Discount Initiatives
The benefits of membership...
...grow more tangible with each passing year! The AGWG Membership Committee has been working on a number of community discount initiatives in recent months, to include refuse disposal, home security systems, and fuel oil delivery. The membership can benefit from AGWG's efforts to realize savings through "quantity discounts" in these three areas immediately! (Need a a membership application?)Follow the SHORTCUTS on the right to learn more about the discount initiatives and to get contact information for the firms offering special rates to AGWG members.
To suggest how AGWG might save your household money through cooperative action, contact any officer or Board member, or email your idea to Admin@agwgcivicassociation.org. For just $20 a year you can become a member of the AGWG Civic Association and benefit from this and future discount programs. If you are not presently a member, please fill out the membership application and return it promptly.
Heating Oil
AGWG members who heat their homes with oil can save up to $300 this year thanks to research done by Joe Giacalone and Stanley Eng. AGWG requested proposals from three home heating oil companies, asking all three identical questions. The answers provided by the two companies that responded (Griffith Energy and PETRO) include pricing information and details on their service programs. DetailsRefuse Collection
The community's refuse collection costs have been dramatically reduced, thanks to an effort spearheaded by Don MacIntyre. Dramatic savings are being offered by Potomac Disposal (14815 Old Dover Rd, Rockville, MD 20850, (301) 294-9700). Only AGWG members will receive the discounted rate. To participate, contact Potomac Disposal and identify yourself as a member of the AGWG after September 1st, 2007. For more information, see the AGWG Announcement, the comparison of refuse collection proposals, and the comparative cost analysis.Security Systems
Representatives of the five Maryland-based home security firms ranked highest in the most recent Consumer Checkbook came to Joan Donoghue's home in June to provide installation estimates. The background information and observations that follow were offered during assessments of my home and in response to the questions that appear in the evaluation grid at the end of the article.· None of these local firms offers low-cost, one-size-fits-all base packages, unlike many large national companies. Pricing is based on the individual customer's security needs and the labor costs associated with the house's layout and selected devices.
· All firms suggested a "hybrid" alarm system for my home, with some hardwired components and some wireless components, perhaps because there are no unfinished areas in my house.
· Hardwired systems are suggested for customers who want a system that will continue functioning for a decade or more. Wireless components are more prone to failure, and rapidly evolving technology means that comparable replacement units may not be available over long periods of time. Total cost for hardwired systems is typically not much more than hybrid systems, because the lower cost of hardwired components offsets labor costs of running (and hiding) wires. Another advantage of a hardwired system is that you can mix and match components from various manufacturers.
· No firm recommended tying carbon monoxide monitoring into an alarm system, although most will install if requested. These sensors must be replaced every 5 years at a maximum, and it's far more cost effective to buy devices from the local hardware store.
· Customers who primarily want to protect the house from entry when they are not at home can get a system for less than $1500, to include keypads, door sensors, and motion detectors. Price escalates rapidly if the customer wants "perimeter protection" to prevent entry when they are home, due to the cost of contact sensors on every ground floor window or glass breakage listening devices covering likely entry points.
· Most firms cautioned strongly against the use of key fobs. If a criminal gets your key fob in addition to your vehicle (or the contents of your glove box), they'll know the location of your house from the registration and can disable the alarm system. Key fobs are also extremely easy to activate accidentally.
· Monitoring services call the homeowner when a device is tripped and ask for a password. If no answer or the wrong password is given, emergency agencies are contacted. The monitoring service's response can be customized.
· The firms that employ out-of-town monitoring services claim that there is no advantage in local service, since they guarantee a one-minute response time; a more important criterion is whether a service is large enough to be fully staffed on holidays. One firm claimed local service is preferable because they are familiar with local codes and laws.
· Monitoring service requires hardwired installation of the control panel, which is located in an inconspicuous location, usually in the basement; remote sensors can be wireless in a hybrid system.
· All firms said they could customize existing systems and take over monitoring if they're not locked out by proprietary programming, as is occasionally done by major national companies.
