Consumers today have so many options for home security without professional monitoring. For instance, they can buy DIY products that blare upon an alarm event and allow for self-monitoring. Or they can train their dogs to ward off would-be intruders. Or they could just not care because, “By the time the police respond, the thief is already outta there.” Or this: “It’s just stuff. I don’t have anything valuable.”
Let’s put aside the fact that emergency responders increasingly are not responding to unverified break-ins.
What do you say to the prospect who tells you they have a dog and no stuff to steal in any case?
Putting aside the notion that the bad guys could silence Fido for good if they chose to, here’s the No. 1 reason why these reluctant customers need monitored security: Who is going to rescue Fido in the case of a fire?
“Don’t forget about fire,” says Steve Shapiro, VP industry relations for ADT.
Shapiro and I chatted during the recent Connections 2015 conference about the state of professional monitoring. Like many consumers, I too have failed to recognize the value of emergency response for fire and, for that matter, CO detection. How would you like to come home to a house filled with gas, and then set off the flames when static electricity generates a spark?
Shapiro is not terribly concerned about the demise of professional security monitoring. He says new business models are emerging that make the service appealing even to die-hard DIYs with “nothing to steal.”
For example, ADT recently announced a self-contained DIY camera, made by LG, with a security and home automation hub inside. ADT will offer pay-as-you-go monitoring for the device-a model that many providers are starting to embrace.
Please share your tips on selling monitored security in the comments section below.
This blog originally ran on SSI‘s sister site cepro.com.
