Contracts Explain Fees & Cancellation PoliciesThe length of your contract determines your overall costs and cancellation fees. Most home monitoring services require one- to three-year contracts, though five-year contracts exist. The best contracts offer services on month-to-month basis without cancelation fees. In most cases, you can expect the contract to renew automatically on a month-to-month basis when the main term is up.

Perhaps the most tedious part of a home security monitoring contract is an early-cancellation policy that requires you to pay most or all of the balance remaining on your account. While a perfect cancellation policy has no fees, one requiring you to pay 80 percent or less of your balance is better than one requiring 100 percent payoff.

The final policy you should be aware of is the equipment return policy. These let you return your system without cancellation fees during a narrow window right after your contract starts. Depending on the company, equipment return policies end in as little as three days or as long as a year after installation.

Customer ServiceCustomer service is similar to Wi-Fi, where more bars mean a stronger signal. In customer service, more support channels and useful operating hours lead to a better signal.

We prefer companies that provide support over social media. This is a reliable channel since a public post or private message on a companys Facebook or Twitter page often gets a quick response. Other effective support channels include live chat and phone, though phone support is less ideal. Email is the slowest support channel.

Psychological Barriers, Not Physical OnesUnfortunately, home security monitoring services can't physically stop intruders from entering your home. However, they can be a reliable psychological deterrent by leveraging an intruder's fear of getting caught. In fact, a Cromwell-Olson-Avary study, as cited by Alarm.org, said nine out of 10 criminals avoid homes with an alarm system. This is a main reason security monitoring companies include yard signs and window decals with your system, as a visible warning. If the intruder ignores these, a loud siren provides more incentive to leave.

24/7 Home Security MonitoringHome security monitoring services watch your home 24/7. For example, if an alarm triggers, the monitoring company contacts you to see if you're okay. If there's no reply, or you ask for assistance, the company contacts the appropriate emergency services.

Security Devices IncludedYou can expect a basic security system to have at least three devices: a control panel, entry sensors for doors and windows, and motion detectors. Most equipment runs on batteries and wirelessly connects to the control panel. The control panel requires a power cable most of the time but often has a battery backup to keep it working during power outages. Companies might include extra devices as an incentive, but it's not always free.

Smartphone AppsThe best security monitoring services provide cellular or internet monitoring and a mobile app that lets you arm, disarm and control your system with a smartphone. The mobile app may also let you control other device you get for your system such as a thermostat, lights, smart locks and security cameras; however, these features usually require an upgrade to a higher-priced plan.

WarrantyWarranties usually last as long your contract and can be used to replace defective sensors at no cost. However, some companies charge for shipping the new sensor or the service call to your home. In fact, most service calls require a fee at the time of service or a small monthly fee in addition to your monitoring fee. Most warranties require you use a test mode once a month to look for faulty sensors and dead batteries. These warranties do not cover the cost of new batteries.

Alarm PermitsMost cities require you to register your security system, even if you install it yourself. The FTC recommends you contact your city's police and fire departments to find out the regulations where you live. By registering for a permit, you agree to pay for false alarms that burden emergency responders. You can also ask your monitoring company for information about permits.

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Best Home Security Monitoring Services of 2018 (Including ...

How does Amazon Key work with Alexa?

After you install and set up your Amazon Key Home Kit, you can enable the Amazon Key skill in the Alexa App for your Alexa-enabled device. Once enabled, you can ask Alexa, lock my front door or Alexa, is my front door locked to check the status. Learn more.

Currently, we do not support Prime household account sharing for in-home delivery or controls in the Amazon Key App. Using the Amazon Key App, you can create guest profiles for household members for access privileges.

In order to use Amazon Key Home Kit benefits, you need an Amazon Cloud Cam (Key Edition) and an Amazon Key-compatible smart lock. Learn more.

No, optional in-home delivery is available to Prime members in select cities and surrounding areas. Check your eligibility.

Enable in-home delivery in the Amazon Key App and shop on Amazon using the address that you installed the Amazon Key Home Kit. Then, you will see the FREE in-home delivery shipping option at checkout for eligible Prime items.

On delivery day, youll receive a notification in the morning with a 4-hour delivery window for when the delivery driver will arrive at your home. Right before the driver arrives at your door, you will receive an Arriving Now notification and you can optionally watch the delivery happening live. The driver will knock first and then request to unlock your door with their Amazon handheld scanner. Amazon verifies that the package belongs to the address and the driver is near the door, turns on Amazon Cloud Cam and unlocks your door. No special codes or keys are given to the driver. The driver will then place the package just inside your door and request to relock the door. Once the delivery is complete and your door is relocked, youll get a final notification and can watch a video clip of the delivery.

