I bought a house that has an alarm system installed. What do I need to do?

First, ask the previous owner if the system is currently monitored. If it is and you do not intend to secure a monitoring agreement, ensure the previous owners have canceled their service before your phone system is turned on. If you plan on securing a monitoring contract, contact the alarm company for proper training and activation of the system. If this is not done, the monitoring company will not be able to verify your right to be in the home and they will have to request a law enforcement dispatch each time you accidentally set off the system.


Secondly, the previous owner should have provided you with security company information. If not, you will need to contact the security company that installed the system for power-down instructions.


Finally, if the previous owner did not cancel service before moving out, please be advised that you may have to present proof of ownership before the security company will assist you. The security company needs to be sure that they are dealing with a person, who has the legal right to shut the system down, and not a burglar.

Show All Answers

1. What is a false alarm?
2. Why does the county need a false alarm ordinance?
3. Have similar false alarm ordinances been successful elsewhere?
4. How much is the registration fee?
5. When does my registration expire?
6. Is a contact person someone other than myself?
7. What happens if I don't register?
8. What is the fee schedule and how does it work?
9. What happens if I don’t pay the false alarm fee?
10. What does no-response mean?
11. When should I contact my alarm company?
12. Who gets charged if the alarm company employee sets the alarm off?
13. What do I do to get the alarm / monitoring company to call me first?
14. If the power goes off, is that considered a false alarm?
15. How can backup batteries cause false alarms?
16. How can I reduce the chance that my battery will cause a false alarm?
17. Will a deputy always respond to my alarm?
18. Can my alarm registration be transferred to another person or alarm site?
19. How often should I have my system checked?
20. What do I do if I accidentally set off the alarm system?
21. I bought a house that has an alarm system installed. What do I need to do?