I live in the country in a rural county. There are trees, animals of every variety, more trees, and…life.
Our world has changed, and not for the better. Those of us who live here have long left our doors unlocked during the day, at night, when we’re home or when we’re gone. We aren’t crazy. We lock our cars when we go to town, and we actually lock the house doors when we go on vacation. We lock them when a family funeral is announced. (Imagine the crazy part of that. That a grieving family has to lock its doors during visitation and funeral hours, because some people go through newspapers looking for opportunities to cash in.)
But that’s how we live. Our doors are usually open.
No more. Not in this house. And it’s not because someone broke in. It’s because someone who has been in my house several times – when I’m not around, because, well, that’s what happens when you have services and a busy schedule – decided to take some things on his way out the door.
Like Shopping For Medicare Supplements
Are you old enough, or do you know someone old enough to have shopped for Medicare supplements? Oh, the pain! This supplement has this, another has something similar, but not quite, and another is completely different, and the costs range from there to here. The least expensive – the cheap ones – provide next to nothing, while the most expensive ones can provide almost as much.
You need to find your path, veering between the monthly and/or annual costs for the insurance and your supposed outflow for medical issues. But you have only six months to decide! After that, you are no longer guaranteed the plan you want or need.
Shopping for security is like that.
Do you want land line connection? (That is by far the smallest market now, but many people, including older folks, need to depend on this.) (It is also the most cost effective.) (There are pitfalls, like, well, if you used to call forward your land line to your cell phone, forgetaboutit now.)
Then there are cell connections. “For ONLY twice the price…..” They don’t put it exactly that way. But you have to listen carefully, because they’ll start to tell you about how you can manage your system from your cell phone, and several minutes later when you’re verifying the price, you find out that you are on their third tier of costs. “Well you said you wanted….” “I did not. You offered.”
Those are the first couple of calls.
After that, when you have the lingo down, you can call other companies. You can call the first couple of companies back, also, but their computer system already has all of your supposed needs in the system, and they make a big deal about “backing down” your needs.
GOOD GRIEF!
Selecting A System
What it comes down to is this.
- What do you need? Perimeter security? Interior security when you’re gone? (Do you have pets? Pets can limit your choices for interior security.)
- Do you want cameras? Even the worst sales people will acknowledge that you’re better off going with a camera system that is separate from their programs, because the costs become absolutely prohibitive. They’ve probably learned how not to lose a sale.
- Do your homework. This listing will change from time to time, but Google the top 5 or the top 10 security systems and start there. Number 1 on this list may not be the one that meets your needs.
- As you make your calls, be clear that you are shopping around. You will not finalize a sale during that particular telephone call.
- Keep copious notes, a single page for each company, and try to keep your quotations as much apples-to-apples as you can. (One company says you need 14 glass breaks, another says you need 3; some companies say motion detectors are okay with cats, others say that’s not good.)
- At the end of each call, and remember, you’ve already told them you’re shopping around, make everyone repeat their offers, to make sure you have it straight.
Don’t Be Afraid To Change Your Mind
Security companies do this for a living. After you have selected a company, you have three days to get out of a contract. If you find out you have a problem (hello…my land line isn’t forwarding to my cell anymore…well of course not, because we’ve taken control of your land line), get out of it. Even if it means they have to come back out and remove the equipment. You may have a couple of holes in your walls. Move the pictures on your walls around to cover them up.
Also, all those other companies you called but didn’t select will start calling back. And they may sweeten the pot. Say yes to the best one, even if you committed to someone else.
In Closing
This adds a monthly expense, but in the end, you, your cats (dogs, children, spouses, parents), and your house may be a bit better off.