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Amazon.com: Amazon Key Home Kit: Amazon Devices & Accessories

AL: 001484, 001504 Complaints may be directed to the Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure, 7956 Vaughn Road, PMB 392 Montgomery, AL 36116, (334) 264-9388; AR: 12-030 Regulated by the Department of Arkansas State Police, 1 State Police Plaza Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72209, (501) 618-8600; AZ: ROC 280515, BTR 18287-0; CA: CSLB 974291, ACO 7118 Licensed and regulated by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Department of Consumer Affairs, Sacramento, CA, 95814; CT: ELC 0189754-C5; DE: FAL-0299, FAC-0293, SSPS 11-123; FL: EF0000921, EF20001002, EF0001095; GA: LVU406303, LVU406264, LVU406190; LVU406354; IL: PACA 127-001503; LA: F1691; MA: SS-001968; MD: 107-1776; ME: LM50017039; MI: 3601206217; MN: TS674412; MS: 15018010; NC: 2335-CSA; NJ: Burglar and Fire Alarm Business Lic. # 34BF00047700; NM: 373379; NY: licensed by the N.Y.S. Department of State 12000305421; OH: LIC# 53-89-1732; OR: CCB 192945; SC: BAC-13497, FAC-13440; TN: ACL 1597, ACL 1604; TX: ACR-1672104,-1818, B16922, B02571 Licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773, (512) 424-7293; UT: 8226921-6501; VA: 2705145289, DCJS 11-7361; VT: ES-02366; WA: COMCABS892DS; WASHINGTON, DC: ECS 902687, BBL 602512000005; WV: WV049211. Valid 4/19/17. See http://www.xfinity.com/home-security for current list.

XFINITY HOME Refund Policy for Pre-Payments: If you make a pre-payment prior to installation of your XFINITY Home service, such pre-payment will be applied as a credit to charges due on the following months bill from Comcast. In the event you cancel your XFINITY Home service, your pre-payment will be applied instead to any other charges due on your bill for Comcast services. You will not receive a cash or credit card refund of your pre-payment. However, if all of your services from Comcast are disconnected, or if Comcast is otherwise required under applicable law to refund the pre-payment, Comcast will, within forty-five (45) days or as otherwise specified by applicable law, return a sum equal to the pre-payments your made (without interest unless otherwise required by law) minus any amounts due on your account (including, without limitation, any amounts owed for any services or for any equipment that is damaged, altered or not returned).

For Prince Georges, Maryland Customers: If we disconnect your service(s) or are otherwise required under applicable law to refund the pre-payment, we shall within thirty (30) days or your next billing cycle, whichever is earlier, return a sum equal to the pre-payments(s) you paid (without interest unless otherwise required by law) minus any amounts due on your account (including without limitation, any amounts owed for the service(s) or for any equipment that is damaged, altered, or not returned). Remote access not available with all smartphones. Standard data charges apply to text alerts. Check with your carrier. Any other equipment not included in offer and taxes extra.

System Takeover is not available in all areas and use of existing equipment is subject to condition and type, as determined by the Technician. Actual energy savings may vary based on usage and other factors. Visit http://energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver for details.

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XFINITY Home Security Systems, Alarm Systems from Comcast

Welcome to Home Security Guide, a site devoted to helping you make the right home security system choice for your family. Early on we realized that all home security systems arent created with the same set of needs in mind. Some are created as a full service, well do it all for you type of setup. These setups are great for people that dont mind paying a bit more so they dont ever have to tinker with or build their own home security system.

Other systems are tailored to the DIYer at heart. These systems will have an immense number of options, from different camera types all the way to which specific sensors you want in your home. They can be as cheap or as expensive as you can dream up, and as such are incredibly modular.

The fact remains that every household is different, therefore you need the home security solution that will fit your lifestyle the best.

We created Home Security Guide to illuminate the path to a happy home security decision. We regularly review the best home security options specific to cities around the United States. We then go deeper into why we believe certain options are the best for that given location.

At the heart of what we do, we want to help you answer the question Which home security system is best for me?

