Situations like this get us worked up at SafeMart because this is something that can be prevented and is a major reason why we push LiveWatch Interactive Services and home automation–you should always know what is going on in your home!

In order to illustrate how helpful a system can be in preventing a situation like EJ’s, let’s assume that when you rent your home out, you want to:

1. Store valuables in a particular room or closet;
2. Only provide access to certain rooms;
3. Change the locks after the tenant’s stay; and
4. Maintain the ability to actually see your home during the rental period.

First, you’ll want to add a security system that uses cellular communication and that has interactive services.  This does 2 things:

1. The system cannot be disabled by cutting the phone line (because it doesn’t use a phone line); and
2. Gives you access to your system from anywhere in the world (see the iPhone app interface to the right).

To secure the room where you’re storing your valuables, a door contact that monitors the opening and closing of a door as well as a motion detector that monitors movement will do the trick. You can also monitor the container where you store your valuables by using a wireless door contact and setting your interactive services settings to alert you if the container is opened.

EJ’s biggest concern after the incident was that the keys might have been copied–naturally she was scared that the vandals might return.  Avoid making copies of keys altogether by installing a door handle that works with your security system that doesn’t require a key.  This gives you the ability to lock and unlock the door remotely and will also allow you to give the tenants a passcode rather than a key.  Using SafeMart’s LiveWatch Interactive Services you can delete the passcode remotely after the tenant has left and add a new passcode for the next tenant.

Lastly, if you want the ability to see the inside of your home while you’re renting it, add a wireless IP camera to the system.  Our cameras can be controlled remotely and don’t require a physical connection to the Internet in your home!

Anytime a customer purchases a system after they’ve been burglarized, we feel awful.  While we are always happy to help after the fact, it is even more exciting to prevent issues rather than react to them. If you have people coming into your home, please take the above precautions to make sure that even while you’re not there, you have control over your home.

Sam McBride is focused on business development and operational strategy for Bolster LLC and it’s subsidiaries, which include Able Security and SafeMart (SafeMart.com).

© samacmcbride for Security World News, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Phone line is an adequate form of alarm monitoring communication:
• Remote Locations: if your cell phone doesn’t get any signal, your alarm panel may not either. Homes or businesses that are far off the beaten path, high up in the mountains or way out in the country may be candidates for a phone line based security system
• Already Installed: if you live in or move into a home that already had everything prewired and it’s working properly you will have basic functionality–adding a wireless back up until to make sure your system can’t be disabled is highly recommended

Problems with phone line monitoring:
• Vulnerability: A phone line system is disabled when the phone line is cut and your system becomes totally useless.
• Cost: Paying for a phone line each month and having to wire an entire home is expensive and time consuming.
• Boring: Frankly, it’s just boring. You can’t incorporate home automation, you can’t download a cool app from iTunes and you can’t check your systems status remotely!

Cellular is the best form of alarm monitoring communication:
• Cost Savings: Getting rid of your phone line and not having to run a phone line to the panel can save you enough to pay for the difference in cellular monitoring.
• Improved Pricing: Cellular service was once much more expensive than phone line communication. Some companies still charge between $40 and $70 for basic cellular service, but there are also companies that offer basic cellular monitoring for less than $20 and interactive services for les than $30. No longer is cost a barrier to reliable service.
• Reliability: With a cellular system, a criminal can’t disable the system because there is nothing for the burglar to cut.
• It is really easy to use: Some companies now offer systems that are configured on the back end and when it arrives in the mail, it is ready to install in only about 20 minutes! This is a great video explaining how anyone can install a system on his or her own and save $100s.
• It’s more fun: Cellular communication opens up all kinds of doors for interactive services. Panels like the Simon XT allow the customer to control their lights, door locks, thermostats and allows the customer to check on their system from their phone or computer
The bottom line is that phone line systems aren’t as reliable, they can cost more money than cellular systems and the technology is far inferior to cellular systems. If you’re thinking about a new security system, make it cellular.

Sam McBride is focused on business development and operational strategy for Bolster LLC and it’s subsidiaries, which include Able Security and SafeMart (SafeMart.com).

© samacmcbride for Security World News, 2011. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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