Saturday 27 April 2013

Protect America Introduces Latest Earning Opportunity for Agents

Protect America offers agents a new scheme to improve their earnings through a program dubbed as the Agent 2.0. The Agent 2.0 is designed for start-up business establishments and starting entrepreneurs. Through the Agent 2.0 Program, agents are entitled of the following:
  •     A multiple or lump sum payout for every successful sale of any home security system.
  •     A choice to be a Protect America sub-contractor. This provides agents opportunities to increase added revenue. 
  •     Through the program, agents could start their businesses almost immediately as Agent 2.0 gets rid of the long assessment period like other agent platforms available with competitors. 
  •     Partaking as an agent under the Agent 2.0 program allows agents to have marketing resources and support from Protect America. 
  •     Through Agent 2.0, agents are free from upfront investment and inventory storage.
According to Scot Flemming, Protect America's Executive President, the Agent 2.0 program is part of Protect America's effort to promote the "turnkey" approach which allows new channel for revenue. "We know how difficult things have been for small companies lately, especially in housing related industries. Our new Agent 2.0 program gives a new revenue stream to these small businesses without increasing their operations costs. Basically, they get more money without the same risk."

It has always been Flemming's utmost goal to promote relations with agents since his appointment in July 2012. Protect America is one of the largest home security companies in America and this was possible through victorious agent programs the company has had in the past. As Flemming further explains, "Our agents receive some of the best benefits in the home security industry and this is a great opportunity for business to grow because it adds revenue without taking away from the principal focus of each participating company." Protect America encourages all interested would-be agents to contact James Long at 512-758-830.

Friday 19 April 2013

Comparing Security Systems

security systems

These days, the technology involved in creating and designing security systems is rapidly evolving. Home security companies produce one new product after the other. So, how can you tell which amongst this security systems is the best. The fact is that the best home alarm systems are ones which are tailor-fit to your home's specific security needs. Read on to catch some tips that may help you decide on which security systems can best safeguard your family and your property.

Motion detectors and automatic dialer units are excellent if you are most concerned about the threat of break-ins and intrusions, motion sensors installed on the gates and other entrances into your home .Invasion into a motion detector's protected area trips an alarm that may not only alert you and others to the situation, but also discourage the wrongdoers themselves... When triggered, an auto-dialer can call up a list of telephone numbers preset by the user upon installation. Users often opt to route the first call to themselves or to other loved ones and the second call to the police and other authorities.

Internet-accessible cameras If you are the type who usually leaves the house on long periods of time, a security system that allows 24/7 access may be best for your home. Some of the best security systems make use of cameras that send their footage to networkable Digital Video Recorders (DVRs). Networkable DVRs allow access and control over live or recorded footage anytime and anywhere... as long as an internet connection is available. Most of these allow control through smart phones and tablets. Imagine getting a view of your security feeds through your iPhone: nifty, right?

Surveillance cameras installed in obvious places would certainly intimidate crooks and vandals. The thought that their actions could be caught on camera discourages most would-be offenders. On the other hand, if you wish to keep tabs inside your home and catch unsuspecting crooks in the act, spy cameras would work best for you. Hidden surveillance cameras may be relied upon to gather useful evidence. Whichever you home security system you choose, you have to make sure that it is what you need.

Friday 12 April 2013

If Burglars Are Good, Homeowners Have to Be Better


Four times every minute, day in and day out, a residence is hit by burglars; and with the budget cuts in many police departments across the country, the rate of apprehension and conviction is on the way down. With only 15% of the stolen items ever recovered, it's fair to say that burglary carries a minimal risk.

Let's look at burglary as if it were a business. Every business runs on a well thought out plan which gives it the greatest chance of success. The business plan of a burglar is surveillance – very few burglaries are random, and the perpetrators have checked their targets many times before they strike. They want to assure themselves that the target is weak and will offer minimal resistance, if any at all.

As a homeowner, how can you put up a deterrent to potential burglars? How can you secure your perimeter?

•    A burglar will shy away from anything that poses a risk to him. A video camera certainly does that by capturing his image for the police files. Even phony security cameras can be effective, from a distance they look as if they are real, blinking light and all.

•    Strong doors with dead bolts are almost impossible to breach. A dead bolt cannot be jimmied as it sets into the door frame by at least an inch. Speed is important to a burglar; a dead bolt on the door will slow him down or even stop him dead.

•    A dog is great deterrent, not only will the barking alert you into action; it will run off even the most determined burglar.

•    Make sure your surroundings are well lit, or that you have exterior lighting that is activated by movement. Burglars prefer dark areas which give them cover while they attempt to break in through a window or door.

•    Burglars will often case your home, looking through the windows to see if there are valuables that are worth their effort to steal. Closed drapes or shuttered windows will eliminate this initial surveillance, leaving the burglar in the dark as to the value of the home’s contents.

•    Monitored home security systems are by far the best solution. Not only is the security system working when you are not at home, it can be a sentinel once the residents retire for the night. Windows and doors are equipped with sensors that send a signal instantly to a monitoring station which then take the appropriate action.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Modern Home Security Systems: What Are Your Options


The tech revolution that has all but re-identified cell phones, computers and tablets has not passed by the components that go into home security systems. The results of the constant innovation are that the components that go into making a security system are now much more reliable and accurate. An added result, even though the complexity has increased, is that they have become much more user friendly.

Modern home security systems are so sophisticated that they can be activated and deactivated the same way a car alarm is; with the simple pushing of a button that hangs on your key ring. The systems have also taken into account voice recognition and after a short "training" program; the homeowner can actually give commands to the system by straight forward speech, all with 100% security.

