By Reid McNally

Points to Consider

The very first item that has to be considered is the client’s concerns.  Without knowing some background information, how can a comprehensive security platform (notice that this is a “platform” not a system) be developed?  You must know if your client is concerned with burglaries, home invasion type robberies or even monitoring care givers/ maintenance workers in their home.

Next the consultant must know the client’s expectations of what the security techniques will give them.  It is paramount to know if the client wants techniques that are high tech or low tech.  Security products are becoming more technologically advanced everyday, but end users may not be.  If the homeowner cannot proficiently use an item, the chances are that it will not be used.

These two items coupled with the client’s security platform history (past alarms and surveillance equipment) and security breach history can help the consultant tremendously.  It is also very important to know the history of the residence that you are attempting to secure.  Criminologists have found time and again that only a few locations make up for the majority of locations for criminal activities.   Take a look at why a particular residence has been burglarized three times in the last year.  Chances are that it is not just because there is not an alarm system present.

Know Your Enemy

I believe that in order to effectively provide security measures you have to know the techniques and strategies of the local criminals.  The great military leader Sun Tzu wrote in his Art of War:

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.  If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.  If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

You may have to contact your local law enforcement agency to find out the techniques used by local burglars.  If you’re lucky enough to be able to contact an officer or detective that will share that information with you the better.  You may also have to purchase some residential burglary reports to do your own research.  Check your local laws pertaining to public records requests.  Chances are that in your area police reports are public records.  It shouldn’t take more than a few reports to give you an idea of what you’re up against.

Security Ideas for Homeowners

Now that you know who you are consulting for and what you’re facing, what can be done for the homeowner?  The first step is always start from the simplest and work toward the most complex.  I also like to work from the exterior of the residence into the interior.  When working with the exterior, start right from the front property line at the street.  Remember the basics.  Locate and eliminate hiding areas.  If there is a fence, make sure that all hardware is secure and properly installed.  Items to look at on the exterior are: landscaping, lighting and approach/ escape routes.

Security techniques for doors and windows vary widely from area to area and for door and window types.  Remember the basics, good quality locks are a must.  Door security does not end with just locks, you also have to prevent the door from being forced open.  Take time to secure both the strike area and the hinge side of the door.  Windows can be tricky to properly secure.  Extra steps need to be taken to keep the windows in place.  Auxiliary keyed locks and steps taken to prevent the window from being lifted out of place need to be installed.  Security providers need to be creative with this area as window types vary so much.

Alarm Systems

Most homeowners will assume that when you present a security platform you are speaking about an alarm system.  Many times the first question I receive of our services is about response times.  Homeowners have been conditioned to think of alarms as the end all of home security.  They are an important part of home security but are only one piece of the puzzle.  Again, you must know the expectations of the homeowner to properly design a system.  

Considerations that have to be made are: the use of the home, the number of people in the home, size of the home and number or location of outbuildings.  Price is a big concern for homeowners.  Many times a wireless system can be more price effective than a wired system.  Ease of use is also something that should be considered.  How the home is used can be a huge factor on the type of system designed.  Vacation homes need to be alarmed differently from a home that has full time residents.  Vacation homes should have glass break sensors, extra PIR sensors.  They should also have every door and window (including garages and outbuildings) monitored.  This is not an area to skimp on.   Additionally homes that have the residents home for the entire day (like the elderly) should be also protected differently.  Easily accessed panic or call buttons should be included into the system in case of medical emergencies.   

Steps should be taken to protect the system itself from tampering or sabotage.  Professional burglars know how to disable an alarm system from the outside of the residence.  Steps should be taken to secure the phone lines and power to the system.  Battery back ups are a must.  Cellular units to back up the phone service are also a great addition to any alarm system. 

Video Surveillance Systems

With the cost of video surveillance systems coming down and technology advancing, many homeowners are implementing a system into their security platform.  The ease of setting up a Wide Area Network (WAN) for remote viewing of the residence has become very attractive option for vacation home owners.  Again the type of system that is installed largely depends on the end user’s wants, needs and budget.  Communicating with the client, listening to concerns and needs, will steer you into the right direction.  Why install a nine camera system when the homeowner may only want to be able to see who is ringing the door bell?  Sure there is more profit in the larger system, but will you have a returning happy client who received exactly what they needed?

Like all technology you get what you pay for.  This is especially true with surveillance equipment.  When selecting a DVR for your client system, remember you need some way of taking the information gathered from the DVR to an outside person.  There is little good if you can’t bring a picture of the suspect to the police.  The DVR should at least have a USB port to transfer data to a thumb drive.     

When the Worst Case Happens

Sometimes even with the best security platform in place, a formidable foe is met.  To further protect the client, provide a valuable item documentation service.  These range from simply videoing of the property to high quality digital photography of a specific item.  This service is wonderful for busy homeowners.  The way this service is presented is by asking what type of television the client has.  Most will say “color” followed by the size.  Then ask, what brand it is.  Only about half can tell without looking at the television or the remote.  Next ask what the model or serial number is.  I haven’t yet had a client be able to tell me these upon asking.  With some explanation of the importance of having this information available in case of a loss a valuable new service can be brought to the client.  Remember, for the police to recover the property, they have to be able to positively identify the item as belonging to your client.  Some insurance policies have a proof of ownership clause where the homeowner has to prove they owned the lost or stolen item.

When providing security to homeowners, be creative.  Remember that security should have several layers to be effective.  Landscaping, effective design of the building, locks, alarms and surveillance systems working in concert are the types of layers that can help deter and prevent crimes occurring at your client’s home.

Reid McNally is the owner of Residential Security Consultants (www.residentialsecurityconsultants.com).

For more information, please send your e-mails to swm@infothe.com.

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