Not all Security Companies are the same, there is a wide variety of different security companies that specialize in different things. For example, there are communication companies, home audio companies, automation companies, that all offer security solutions, but are they really the best for what you need? Researching a security company before you buy should be a priority. Some things to check for when shopping around are:

Where is the monitoring station located? Local, national or US? If you are being monitored in the US, you will not protected by Privacy laws in canada and information can be sold to telemarketers
How long have they been in business? Some security companies pop up quickly, offer you the world and then disappear just as quickly as they came
Are they a local company or big conglomerate? Local companies can offer you more personalized service over the bigger guys
Is there a chance your account could be sold? Some companies get you to sign a contract and then quickly sell it to a big conglomerate for a profit
Is the company a communication company first or security company first? Getting a plumber to do your Electrical work may not be the best idea
Is the equipment brand name or a cheap knock off? Some companies give you a low price, but there may be a cost in quality
Is it being installed by an inexperienced student or actual technician? When it comes to security, you want to ensure that it's done professionally to avoid false alarms and other issues
Check google reviews. Google reviews give you an idea of how the company treats you as a customer

The security world is huge, and doing a bit of research can save you many hours of complications and headaches. Don’t just shop around for the lowest price, you could be leaving yourself open to vulnerability in other areas. Make sure you trust the company you are getting in bed with as it’s typically a few years of commitment. Give us a call today to see if we are the right fit for you.

SUPREME SECURITY, SECURITY YOU CAN TRUST

SMART HOME DEVICES ARE IN DEMAND IN THE SPRING

Spring gives way to many new things – new flowers, new smells, bright blue skies full of sunshine and sometimes, new smart home tech. But new doesn’t always have to mean having to “do it yourself” (DIY). Just as you may hire a landscaper to care for your yard or bring in a designer to offer fresh ideas for the house after a long winter, choosing the right smart home tech is streamlined with the expertise of a professional. Time – and some projects – can become daunting, fast! It might be best for you to consider a professional to “do it for me”/DIFM. For instance, the smart home: it’s booming and forecasted to include nearly 1.3B devices…and that’s in just the next three years. In fact, a recent survey conducted on behalf of Resideo by YouGov found that: – The top three items people are most likely to purchase in 2019 are: an outdoor camera, a smoke/CO detector and a whole-home security system. – 66% of people surveyed said they would prefer their whole-home security system to be professionally installed versus installing it themselves and 58% said the same about a smart thermostat. – 60% of the people surveyed would prefer a product be professionally installed, because 42% believe it would be installed right and work better and 39% worry they would make a mistake and install it incorrectly.

Professional, DIFM services are in demand all over the home. That doesn’t mean DIY is a rarity, though. And when it comes to the smart home, Resideo and its Honeywell HomeTM brand have numerous solutions ready for both DIFM and DIY spring projects.

*All figures are from a survey conducted by YouGov Plc., on behalf of Resideo Technologies, Inc. Total sample size was 2,597 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between Dec. 27, 2018- Jan. 2, 2019 by YouGov Plc. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults (aged 18+). More at Resideo.com/DIFM
Time – and some projects – can become daunting, fast! It might be best for you to consider a professional to “do it for me”/DIFM. For instance, the smart home: it’s booming and forecasted to include nearly 1.3B devices…and that’s in just the next three years. In fact, a recent survey conducted on behalf of Resideo by YouGov found that:

– The top three items people are most likely to purchase in 2019 are: an outdoor camera, a smoke/CO detector and a whole-home security system.

– 66% of people surveyed said they would prefer their whole-home security system to be professionally installed versus installing it themselves and 58% said the same about a smart thermostat.

– 60% of the people surveyed would prefer a product be professionally installed, because 42% believe it would be installed right and work better and 39% worry they would make a mistake and install it incorrectly.

A Win-Win for Contractors and Light Commercial Building Owners

Your light commercial customers may be quietly envious of the building automation systems that a lot of big businesses use. However, remote monitoring and building automation aren’t reserved for the big budgets and immense facilities of Fortune 500 companies. Those same systems can be customized for smaller businesses, with pricing sized to fit.

Opportunities always exist to implement upgrades aimed at reducing energy costs, but where do small business owners find the money to fund the money-saving installation? For many light commercial businesses, the answer to that question comes in the form of utility rebates. The addition of the right system can often make a business eligible for rebates that can offset and, in some cases, completely cover the cost of the system installation. “If you can go to a building owner and say that you’ve not only got an outstanding energy-saving solution but also have the means to help them pay for it, you’ve got a deal that’s hard to say ‘no’ to.” says Rick Jones, of Honeywell partner Relevant Solutions.

Energy Savings

As energy costs continue to rise, building managers are seeking ways to reduce the energy usage in new and existing buildings and continue to provide a healthy environment for the building occupants.

According to Energy.gov, building owners can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning the thermostat back 7°-10°F for eight hours a day from its normal setting. Also, a recent study by commercial real estate firm Jones Lang Lasalle finds that 90% of business costs are related to people and that comfortable, healthy employees are productive, cost-efficient employees. Additionally, ASHRAE is continually updating the ventilation standard (ASHRAE 62.1) for commercial buildings.

Honeywell’s cloud-connected Light Commercial Business Solution (LCBS Connect) brings remote monitoring, control, analytics and the associated energy savings and increased occupant comfort to local offices, schools, churches, clinics, banks, retail stores and all other light commercial businesses.

LCBS Connect offers built-in optional economizing, bringing in outside air to help optimize indoor air when temperature and humidity conditions are right. Fresh outdoor air improves occupant comfort, reduces the symptoms of inadequate ventilation such as headaches, drowsiness and fatigue and reduces building-related illness. Economizing also reduces the demands on equipment to heat or cool air as necessary, prolonging the life of HVAC systems.

Programmable wall modules also help light commercial building owners automate energy and cost savings. Schedules can be set for up to four separate periods per day, seven days a week and a schedule can be set once and automatically disseminated to multiple buildings, a great help to facilities operators and building owners managing multiple buildings.

Energy Rebates

Many utility companies in the United States offer commercial building owners rebates for the installation of energy-saving equipment. Honeywell and our distribution partners can help provide direction to service providers and building owners when it comes to applying for utilities rebates.

Noting the energy savings that LCBS Connect achieves for building owners, Jones says: “(Utilities) don’t want to build new power plants, so they love solutions that cut energy usage, especially in commercial applications.” The combination of LCBS Connect with utility rebates gives contractors a powerful one-two sales punch, but sometimes the process of understanding and applying for those rebates can be daunting. Honeywell and our channel partners have the knowledge and experience to make that process simpler. Click here to find rebates near your customers.

Teamwork

Your customers want healthy, comfortable, energy efficient buildings. Honeywell LCBS can help you provide that with smart, affordable control designed for your customer type. Learn more here.