Local/Austin home security companies to monitor our system? (Cool: loan, houses) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

JVAL01 · 02-13-2009, 09:23 AM

I'd like to have our home security system monitored but I don't want to sign a 3 year contract that the "big guys" like Brinks offer (or the $30+/mo they charge!). I'm not opposed to 1 year, but 3 is a bit much - I guess I have committment issues! In our previous home, my wife and I had our system montitored by a very reputable local company. Does anyone have any suggestions for Austin?? Thanks.

woodinvilleguy · 02-13-2009, 10:16 AM

We just signed on with Sloan security and where pleased with them. They only charge $10 a month and they are a local company.

orangetravelerJP · 02-13-2009, 05:57 PM

We also use Sloan Security and have been pleased with them.

CATXTransplant · 02-13-2009, 06:16 PM

Artisan security is great and they don't require a contract. Call the owner, Michael Bennett at (512) 488-4897. I Think it's 14 a month. They do a lot of houses out here in Steiner.

AGA · 02-13-2009, 09:18 PM

Grande Communications has a security set up. We used it for a while as part of a test market and were very pleased.

shaxs · 02-13-2009, 10:08 PM

Hum, I know this is superficial, but both Sloan and Artisan have very poor websites. It is hard for me to trust a company when they can't spend the money to develop a decent web page... Is that just me or what?

atlanta hope · 02-14-2009, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaxs

Hum, I know this is superficial, but both Sloan and Artisan have very poor websites. It is hard for me to trust a company when they can't spend the money to develop a decent web page... Is that just me or what?

I'm usually that way too -- after all I'm a web designer so I'm pretty critical.

Mr. Sloan has been doing security for many, many years. I guess because his business is so established, he doesn't see the value in a nice web site.

We've been using them since about Nov and are really pleased. I had an incident where I returned home late at night with my sleeping 2 year old and my alarm went off when I put in my code. I called Sloan and Mr. Sloan walked me through ripping out wires in the circuit board to kill the alarm. It was a HORRIBLE experience but he answered the phone and calmly walked me through despite the late hour. The circuit board battery had died we found out a few days later -- equipment originally installed by Brinks.

Also when the alarm was going off, the monitoring service was on the ball with calling to verify the alarm. Thank goodness I avoided explaining to the police that it was a false alarm!

JVAL01 · 02-14-2009, 08:23 AM

Thanks all. Called Sloan Security and spoke to Mr Sloan himself. Apparently the equipment in the home is Brinks which Sloan cannot work on. He said it'll be about $250 to change out the equipment but only $10/mo after that. I'm seriously considering paying the money upfront to Sloan so that I don't have to agree to a 3 year contract @ $32/mo with Brinks. Thanks again.

shaxs · 02-14-2009, 11:11 AM

Cool, thanks for the info. I guess I will have to give them a shot then

Dr.Mom · 02-14-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JVAL01

Thanks all. Called Sloan Security and spoke to Mr Sloan himself. Apparently the equipment in the home is Brinks which Sloan cannot work on. He said it'll be about $250 to change out the equipment but only $10/mo after that. I'm seriously considering paying the money upfront to Sloan so that I don't have to agree to a 3 year contract @ $32/mo with Brinks. Thanks again.

So does Sloan install their own alarm equipment as well as monitor? If you own a home that already has an alarm system, do they require that you go with their system or is it just that they're not compatible with Brinks?
Thanks!