What to Look For When Choosing An Alarm Provider
Dear Homeowner: Thank you for considering ProTELEC Alarms as your home safety provider. For over forty years, ProTELEC has been protecting our customers' property and loved ones, and we take great pride in ensuring all your questions and concerns are answered before you make a decision on what system is right for you. This document has been designed to give you a brief overview of the kinds of questions you should be asking an alarm company before you sign on the dotted line. We've built our business on our commitment to provide professional, caring service long after the original sale. I hope you take a few moments to review this material - I know you'll find it to be a useful resource. As a long standing member of the Canadian Security Association (CANASA), we'd also like to acknowledge CANASA for contributing some of the material included in the following pages. Once again, on behalf of ProTELEC thank you for the opportunity and we look forward to working with you. Best Regards, The goal is to be informed and comfortable with your final decision. Everyone's needs and priorities are different and it's the job of your home security provider to help you identify those needs and make the right choices. Rial Black, General Manager ProTELEC Alarms 1968 2010 C e n t ProTELEC Alarms r a 42 l S t YEARS at ion o M n g n i r o t i
Introduction What to Look For When Choosing A Provider It is extremely important when selecting an alarm company to focus your attention on how each company makes the effort to work with you to gain an understanding of what you are looking for in a system, however large or small that system may be. A quality service provider will arrange an appointment to evaluate your home, ask questions about your lifestyle (do you have small children? Pets?), and also find out other factors such as budget considerations and your personal preferences for protection. A quality service provider will answer questions clearly and will help you to gain a basic idea of what it is you are looking for so you can make an apples to apples comparison and an informed decision. The final determination of what your needs are is something you as a homeowner will ultimately have to decide. A security system is not something that you should buy off the shelf; it should be customized to meet your needs and finances. A basic system will take a two stage approach to securing your premise. The first will monitor the perimeter access points (doors & windows), the second will monitor the interior by detecting movement inside the premise (motion detectors, etc.) A combination of perimeter and interior detection is the most commonly used, however, either may be used independently depending on your needs and requirements. MONITORED SMOKE DETECTORS The Life Safety Equipped Home KEYPAD WINDOW & DOOR CONTACTS PET-IMMUNE MOTION DETECTORS CO DETECTORS LOW TEMPERATURE DETECTION INTEGRATED ALARM COMMUNICATION WITH WIRELESS BACK-UP KEYPAD MOISTURE SENSOR (basement / mechanical room) GLASSBREAK DETECTORS
When discussing your needs with a company there are several questions you should consider asking to assess the capability of the company: 1. Will the company provide a detailed quote? You would be wise to obtain a minimum of three quotes before making a decision. 2. How long has the company been in business and are they a registered or incorporated company? 3. Does the company carry professional liability insurance? 4. Once an agreement has been reached, will the company provide you with a contract and if so, will it outline the applicable warranties, costs, and services included in the price? 5. Will the system be monitored 24 hours a day and if servicing is required, what is the cost and how quickly can it be performed? 6. Will the company provide the necessary training on the system as part of the price?
Another important aspect in determining the capability of the alarm company is in their approach to you as a potential customer. A professional will: 1. Not criticize a competitor; they will however, highlight their own strengths in providing a service. 2. Be properly dressed and discuss the potential sale of a system in a business-like manner. 3. Review the premise as a whole and make recommendations regarding the overall protection of your assets. The review should include, but not be limited to: reviewing the entrance ways, reviewing the lighting, reviewing the doors and windows, and checking locks. A true professional will provide you with written information needed to make an educated decision. In electing to purchase an alarm system, it is important for the consumer to understand their own responsibility. False alarms represent a problem that is of concern to the industry, police and to users of alarm systems. A false alarm is an alarm that is generated by a system when no emergency exists. While the responsibility of the alarm company is to ensure that the system is designed and installed properly, the user has the responsibility of ensuring that the system is operated properly and not abused.
An alarm provider should inform you of your responsibilities and explain that as an alarm owner you will have to: 1. Understand how to use the system and be sure that everyone who needs to use the system understands how to use it as well. 2. Inform the alarm company if changes are made to your premises (ie: renovations) to be sure that the alarm system will continue to operate as designed. 3. Test the system on a regular basis as agreed to with your alarm company. 4. Have regular maintenance checks on your system.
And Finally Thank you for giving ProTELEC Alarms the opportunity to protect your home and loved ones. We look forward to discussing your needs and providing a solution that will give you the peace of mind you deserve for you, your loved ones and your property. Feel free to have this document ready when our residential security representative comes to your home. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about ProTELEC or home security in general.
Winnipeg 204-949-1417 Brandon 204-727-7176 Calgary 403-240-2411 toll free 1-877-387-4730 website www.protelecalarms.com Protecting Life and Property Since 1968