ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 19, 1996 TAG: 9611190024
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: At Home With Technology
SOURCE: DAVID BUTLER
Q: I noticed an ad on a local TV station for a $199 security system, including installation. How is this possible? I spent nearly 10 times that much for an alarm system in my previous home. Have prices come down that much?
A: Not exactly If you read the fine print, you'll discover that to get that price, you must sign a long-term monitoring agreement - typically three or four years. Does that mean it's a bad deal? Not necessarily.
As the home security industry experiences a massive consolidation, the largest companies are shifting to mass marketing strategies - give away the razor; make money on the blade. In this case, the monitoring service is the ``blade.''
In order to make sense of the overall package, you need to consider three things: equipment, service, and price. Answers to the following questions will provide an objective basis for comparison.
Equipment: It's unlikely that the $199 ``special'' would be comparable to your previous system. How many window and door sensors are included? Is a motion detector included? Is the system protected from lightning? Does the console have a well-organized text-based display? Are the keys lighted? Do you get a hand-held remote? Does the system offer any home automation features?
Service: What are the terms of the warranty? Will the dealer charge you for service calls if there's an equipment problem? What type of training will be provided? Does the contract cover annual system inspections and maintenance? If your community has a false alarm ordinance, under what circumstances will the dealer pay any fines that are imposed?
Price: What's the total price you'll pay over the duration of the contract? Will you own the equipment at the end of the contract? What might you pay for a monitoring service if you already had a system? (Check this out for yourself!) Will the monthly monitoring fee go down after the initial contract expires? Can the system be expanded? At what cost?
You might think that the alarm industry would be after me for ``giving away'' their secrets. On the contrary, reputable dealers know that an educated consumer nearly always chooses value over hype. As in most lines of business, a handful of rotten apples often makes it harder for everyone else.
Here are some classic ``gotcha's'' to watch out for: Bait and switch - the salesman quickly shifts your attention to an upgrade system costing several times more than the one advertised. A liturgy of add-ons - makes you wonder what the $199 included! Trunk-slammers - here today, gone tomorrow.
If you do nothing else: Ask the dealer for references and check them out. Try to find out what the person likes and dislikes about the system, the dealer's staff, and the monitoring station personnel. Also, find out how long the dealer has been in business in your community.
Finally, find out whether the dealer belongs to a professional or trade association and is duly licensed by your state government. If you have access to the Internet, you can find a list of state alarm dealer associations at www.alarm.org. Or you can contact the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association directly by writing to 7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 901, Bethesda, Md. 20814. Or you can contact the Virginia Burglar and Fire Alarm Association in Richmond at (804) 673-3816.
Regardless of how little you pay up front, a security system represents a sizable investment. More importantly, it may be all that stands in between your family and an intruder. It pays to become an informed consumer.
To receive a list of companies that manufacture residential security systems, please send $2 and a self-addressed envelope to David Butler F-626, Department TWN, P.O. Box 36352, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236-0352. The list includes toll-free phone numbers and a summary of each company's products. You'll also receive tips on upgrading an existing alarm system.
Q: I'm in the process of building a two-story colonial house. When laying out the window and door sensors for my alarm system, the dealer suggested that we skip the second floor windows, saving me several hundred dollars. Is this wise?
A: Windows need only be protected when they're accessible from the ground or an intermediate roof. A burglar is unlikely to try to break into an upper floor window while dangling from a ladder. Alternatively, you could opt for a strategically placed motion sensor in an upstairs hallway.
David Butler is a consultant and free-lance writer who specializes in home automation and advanced consumer products. Send questions or comments to Butler at 14713 Pleasant Hill Road, Charlotte, N.C . 28278.
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