Maximum Security and Potomac Security Systems appeared to be the most cost effective (perhaps due to lower overhead associated with smaller operations). Their principals were extremely knowledgeable in the home security field, with backgrounds as an electrician and electrical engineer, respectively. I was unable to rank one above the other, although it should be noted that Potomac offers a free remote keypad in the most convenient location to enter/exit the house if the required hardwired keypad can't be installed in a convenient location. Both offered a discount in the event of multiple AGWG installations.
Interamerican could be the best choice for homeowners with higher security requirements, those fearful of being attacked in their home because of their profession or remote location of their home, or those needing to protect firearms from theft. Interamerican claims they can design systems that will give verbal alerts or notify authorities before intruders reach the house, and have a long list of references from judges, the state attorney general, churches, Montgomery County Public Schools, retail establishments, and telecommunications companies. Their representative described the measures taken (and extra days to install) to ensure that their systems are failsafe for years, to include using bolts instead of nails, copper melding, and heat sink soldering. No discount based on multiple AGWG installations is available.
Although each of the five firms interviewed had excellent ratings in all of Checkbook's major categories, the grid contains responses from the three companies whose proposals most closely matched my individual security needs.
FEATURE |
Interamerican |
Maximum |
Potomac Security |
Activation/disarming with one-touch button rather than numeric code |
Yes; not recommended |
Yes |
Yes; not recommended |
Alert (verbal) from system when specific door is opened when system is not armed |
Yes |
Yes, +$40 for verbal-capable keypad |
Yes, with more expensive keypad |
Basement wetness monitoring, cost per wireless sensor |
$150 |
$100; ($60 wired) |
$120 |
Closed-circuit camera installation available; cost estimate |
High-end equipment; $1000+ |
No |
No |
Carbon monoxide monitoring available; sensor cost |
Yes, not recommended |
Yes, not recommended; $98 |
No, not recommended |
Corporate presence in Washington area; year beginning |
1981; selective hiring protocol |
1978 |
1984, full-time business since 1995 |
Discount on cost offered for multiple AGWG installations |
None; but "If you don't think you got good value, it's free!" |
10% with five commitments; rebates possible |
10% with two commitments |
Door-Window contact sensors, cost each |
$50-$55 wireless |
$52 wireless |
$60 wireless |
Exterior (yard, deck) security options available |
Yes, including noisemakers and/or police notification |
No; wildlife trigger false alarms |
Not recommended because of false alarms; use floor stress sensors |
Fire detection monitoring; option cost |
$50-$150 per sensor, technology dependent |
$90 per sensor |
$120; add $20 to get low temp detection |
Glass-breakage acoustic listening device (10x12 panes or >); cost each |
$100 |
$85 wireless; $65 hardwired |
$120 wireless |
Keyfob device; option price |
Not recommended; $65 |
$68, programmable unit |
$65; important to call to report loss |
MONITORING SERVICE |
|||
Cancel if sell home? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cost complications if switch to monitoring service using existing equipment |
None |
None |
None |
Minimum contract length |
0 |
0 |
1 yr |
Location |
Silver Spring, MD with 4 national backups |
Hunt Valley, MD |
Syracuse, NY; 1 min callback response; GSM add $15 |
Minimum monthly fee |
$24; $34 with wireless web/camera monitoring |
$20 |
$24 |
Motion detectors at major points of entry into home or with full-room range, cost each |
$100 pet immune |
$100 pet immune |
$120 pet immune |
Senior monitoring pendent (medical alert); option price |
$50-$150 depending on frequency |
$65 |
$60 pendant or beltclip |
Signage provided (yard signs and window stickers) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Siren Exterior, option price |
$100-$150 (tampered) |
$60, usually included in base installation |
Not recommended due to false alarms |
Siren Interior; option cost if not in base-level system |
$50 |
included |
included |
Siren activation/panic button available on keypad |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Waiting period (avg) between assessment and installation |
8 weeks |
10 days maximum; often few days |
10-14 days |
Installation charge for additional |
$0 |
$0 if single/few trips |
$0 |
Interamerican Security |
7212 Righters Mill Road, Derwood, MD |
301-840-0004 |
|
Maximum Security |
1702 Picadilly Rd, Crofton,MD |
301-261-3600 |
|
Potomac Security Systems |
9821 Kendale Rd, Potomac,MD |
301-767-0039 |
|
