Desert Alarm
Is This Your Business?Author: Kalicia Bateman
Desert Alarm has been providing home security, automation, and fire protection services to local California homeowners since 1990. The company’s unique patrol services and alarm response initiative have made Desert Alarm a fierce security competitor in the area. Additionally, Desert Alarm has a price match guarantee, securing low monthly monitoring costs for its clients.
Desert Alarm provides high quality commercial security options as well. The service offered by Desert Alarm has been utilized by some of the largest companies in the country because of the alarm response and protection it provides.
As a locally owned and operated entity, Desert Alarm has worked to compete with the large national providers in the home security space while maintaining that personable approach to customer service.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Alarm System Features
- Seamless Automation Integration
- Commercial Security
- Alarm Response and Fire Protection
Alarm System Features
The Desert Alarm team customizes and specifically designs each home alarm system to meet all personal security needs and lifestyle arrangements. Security systems offered through Desert Alarm provide cutting edge solutions ranging from gate access to camera systems to outdoor protection methods.
Home alarm systems installed by Desert Alarm include the following features:
- Remote interactive services
- Fire and life safety detection
- Live video viewing
- Notifications
- Patrol response
- Security concierge service
- Remote device control and sensor notifications
Desert Alarm customers can also add remote thermostats, controllers, and sensors to the home security system if desired. While other home security providers provide comparable technology and services, the patrol service feature is unique to Desert Alarm’s service.
Seamless Automation Integration
Similar to the Desert Alarm customized home security system, the company offers the same type of service when it comes to complete home automation. The home automation service is separate from the security service, but it is completely compatible with the security system.
One aspect of the Desert Alarm home automation service that sets it apart from the rest of the industry is the remote keypad that works just like a security system keypad. Users can access and operate the system remotely from anywhere using just a smartphone or the wireless handheld device. Most automation providers will give customers one or the other — mobile access or an automation controller/keypad. Desert Alarm provides both.
Commercial Security
Desert Alarm provides customized business security alarm systems catering specifically to commercial properties. The experienced Desert Alarm team will conduct a comprehensive security evaluation to determine exactly what solutions and protections are needed.
Business security alarm system features include:
- Arm/disarm system from anywhere
- Check current system status
- Setup/disable user codes remotely
- View system and sensor activity
- Search activity history
- Customized notifications
- Alerts for alarms, power outages, and critical conditions
- Notifications when employees arm or disarm the security system or if they forget
- Automated schedules to arm/disarm the system at set times each day
- Alarm response and daily property inspections
The Desert Alarm commercial service has protected the following large businesses: McDonald’s, Subway, JW Marriot, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Walter Clark Legal Group, Next Level Fitness, Ironwood, SunLine, MiraMonte Resort and Spa, Bank of Southern California, and Caltrans among others.
Alarm Response and Fire Protection
The Alarm Response feature is a unique one provided by Desert Alarm. Not many security companies offer top of the line civilian security to their clients, but Desert Alarm does. The company provides customized service tailored to each clients’ specific needs. Services include private patrol, private events, drive by, standing guards, gated communities, and more.
In addition to providing private dispatching services, Desert Alarm also provides commercial fire solutions in order to completely protect commercial properties. Not all security companies can provide fire protection services as well.
The Bad
- Limited Service Area
- Undisclosed Contract and Pricing Information
Limited Service Area
Desert Alarm solely provides security solutions within the state of California. While it is not uncommon within the home security industry to only offer services locally, national providers within the space have the ability to service more prospective security clients than Desert Alarm can.
Undisclosed Contract and Pricing Information
Customers always have questions and want clarification on home security contracts. Many home security companies will require customers to agree to multi-year service contracts. If a customer wants out of the contract before it expires, hefty cancellation fees or early termination penalties can apply. For these reasons, prospective home security clients like to know exactly what the agreement with the security provider will be.
However, Desert Alarm has not made any information regarding contracts for home security or automation services publicly available. While not unheard of by home security providers, most will disclose contract information to customers in the research phase.
Additionally, there is no specific pricing information available to prospective Desert Alarm customers. While the company guarantees to beat any price, Desert Alarm does not provide any base numbers like installation costs or monthly monitoring fees. Many home security companies offer varying security and equipment packages and will disclose the cost for each package.
The Bottom Line
Desert Alarm provides comprehensive security, automation, and fire protection services to residential and commercial properties. The company offers high level alarm system features that are compatible with several home automation components. Desert Alarm has also helped commercial businesses with high end security needs.
While Desert Alarm provides a competitive security service, there are some limitations to the company’s offerings. Desert Alarm has a relatively limited service area as a locally owned and operated company. Additionally, there is not much public information readily available regarding contract terms or pricing specifics.
Despite the questions surrounding the Desert Alarm service, the company overall offers a complete service that many home and business owners would likely benefit from. Prospective security clients should consider Desert Alarm as a security provider.
