New & Noteworthy

SMART HOME SECURITY COSTS LESS THAN YOU THINK

How much do you think it costs to install a smart home security system? Many homeowners believe installing a modern residential security system is costly, but holding off could cost a lot more in the long run.

We’ve been to many homes that have experienced a break-in or damages relating to fire, flooding and furnace breakdowns. We see People going through anxiety, spending a lot of money on insurance deductibles and endless hours replacing their valuables. Is it worth it to go through the anxiety, stress and feeling vulnerable? What is your time worth to file an insurance claim and provide documentation of all the valuables that need to be replaced? What are your keepsakes worth that can’t be replaced? Most home owners install a security system after the fact so they don’t have to go through the pain again.

These days, you can easily find affordable security solutions for your home without “burning” a hole in your budget.

Here are the TOP 4 REASONS TO INSTALL A SMART HOME SECURITY SYSTEM:



1. PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FAMILY FROM INTRUDERS

The first reason to consider installing a smart home security system is that it provides protection for the things that matter most - your home, your belongings, and your family. Installing a home alarm system deters burglars from breaking and entering. Intruders often avoid the homes with security warning signage and appear to be protected. You are 400% less likely to experience a break-in when you have a monitored home security system. The insurance companies agree and provide discounts of 10% to 25% (because their risk of a payout is reduced). A professionally installed security system with door sensors, window sensors, motion sensors, glass-break sensors, siren and 24/7 Monitoring service with POLICE dispatch will limit the intruders time on site - which also reduces your losses.



2. PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FAMILY FROM FIRE

According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) there are about 24,000 house fires each year in Canada, resulting in an average of 377 deaths and 3,048 injuries per year. The #1 ignition source in all preventable house fires is cooking equipment that ignites clothing, oil or flammable liquids. In fatal, preventable house fires, the #1 ignition source is smoking materials, such as cigarettes. Fires are most likely to start in the kitchen, bedrooms and living room. In fatal, preventable house fires, more than 1/3 of the homes didn’t have a working smoke detector.

A modern home security system can protect you from smoke and fires. Monitored Smoke and Heat sensors alert occupants of the presence of smoke, identify the source of the heat and also contact our 24/7 Monitoring Stations with FIRE Department dispatch. Smoke and heat sensors should be installed in hallways and near bedrooms. Some insurance companies provide additional discounts when you have monitored fire protection.



3. AVOID COSTLY REPAIRS AND INSURANCE CLAIMS FROM FLOODING AND HEATING ISSUES

According to Environment Canada, floods are the costliest natural disaster in Canada in terms of property damage. They are also the most common Canadian natural disaster, with about 40 per cent of floods occurring in April and May.

A monitored flood sensor wouldn’t help if there was a natural disaster, but it could instantly alert you

  • if you had flooding from snow melting
  • if you had flood from broken sprinklers
  • if you had a sewage backup problem
  • if a water pipe burst
  • if you had a flooding problem with your dishwasher or washing machine
You could potentially save thousands of dollars by dealing with the problem sooner and avoiding an insurance claim.

Did you ever come home to a freezing home during an ice-cold winter? You couldn’t feel or hear the sound of forced air? OH NO - the Furnace is out! The biggest risk when your furnace cuts out is freezing water lines. Get ready to spend $500 to $4000 on Plumbing and HVAC repairs. By installing a monitored temperature sensor you would receive an instant alert from ALARM.COM and our 24/7 Monitoring Stations. You or another key-holder can deal with the problem before it gets really expensive.      

Going on vacation? Many home-owners insurance policies have requirements that your home must be checked regularly (every 1-4 days) by someone for the policy to remain in force. Alternatively you could install a modern smart home security system with 24/7 Monitoring.

Some insurance companies provide additional discounts when you have monitored flood or low temperature protection.  



4. STAY CONNECTED

More than a smart app or a cool thermostat, ALARM.COM seamlessly connects the key devices in your home on one platform - so they work together and work smarter. Each system is easily customized to your home’s unique configuration and your needs.

Connect your security, lights, locks, thermostats, video and more — for seamless automation and control.

