Thursday, April 15th
2021 Alarm System Company Reviews
Vivint
- FREE equipment and installation with some packages
- Up to $198 in activation fees
- Packages start at $53.99/month
If you want an alarm system with cutting edge bells and whistles, Vivint will probably get your attention. From Nest thermostats to Amazon Echo, Vivint's alarm systems let you change your home's temperature, keep an eye on your kids while the babysitter is there, or even remotely unlock your door from any internet-connected device.
Each of Vivint's alarm system packages include the following:
- SkyControl Panel: described as "like having an iPad on your wall", it displays video, controls temperature, manages system options, and provides an intuitive smart home experience. Users can also talk live with a monitoring professional through the panel in an emergency.
- Sky App: puts control in the palm of your hand through Vivint's smartphone app. Control your home's temperature, locks, lights and more, remotely arm and disarm your wireless home security system, even see live video of your front porch from the Vivint Doorbell Camera.
- Home Security sensors and controls: all packages include 3 wireless door/window sensors, motion sensor, key fob, control panel, power adapter and battery, and cellular card that installs into the control panel. Other available products for Vivint's monitoring include doorbell and outdoor cameras, Ping cameras, 24/7 video recording, garage door controls, smart locks, Amazon Echo, and Element thermostats.
- 24/7 monitoring
In order to set up your Vivint alarm system, you'll need to choose from one of their three monitoring packages:
- Smart Protect, which covers the basics of door and window sensors, motion detectors, and smoke detectors. This plan starts at $53.99/month.
- Smart Protect & Control, which includes monitoring of two additional smart home services. These services include a doorbell cam, door lock, thermostat, garage door controller, outdoor video, and HD video recording indoors. This plan starts at $60.99/month.
- Smart Complete, which includes monitoring of three additional smart home services, as well as 1 Terabyte of secure cloud storage (which is strangely named "Space Monkey").
Vivint offers free equipment and installation with certain packages, which keeps them competitive with other providers of alarm systems. But, make sure to pay attention to the fine print before signing on the dotted line: depending on where you live, you'll need to make a staggering five-year commitment (four years in a handful of states) with a monitoring package of at least $60.99/month in order to qualify for the "free" equipment and installation. Vivint's site doesn't seem to indicate that they offer a customer satisfaction guarantee, making a five-year commitment (or paying the remaining contract balance) too much for many customers. Also, if you change addresses, you'll be assessed a $99 moving fee if you've been a customer of Vivint for less than 12 months; the fee is eliminated if you renew your alarm system contract at your new residence and you've been a customer for at least a year.
Vivint does have an optional warranty and service plan for an extra $10/month. Under this coverage, they will repair and/or replace any defective part of the alarm system at no extra cost. Without this extra Premium service plan, the warranty period is only 120 days past installation; after that point in time, Vivint will provide replacement parts at no extra charge, but you'll pay a $49 fee plus tax for the service call.
What's the bottom line for pricing on Vivint's alarm systems? The best answer is "it depends". Vivint does not make it easy to determine their package pricing, requiring customers to work with a company representative. (We even used the chat function on the website and got the answer that pricing is only offered over the phone or in person.) Many customer reviews complain about insistent salespeople coming to their homes late at night and rushing people into 5-year contracts without being open about the length of the commitment. And, with every feature you add, you'll pay more-so with base packages starting at $53.99, Vivint is easily one of the costliest alarm systems we reviewed.
We were pleased to see Vivint's A- rating with the Better Business Bureau. However, there have been almost 4,000 complaints registered with the BBB in the last three years.
In general, Vivint's alarm systems leave us with mixed feelings. If your security system must have the most high-tech components and you've got money to spare, Vivint isn't a bad option to consider. Just don't overlook the fact that you're making a five-year commitment, and be prepared to assert yourself to get help from customer service if you experience any problems with your equipment post-installation. Vivint earns good marks for their alarm system packages.
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Who Sells the Best Home Alarm Systems?
Increasing the security of your home is essential to protect yourself, your belongings, and your family. According to the experts, high unemployment rates and other economic woes in the nation are a factor in rising crime rates. With more than 2 million burglaries each year in the United States alone, and an average loss of over $2,000 per incident, it is well worth the investment to make sure your home is properly protected.
High-quality deadbolts and well-placed lighting on the exterior of your home can reduce the risk of becoming a victim. However, experience shows that skilled burglars can pick a lock, even a deadbolt, in a minute or less. On the other hand, crime data also demonstrates that criminals tend to avoid homes with an alarm system, to improve their chances of not getting caught.
Alarm System Company FAQ
Continued from above...
Alarm Systems have a wide variety of features, coverage, and price points. Some Alarm Systems charge hundreds of dollars for installation in addition to their monitoring services, while others offer free equipment and/or installation along with a monthly monitoring contract. The best Alarm Systems provide customers with flexible options with respect to installation and home phone line requirements.
As you consider which Alarm System will best meet your protection needs, it is wise to have a grasp of several common features offered by home security companies. These include:
- Monitoring Service. Does the company provide live, round-the-clock home monitoring with live representatives who will respond quickly to contact authorities in the event of a burglary or other incident?
- Equipment and Installation Costs. Is there a charge for the initial equipment package, or is it included with the monitoring service? How many sensors are included in that package, and how much will it cost to get the number of sensors your home needs? Will you be charged separately for installation?
- Guarantee. Are you protected by a satisfaction guarantee and/or a warranty on your Alarm System equipment?
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best Alarm Systems available today. We hope these reviews help you find the right alarm system to protect yourself, your property, and your loved ones for years to come!
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