Here’s an alarming fact: According to the most recent statistics, there is a residential break-in every 90 seconds in Canada (in the U.S. it’s every 15 seconds!). Of those, 80 per cent occur during daylight hours. It doesn’t matter whether you live in Moncton or Montreal or Moose Jaw, if you are looking for the peace of mind that a secure home offers and the potential insurance savings, consider installing a home alarm system.
And there’s good news too, as another report found that homeowners rated their alarm systems as effective more than 80 per cent of the time. A centralized home alarm system is a security system that sends an alert to an external monitoring company, which receives the warning message and verifies the alarm. If the company doesn’t receive the proper pass code or receive an answer, the police are called.
Canadian insurance companies offer considerable discounts for homes that have a home alarm system which guard against theft, vandalism and fire as it lowers the risk of robbery or property damage. Make sure to ask your insurer, as homeowners can see a reduction of 10 to 25 per cent in their insurance.
Make sure you do your homework before buying a home alarm system. Getting quotes from three or four companies is a good start. Also ensure the alarm company is certified and that its employees have the proper training and certification. You should also find out if there are any hidden fees for things like a monthly alarm report or if it’s easy to break a contract if you decide to move or sign with a different company.
Prior to making a final decision on a home alarm system, make sure the provider’s service meet the discount requirements from your insurance company.