The two recent devices which have revolutionized the industry are sensors, both infrared and motion. With these sensors located both inside and outside the premises, an extra layer of security is established. With sensors, home security systems start at the edge of your property if you wish as they comfortably provide a 35 foot secured perimeter. If anyone attempts to enter your property the system will trip if it's engaged. Both these sensors work inside and out, in daylight and dark and it is simply impossible to approach the home without setting off the alarm. A burglar will have great difficulty in even getting close to the building let alone break in.

Another recent innovation in the industry is wireless home security systems. In the past it was possible for an intruder to disarm the security system by cutting the hard wires leading from the land line telephone. If there are no wires to cut, this simply equates to one more road black in the path of the potential thief. There are no circumstances where a signal will not be sent to the monitoring station in the event of a break-in.

Statistics show that burglars pass a home that is protected with modern home security systems.

Saturday 23 March 2013

Is There Value to Having a Home Security System?


It is thought that there are about 36 million security systems installed in the US, and of this number, half are in homes. The revenue generated by the industry as a whole is approaching $30 billion. A lot of people think their homes are safe against burglars. This may be true if the police response times were better.

It has been reported in various home security reviews magazines that in big cities, such as New York, Chicago and Atlanta, police response time is up to 45 minutes, however, in smaller cities the response time is marginally better, it is about eight minutes. Regardless of whether the home security system is installed in a big city or small, chances of nabbing the thief are small.

So, is a home security system worth having? When the systems are thoroughly investigated, the consensus is, yes they are. It so turns out that many people are installing the systems to get features which are beyond the scope of eliminating burglaries, things like fire alarms and the ability to see what is going on in the home.

When the system is looked at strictly as an exercise in economics, things begin to look different. The average home insurance premium will be discounted by 20% if an alarm system is installed. The average savings that a homeowner in the US can expect is $225.00. Statistically, a home that is protected can expect a loss to a thief of $3,300 compared to $5,300 in a home that is not protected. This is a difference of $2,000. When added to the savings from the insurance, one can expect a savings of $2,225 in the event they suffer from a break-in. If the monitoring service costs $100 a month, that is a net savings of over $1,000 a year.

The same survey showed that in neighborhoods where a large percentage of the homes were protected with a security system, the incidence of robbery decreased in direct proportion to the increase in alarm density. Nothing is perfect, but a home security system has benefits that go beyond eliminating theft, it provides peace of mind.

Saturday 16 March 2013

Best Home Security: Systems, Reviews and Advice



For the best home security for yourself and your family, there are a lot of things you need to take into mind to know what the right system needs to include so that it's effective. Everything depends on the reviews of the brand, as well as of the company that will help you install it and monitor any emergencies. There needs to be immediate response to any kind of carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, floods, break-ins and theft.

In order for you to pick the best home alarm systems that satisfy your needs and those of your household, you need to pay attention to what kind of offers each alarm system has and what's the best for you: 1. Ask friends and neighbors around you about what home alarm system they use. Chances are that they use a system that is very efficient for the entire community you're in. 2. Take all the information and names you have gathered and research them online to find out about their offers and backgrounds 3. Use comparison sites to see which companies have the best offers and prices for you and your household 4. Finally, make sure you review how secure the company is and if there were ever any problems in the past with the safety they provide

Once you make your decision, look even further into the company you chose for the best home security reviews. Make sure they have the latest trends and security gadgets available for your protection. Learn how quick their response time is to any kind of emergency. Find out how long they have been in business--the longer a company has been around, then there is more information to find out about them and they are much more reliable considering the years they've been in the industry.

For a more comprehensive review on home security systems click here.

Sunday 3 March 2013

How to Identify Security Risks in Your Home




If you have not had your home broken into, consider yourself fortunate. The statistics are not in your favor. If you have had your home broken into, you are fully aware of the feeling of being violated it makes you literally sick to your stomach. Either way, it doesn't have to happen once or once again. You can create a plan to better guard your home. Even though no home security monitoring system is foolproof, if you take sufficient precautions, you can at least dissuade the most determined criminal. Most home break-ins are done by amateurs, simply taking advantage of easy pickings.

Your first step in guarding your property is to know it well. Survey your property looking for the obvious risks such as broken windows that are easy to enter and those that have been left unlocked, trees that may be too easy to climb to get to the second floor, barriers that may be too low, and so on. Are there areas in which a person can hide, especially near the windows? When a potential thief has time to break in, he often can, regardless of the home security camera systems you have. If you have areas like this, then either trim the foliage or put additional security measures in place such as a window grille. Fencing your yard will help in deterring a criminal, however a privacy fence gives just as much privacy to the burglar as it does to you.

Burglars are after high value items that are easy to remove from the home. Computers, cash, jewelry and cameras are all favourites – Avoid having items like these visible from the window. Don't leave them in view and make it a habit to close the blinds or drapes when you leave the house. As the old saying goes "out of sight - out of mind".

There are neighbourhoods, no matter how nice, that are more prone to break-ins than others. If your home backs on to the woods or a ravine, or is close to a subway station, you are an easier target. Having a corner lot is riskier than having a lot with only one frontage as there is more space for the thief to escape. Don't let these obstacles stand in your way of buying the house you want, just bear them in mind when you design your security plan and install the necessary apparatus to cover the risky areas.

As most home security systems reviews say, being aware of your surroundings is often the best security. Get to know your neighbors, get involved with a neighborhood watch and call a recognized security company to assist you with your analysis.