Independent Home Security Advice and Service with Russ VanDevanter in Seattle, WA
I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to listen to the big alarm companies.
You don’t need to install brand new systems to fix your existing system. You don’t need to sign multi-year contracts paying over $40 a month for services that cost a fraction of that to provide.
I’m sharing my 50+ years of experience in the home security industry through a wealth of articles, videos, and affordable services.
Alarm Professor University
Articles to help you with alarms, monitoring, and securing your home.
Alarm Services
Repair, installation, and monitoring services with Russ VanDevanter.
Blockwatch Alarm monitoring
Affordable alarm monitoring for your home, $20/mo with no contracts.
Alarm system monitoring is BIG business. Many companies, and almost all the national alarm companies, will not sell, install or service an alarm system unless it is accompanied by a long term monitoring contract.
When you see that companies are charging $35 – $70 per month to provide a service that is costing them $5 or less per month to provide, you begin to understand.
Brinks, Protection One and ADT are owned by hedge funds. Their primary focus is to increase the number of accounts that they monitor and thus their recurring revenue.
How much money does ADT, and subsequently each of their customers, spend to be prominently displayed at every televised sporting event?
How much does Protection One spend to sponsor NASCAR racing? How do these activities serve to increase your protection? Why do these companies spend millions of dollars (your monitoring dollars) to promote themselves?
How much does an alarm system cost? (Or more correctly, what is the monetary value of an alarm system)
It depends on who you talk to and how much protection that you want. The only way to know for sure is to ask for the price of an installed system (where you own the equipment) that does not include monitoring. The price is definitely reduced when you commit to a 3 or 5 year monitoring agreement. The price is reduced because a portion of that monitoring fee is subsidizing the initial cost of the system. But does the monitoring price get reduced after the initial 3 or 5 years when you have fully paid for the alarm system?
As more and more police departments charge the customer for police response, is monitoring really desired? If you do have monitoring, it is best to have it an open contract that can be canceled when you no longer need or require the service. More and more alarm users are returning to smaller local companies to meet their alarm security needs. Lower prices, due to reduced overhead, and direct contact with company owners leads to an enhanced feeling of security, quicker and more competent alarm technicians, and greatly reduced prices.
I have included a number of articles and links on this website that will help you to better understand the alarm industry.
Alarm Professor University
This website was designed to help educate you about alarm systems. Any feedback or additional information I have left out would be greatly appreciated.
I live in Seattle, WA, on Queen Anne Hill, and I install, service and give system evaluations thoughout NW Washington. Please feel free to call, e-mail or click HERE for a no obligation site survey or system evaluation.
Russ VanDevanter
(206) 393-0677
r.vandevanter@gmail.com
The Latest from the Alarm Professor
A Revolutionary Home Alarm Monitoring Option at an Affordable Price
No more long-term contracts and pricey payments for your security system, it´s time to warranty your business and home´s safety with a Monitoring Alarm System working at your service 24/7 with a month-to-month contract at an affordable price.
The Three Key Points to Detect any Home Burglary
When it comes to detecting a home burglary before it happens, there are three key points you absolutely must take advantage of. I show you exactly where they are, and what alarm sensor to use for each.
The Rising Tide of False Alarm Fines You Will be Charged
False alarm fines are lurking, waiting for your next alarm signal sent to your alarm monitoring company. The rising tide of false alarm fines and user fees are being increasingly levied on homeowners and alarm companies across the nation. Almost any alarm sent to your alarm company and reported to the police can be considered a false alarm. And for user fees it may not even matter if it is a false alarm or not. I break it all down for you in this post and video.