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Key points to consider:
- Assess home security needs by considering family schedules, neighborhood concerns, and desired system features.
- Investigate local crime patterns and personal requirements like pet safety and family members’ disabilities.
- Consider integrating smart home technology for both security and convenience, exploring automation options.
- Evaluate home security providers based on reputation, customer feedback, and local expertise (including neighbors and friends).
- Factor in customer service quality, upfront costs, monitoring fees, contract terms, and additional feature costs before choosing a provider like General Security, known for its customer service excellence and reliability on Long Island.
Tailoring Your Home Security to Fit Your Life on Long Island
Choosing a home security system on Long Island can be straightforward when you know what to look for. It's all about finding a balance between your family's specific needs and the latest in home security technology. The key is to think about how a system fits into your daily life and addresses any particular concerns you might have. It's also worth considering how smart technology can not only secure your home but make it smarter, more efficient, and enhance your lifestyle.
That being said, each family’s needs are going to be unique.
Take inventory with your household members regarding their daily schedules, personal security concerns, responsibilities they're willing to take on, and what home alarm system features they believe are essential.
Ask yourself:
- What’s the history of burglary on your street, for instance?
- Do you have to account for pet safety or routines?
- How might family members’ disabilities impact your home security and safety plans? Is a senior family member aging in place?
- Does anybody work night shifts or come home at unusual hours?
- Do healthcare providers or dogwalkers need to enter your home during the day?
Most security systems nowadays integrate with smart home technology and other automation. While not always directly related to security concerns, also consider smart home features that could be beneficial.
The key is to think about how a system fits into your daily life and addresses any particular concerns you might have.
Don’t be afraid to dream big here. Explore all the bells and whistles that are possible with smart home tech.
Home automation possibilities are growing as the technology continues to improve, from your household lights dimming before bedtime or your thermostat warming up your house when you’re within a mile of home to the garage lights flickering in the morning to remind you to take out the trash or the bathroom fan turning on when you get out of the shower.
As you consider what’s best for your household, you may find that you want to implement other conveniences.
And don’t forget about smart safety devices, either. This includes fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and other relevant safety sensors.
Before you consult with a potential home security provider, you’ll want to have a clear sense of what’s needed to reassure you, whether you’re at home or away.
Pin down what each family member believes will keep your loved ones safe:
- What safety features are relevant as school-aged children go back to school?
- How do your security concerns vary from spring to summer or during winter?
- Do you travel often?
Split concerns and features into “necessities” and “would be nice” before making the call. And it doesn’t hurt to plot out where you think smart home security cameras and other smart home tech should go.
This will ensure your first consultation with a home security provider is thorough and efficient, saving you time while becoming acquainted with their equipment and service capabilities.
Evaluating a Home Security Provider’s Reputation
You can’t trust your family’s safety to just anyone. You vet babysitters through trusted referrals. You go to doctors with a strong reputation in your community. Why would choosing a home security provider on Long Island be any different?
- Ask around. Identify which security providers your neighbors and friends use to protect their homes. Find out what they like about their security provider and whether they’ve had bad experiences with others.
- Research. But your knowledge gathering doesn’t have to end with those you know, of course. Evaluate the reputation of home security providers on Long Island according to reviews left online. This will help round out or verify what you’ve already learned from friends and neighbors.
- Community trust. Look for a service provider that has a local understanding of what works and what doesn’t in your neighborhood. Remember, threats can vary. And if you’re on a tight budget, a security provider with an abundance of familiarity with your area can help you decide which features are worth the cost.
Why Excellent Home Security Provider Customer Care Matters
First impressions matter. If your initial interaction with a potential security provider is unpleasant, features long wait times on the phone, or involves unreliable communication, then what reason do you have to believe they’ll be any different once you’re actually a customer?
When you scan through online reviews, you’ll quickly find the most common criticism among one-star posters is the abysmal customer service of particular home security providers. On the other hand, identify which provider’s five-star reviews detail their beyond-the-call-of-duty customer service.
Sure there’s variance between the security equipment offered by home security providers, but you’ll find the greatest difference-maker anchors around the quality of their customer service and support.
In short, choose a security provider that prioritizes excellent customer service and 24/7 support.
Technology malfunctions are bound to come up occasionally, but are you willing to wait a week for a service technician to show up, or will your security provider send somebody to your home immediately? Having a prompt service team will make all the difference in reducing headaches and keeping your security anxieties at bay.
Smart Budgeting for Your Home's Safety: Navigating the Costs of Security Systems
You’ll first want to evaluate the initial expenses for equipment and installation. Naturally, premium security providers will cost more upfront, but this can save you money over time due to fewer equipment repairs.
Are you going to oversee monitoring your security cameras or will you enlist a security provider? Monthly fees for ongoing monitoring services vary but their 24/7 surveillance typically provides far greater assurance than carrying the responsibility entirely yourself. You’ll want to assess the value provided by monitoring services, such as emergency response and support.
Choose a security provider that prioritizes excellent customer service and 24/7 support.
You’ll also want to compare the contracts between multiple home security companies on Long Island:
- If you don’t like the equipment or monitoring of a given provider, will it be easy to end your contract without weighty early termination penalties?
- How long of a contract are you locked into?
Installing a home security system yourself is one way of avoiding cancellation fees altogether, even if you purchase equipment from a security provider. Other costs come into play if you’re leasing equipment.
Carefully examine the warranty and service plans. How generous is the provider’s coverage? How laborious is the warranty process if something breaks or fails to function properly?
Lastly, consider the cost of additional features or services. Where can your family splurge? And what is absolutely necessary? Lower fees might mean fewer services, so ensure the plan meets your security needs.
Discover Peace of Mind with Long Island's Trusted Home Security Leader
If you’ve gone through these considerations and thoroughly screened home security providers, you shouldn’t be surprised to find that General Security continues to be a popular choice on Long Island.
In fact, for the fifth consecutive year, General Security was named Best Smart Home Automation Company in the 2023 Bethpage Federal Credit Union Best of Long Island contest and won Best Alarm Company in 2021 and 2024.
Founded more than 30 years ago on the North Shore of Long Island, General Security remains a family-owned and operated business with locations spanning New York to Florida. Our reputation is built on excellent customer service, customizable security solutions, and rock-solid reliability.
With General Security, you won’t have to worry about losing remote connection to your monitoring system or encountering inconsistent security camera coverage. We’ll ensure your household’s safety whether you're home, asleep, or away on vacation.
Long Island residents trust us to keep their loved ones safe.
Having the right security service provider makes all the difference in whether your alarm system gives you peace of mind or frequent headaches. With General Security, you’ll always know what’s going on at your home.
General Security is an industry-leading security provider that specializes in state-of-the-art, professionally installed and DIY residential systems to protect you, your loved ones, and your property.