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Home - Home Security Guide

The City of Alexandria, VAAlexandria, Virginia, located in Alexandria County, has a population of 138,999. The population has increased 8 percent since 2000. The average temperature in January is 34 and 79 in July. The population is made up of 69,101 households, with an average household size of 1 person. Alexandria households include around 66,974 men and 72,023 women. In Alexandria, 32 percent of its citizens are married and of the 69,101 households, 45 percent are families with two or more people living in the home. Approximately 19 percent of homes have one or more children living at home. The median age of Alexandria residents is 35 years. The region is home to manyWashington Nationalssport fans. With a carbon monoxide index of 89, amidst growing concerns about health, we highly suggest protecting your life with a carbon monoxide sensor.Crime in Alexandria, VirginiaThe local Alexandria, Virginia crime index is 108, compared to the national crime index risk score of 100. Scores are based on demographic and geographic analyses crime over seven years. Every half hour 21 robberies, 42 vehicle thefts, 44 assaults, 128 burglaries and 352 thefts occur in the United States. On average homes are three times less likely to be broken into when there's an alarm system installed. Having a home security system is essential for residents living in and around Alexandria. One in four Alexandria homes may be burglarized in a year's time with an average loss of more than $1,700. This could be higher in some areas of Virginiahome security systems save money and lives.Security Risks for People Living in Alexandria, VAWith a higher threat of crime in Alexandria, we strongly recommend a Protection 1 security system for your home or business. Call 1 (866) 234-9412 to speak with a Security Solution Specialist and to arrange your FREE home security evaluation.In addition to securing your home from intruders, a security system also provides the option to add 24-hour monitored smoke and fire detection, which works even when your system is disarmed. This not only saves lives and properties from damage, but typically provides potential discounts on homeowners insurance. Protection 1 Security in Alexandria Our house alarm systems include constantly monitored home alarms, fire alarms and considerably more. Numbering over 20,000, our team of security professionals includes professional installers, experienced service technicians and knowledgeable customer service representatives providing first class home security and business security services for you every day.As the largest security company serving Alexandria, we offer the best local home security that Alexandriaresidents rely on every day. A home security system is only as good as the people who monitor your security system. Be sure to do your research and check with the local BBB before picking a home security company for your Alexandria home security needs.We maintain an A+ BBB rating; are accredited by the BBB and more than 8 million customers trust us to protect their homes and businesses through the U.S. and Canada.

Our customer support is available 24/7 by Phone, Email and Live Chat.

County: Alexandria

Median Age: 35 Years

Median Commute: 28 Min

Educational Climate: 5*

Recycling Likelihood: 132**

Sales Tax: 5%

Closest Airport: Ronald Reagan Washington National

Closest College: Devry University

Closest Jr. College: Tesst College Of Technology

Population: 138,999

Population Density: 9,136 Persons Per Square Mile

Population Change Since 2000: 8%

Median Household Income: $81,149

Annual Residential Turnover: 30%

Median Years in Residence: 2 Years

Median Home Sales Price: $314,000

Change Avg. Household Income Since 2000: 43%

*Scale from 1-5 **Index where 100 is the national average

The following data includes the local score compared to the national average of 100.

Legend

Severe

Elevated

Low

Local home security and home automation systems, professional installation, 24-hour alarm monitoring of your Alexandria, Virginia home security system.

Protection 1 Home Security

National Office

800 E Waterman

https://www.protection1.com/local/images/logo.png

24 Hour Customer Service

Phone: (877) 776-1911

Open 24 hours

Local Contact Information

Local: (316) 854-1190

Fax: (800) 937-3354

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Home Security in Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia

Dear EICAR Member,

As decided at last year's Members Meeting there will be no classical EICAR Conference held in 2017. However, EICAR has booked a conference room for the 12th October 2017 at the ITSa in Nrnber and we will hold our Members Meeting there on 12th October, commencing at 15:00.The Board will give you an update on the current situation of EICAR and our understanding on the way ahead for the near future.We will put all efforts into the "Trustworthiness Strategy", which will require some changes in our current fee structure for corporate members which require the approval of the members.lt is therefore of utmost important that as many members as possible will join us at the meeting in Nuernberg.

Invitation Membersmeeting 2017

Agenda Membersmeeting 2017

Registration for EICAR Meeting 2017

The next WG2 meeting is scheduled for Sep. 28th 2017 in Bonn, Germany.Presentations will be held in German.

Das nchste WG2-Treffen ist fr read more >>

The presentations from EICAR Conference 2016 held on October 17th and 18th in Nuremberg, Germany,are online.

We had to inform you, that the test file downloads from our new server are not correct until now.

The correct EICAR test file string was not included in these files.

Today we moved the EICAR web sites to a new server location.

