Home Alarm Certificates

When reviewing your home insurance policy, you may have found something like a home security alarm certificate listed under the available discounts section. If you have a keypad next to your front door, there is a good chance that you can take advantage of a little kickback offered by your insurance company. Here’s a quick FAQ to help you find out if this might apply to you.

What is a home alarm certificate?

If you have an active home security system from a reputable alarm company such as Brinks Home™ your provider can offer you a home alarm certificate that you can present to your home insurance company for any available discounts. If they install the system, the certificate is available after they verify everything is working. If you have a do-it-yourself system, they may send a technician to your home to check that:

• The equipment is properly installed and functioning

• The system is monitored by a UL listed security center

That’s all good, but when and why will your insurance company reject a certificate?

• Self-monitored systems are often not approved

• Non-UL listed monitoring centers may not be accepted

Who issues the certificate?

The certificate is provided by your home security monitoring company. Some of the larger providers actually allow you to download a certificate off their website, so you don’t have to wait for it to arrive in the mail. It is also possible for your security company to fax or email the certificate straight to your insurance company, saving you all sorts of headaches along the line.

What does it do for me?

It saves you money – with the right security system.

With the advent of do-it-yourself security systems that are often monitored by the owners wielding a mobile device or smart tablet, many home insurance providers have stopped promoting any discounts for home insurance. However, when you get a home security certificate with a UL listed monitoring center, it is possible to save up to 25% on your home insurance. First however, you will need to do your own footwork as some states make it much harder to receive any sizable discount–some offering only 1.5% off.

In some cases, what you save on your insurance might even cover your monthly monitoring fee, which completely covers the cost of a security system in some circumstances.

Save even more in the long run

While it might be tempting to run down to the big box store and pick-up an install-yourself-today security system, it might end up saving you more in the long run to have a system backed by a 24/7 center, like Brinks Home. The home security certificate could lower your insurance payment every year, while your system helps to deter burglars and lower the theft rate in your neighborhood. That can result in your premiums being lowered even more, just because you created a home that the thieves want to walk past time and time again.

If you are a current Brinks Home customer, you can access and download your insurance certificate by going to the Customer Portal or you can find it under 'My Account' in your Brinks Home Mobile App.