer number of alarm monitoring companies that are available and the wide range of services that they offer. Choosing the right home security company for your needs can be tricky if you are unsure of what you are looking for, or haven’t researched the market adequately. So before you get started, consider using this list of tips on how to compare alarm monitoring companies.

Compare Service Offerings

All alarm monitoring companies offer burglar alarm monitoring services. Some vendors though bundle a series of other options that customers can choose from in addition to burglar alarm monitoring. For example, many companies these days offer fire and smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and flooding alerts as part of their portfolio of monitoring services. So when comparing alarm monitoring companies decide what exactly you want from the service provider. If all you are looking for is basic burglar alarm monitoring, there is little reason to choose a more expensive service provider who offers a range of other options as well.

Cheapest is Not Always the Best Option

Cost is not the only factor. The prices for home monitoring services can vary considerably. Remember that the cheapest option may not always be the best option. Some of the better established security monitoring companies typically charge more for their service compared to smaller, local companies. However, the bigger companies also usually have better security monitoring infrastructures and are better equipped to respond to emergencies than small firms. So when choosing between multiple vendors, make sure to check what kind of monitoring infrastructures they have.

Inquire About the Vendor’s Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Capabilities

Reliable alarm monitoring companies will have built-in redundancies for handling power failures and disruptions arising from equipment failures. Make sure that any vendor you choose has the ability to continue delivering monitoring services even when their primary operations center is disabled.

Verify the Quality of the Service Provider

When comparing alarm monitoring companies find out whether the equipment and the operations center are certified to Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standards. Inquire about the quality of employee training programs at each vendor, and find out if those monitoring calls at the operation centers are qualified to handle and respond to emergency situations.

Verify the Vendor’s Credentials

Ask vendors for customer references. Reputable alarm monitoring companies will have a ready list of satisfied customers who are willing to offer their opinions on the quality of the company’s services.