We hope nothing is wrong. If you find an error please send us an email.

read more >>

news archive >>

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DIY installations can also be simpleif you know what youre doing. The two biggest drawbacks that you might run into are the lack of professional help and second-guessing yourself. But beyond that, DIY installations give you a lot more control because you can decide where to place your devices and sensors. And if you encounter any issues or feel stuck, you can always call and have a professional help you over the phone. That being said, depending on the security system, it can take you longer to set up and get everything running. But with a DIY installation, not only do you have a sense of pride in your accomplishment, you also save money because most DIY installations are free.

If you find you need help, you usually have one of two support options: electronic prompts or verbal walk-throughs.

Electronic Prompts: With electronic prompts, your security system company will give you verbal guidance (in the form of a computerized voice) as you set up your system. It will also let you know how to ensure that all your sensors are connected and working.

Verbal Walk-Through: In contrast, with a verbal walk-through, you'll call an installation professional who will guide you through the process over the phone and make sure your equipment works properly.

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5 Best Home Security & Alarm Systems of 2017 - SafeWise Reviews

Who wants to live in a slammer? Home security has never been an artful enterprise few choices exist outside jailhouse grills that seem to incarcerate homeowners rather than block intruders.

Enter sculptor David Hollen, who creates nature-inspired gate and window screen designs that may have thieves snapping photos instead of latches. Built primarily from three-sixteenths-inch plate steel, the structures riff on nature found in homeowners own backyards.

Hollen works from his HollenArt Studio in downtown Los Angeles and has built nearly a dozen security projects, priced from $2,000 for small window screens to more than $12,000 for larger gates, not including outsourced installation costs.

Pasadena homeowner Doug Hammett has commissioned six projects. The most striking is a side tree gate topped with a tumble of sharply pointed maple leaves that are both beautiful and dangerous.

There had been some theft in the neighborhood, and instead of just getting a gate from Home Depot, I thought, how can I do this aesthetically? said Hammett, 53, an artist.

David Hollen

Sharp-edged steel maple leaves top a steel gate.

Sharp-edged steel maple leaves top a steel gate. (David Hollen)

Hollen designed the $5,000 gate 15 years ago and recently added the steely maple leaves on top ($1,800) and along an adjacent fence ($3,500) which reference Hammetts backyard Chinese maples.

I got the idea by looking at dried fallen leaves and the tips that get rather pointy, said Hollen, 56, whos also working on an oak leaf design.

He designed a variety of leaf shapes and sizes and welded them onto the gate and onto a metal strip bolted to the side fence. The artist primes and then paints his work with the industrial finish architectural bronze, a warmer alternative to stark black.

A water theme permeates other works in Hammetts home: a $5,000 wave gate references artist Katsushika Hokusais turbulent wave motifs, and a $7,000 Dutch door pays homage to another Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, and her passion for polka dots, circles and bubble-like forms.

A slim 7-foot-tall window screen resembles a rippled pond struck with pebbles ($3,500). Monkey silhouettes play among concentric whirls on two kitchen window grates ($3,500 total). The overlapping rings are designed to prevent hands from reaching through the screens.

The bane of this kind of work are 5-year-olds who jump up and climb on it, said Hollen, whos also designing back-patio features for Union Stations Traxx restaurant. A gate has to bear weight and stay within code so kids cant stick their heads through and get stuck.

David Hollen

A silhouetted monkey plays among concentric steel rings.

A silhouetted monkey plays among concentric steel rings. (David Hollen)

Other work is more decoratively functional: A $12,500 gate resembles a tree flanked by meadow grasses and flowers. The structure hems in a West Hollywood couples front-entrance patio (it keeps their cat inside).

Hollen hand-draws his designs in a raster program, converting them to a vector, a kind of blueprint read by an outsourced laser cutter that cuts the patterns. Both the design work and its execution are exacting.

Im working within intolerances of 5,000ths of an inch, about the thickness of a piece of paper, he said.

hotproperty@latimes.com

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Home security gets arty with nature-inspired gate and window designs - Los Angeles Times

A new home security survey by Schlage found that three out of four Americans have doubted whether they locked their door.

CARMEL, Ind. Schlage, an Allegion brand ofadvanced lock products, has released a nationwide home security survey revealing that the majority of Americans have doubted whether they locked their door.

Released in tandem with Wakefield Research, the survey of an estimated 1,000 U.S. adults 18 and older showed 75% of Americans have felt uncertain about whether or not they locked their doors.

That statistic jumpsto nearly 83% among millennials and 81% among parents.

The survey also revealed that 43% of consumers have experienced or know someone who has experienced a break-in when they were not home.

As technology evolves, locking devices will continue to advance and offer additional capabilities, saysAnn Matheis, marketing director at Allegion.

Security dealers and integrators should take heed of this new information. As the popularity of smart home devices continues to increase, there are a number of solutions available to ease end users fears.

Solutions like the August Smart Lock Pro and Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt allow end users to control and check the status of their locks from anywhere with their mobile devices.

Smart home technologies like the Schlage Sense can help put renters and homeowners minds at ease, knowing that no matter where they are they can check on the security of their single-family home through a simple app, says Matheis.

READ NEXT: Electronic Locks Market on Pace to Grow 13.9% Annually, Report Says

Steven A. Karantzoulidis is the Web Editor for Security Sales & Integration. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Communication and has a background in Film, A/V and Social Media.

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Top Home Security Concern Is Second-Guessing if Door Is Locked ... - Security Sales & Integration

Ive never understood the fascination with connected home cameras, such as Canary, the Nest Cam, and others. Theyve always been a gimmick in my experience: not reliable enough for a proper security system, not practical enough to be a baby monitor. But a lot of people really like them, so I spent the last week with the new Nest Cam IQ to see if it could change my opinion.

The $299 Nest Cam IQs big pitch is intelligence. It has a higher-resolution camera than prior Nest Cam models, but it doesnt use that to output a larger video feed. Instead, it combines that high resolution with smart people tracking to automatically zoom in on a subject when it sees a person in the frame and still maintain good image quality. It can see friendly faces that you identify in the Nest app, and it can alert you when it sees a person that it doesnt recognize.

To make this work, you need to subscribe to the Nest Aware service, which is available with 10 days of rolling backups for $10 per month or $100 per year, or 30 days of rolling backups for $30 per month or $300 per year. Adding a camera to the 10-day plan is $5 per month; additional cameras on the 30-day plan are $15 each per month. Without the subscription service, the Cam IQ will still provide push alerts to your phone for motion, sound, and people, but its Familiar Faces feature will not work and it will only be able to rewind the last three hours of footage.

Between the cost of the camera itself and the fees for its service, the Cam IQs intelligence has a lot to prove.

Nest advertises the Cam IQ as a security device, so I set it up in my front window, pointed toward my front door. (Note that this is inside the house: the Cam IQ is not designed to be used outdoors.) I thought it would be able to alert me to visitors and delivery people like a doorbell, in effect which it did do. But it also alerted me whenever one of my neighbors was walking their dog on my street, which grew tiresome quickly.

The Nest Cam IQ also had both false positives (alerting me to something when there was nothing) and false negatives (failing to alert me when someone was actually there), which make me really hesitant to rely on it for any actual security needs. Combined with the fact that the only thing the Cam IQ can do when it detects an intruder is send my phone a push notification (which I may or may not see immediately), it doesnt seem like a great solution if you really want to secure your home. It cant call authorities or ask for help the way a proper home security system can.

Video captured by the Cam IQ is saved in 1080p resolution instead of the 4K that the sensor is capable of. Image quality is fine, but its nothing compared to a high-end smartphone. There are also three microphones and a speaker on the Cam IQ, so if you have it set up in the right place, you can talk to a person through it. Or yell at your kid when they are refusing to go to sleep.

Supersight is a very cool feature, but only visible within the Nest app

The Supersight feature, which zooms in on a person it detects in frame, is very cool to see in action. The camera will automatically zoom in the image and pan it to track the person while they move in frame, ostensibly so you can identify them easier. But the only way to view the Supersight feature is within the apps timeline mode, and shared or saved video clips will only show the full wide view of the camera.

Still, after having the Nest Cam IQ in my front window for a week, I started to understand a little bit why people like these things in their homes. They may not be great security systems, but they are good at capturing serendipitous moments throughout the day. That might be my two-year-old walking her play lawnmower around the yard or my father-in-law finding yet another thing to fix on the front of the house when he comes to visit.

Some people like to use these cameras as baby monitors, but Ive found them to be too slow and not immediate enough for that. A push notification isnt going to wake me up, but a proper baby monitor will. My colleague Ben Popper uses a similar camera in his boys bedroom to monitor them when its time for bed, but even he said that the cost of the Nest Cams service would not be worth it.

And thats the real issue: the Nest Cam IQ is basically an expensive toy. Even with its people-tracking intelligence and high-resolution image quality, Im not convinced its worth the price.

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Nest's new home camera is an interesting toy - The Verge - The Verge