SECURITY CONTROL - With a variety of panels to choose from, you can take advantage of features such as two-way voice for emergency response, and severe weather alerts that notify you if dangerous conditions are detected nearby. ALARM.COM’S Crash & Smash technology ensures that your system will still work even if the panel is smashed.

LIGHT CONTROL - Manage lights with automatic schedules, and set rules to have lights automatically turn on in an alarm event for added visibility and safety.

LOCK CONTROL - Eliminate the need for keys with smart locks. Give each user their own lock code, remotely lock or unlock the door through your app, and get a notification whenever a user unlocks the door.

THERMOSTAT CONTROL - You can keep the family room comfortable on the weekend, make sure the nursery is exactly the right temperature at nap time, and have the whole house drop to a savings setting when nobody is there. The Smart Thermostat uses all the security sensors around the home so it can automatically respond to different conditions and activities.

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE - Keep an eye on what matters to you. Peek-in to watch live streaming video anytime, get video alerts if a specific activity occurs, and watch recorded clips – all from your app.

INSTANT ALERTS - What time did my teenager get home? Did I forget to close the garage door when I left today? Unlike traditional systems that only alert you in an alarm event, ALARM.COM lets you know what’s happening at your property at any time. It’s easy to set your own alerts and reminders to be notified of any activity you care about, whether your system is armed or not.



SMART HOME PLANS & PRICING

So, what will all this security and automation cost? You can purchase sensors and have them professionally installed a-la-carte. Security sensor and automation device prices range from $50/ea to $300/ea. (includes installation). A professionally installed modern smart security package will cost between $599 and $1999+ (based on a 1500 square foot home). 24/7 Monitoring fees will range from $19.95 to $39.95 a month.

Many of our clients prefer our very popular $0 DOWN PLANS and often use them to upgrade older systems. Instead of paying up front equipment and installation fees we created affordable plans that range from $49.95/mo. to $79.95/mo. O.A.C. when you sign up to a 48 month subscription. All SMARTHOME plans come with equipment, professional installation, 24/7 Monitoring with Fire and Police dispatch, ALARM.COM app and on site warranty.

If you would like to know more about any Reed Security products, services or plans please Contact Us today for more information.

We are happy to provide you with a FREE HOME OR BUSINESS SECURITY EVALUATION. 






WHEN IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR SECURITY CAMERAS?

The first sign is when security cameras are NO LONGER EFFECTIVE. A video surveillance system is a valuable tool that businesses use to Re-gain Control, Reduce Theft and provide valuable Business Insights. If you no longer Trust your security cameras then there's a Problem.


FIRST SIGNS OF INEFFECTIVENESS:

  • Security Cameras are missing from your computer screen
  • Security Cameras are fuzzy and produce grainy images
  • Security Cameras are obstructed (due to renovation)
  • Security Cameras are not recording properly
  • You cannot remotely view Security Cameras on your smartphone
  • You no longer have Confidence in your CCTV system


If your Video Surveillance System is 5 to 10 years old, then many of the above problems are common. Sometimes your Video Surveillance System can be fixed with a service call and other times a partial or complete Upgrade is needed.

SECURITY TIP: A yearly service call to clean cameras and update firmware can improve the performance of your CCTV system by 15% to 20%.



4K HAS THE SAME RESOLUTION AS 26 STANDARD DEFINITION CAMERAS

We all watch TV - think of the difference in quality between regular channels and HD channels. ReedHD™ can help solve more crimes using less cameras due to increased image quality. A standard video surveillance camera records in 0.3 megapixel (VGA 640x480 pixels). ReedHD™ records in resolutions up to 4K (3840x2160 pixels) and gives you a better opportunity to record and recognize Faces, License Plates and Objects. A ReedHD™ 4K camera gives you the same resolution as over 26 standard definition cameras (based on pixel counts).

If you would to like Book a Service Call Click Here

If you would like to See ReedHD™ Sample Video Click Here

If you would like more information on Upgrading Your Security Camera System Click Here for a Free Security Evaluation.

SASKATOON SECURITY INQUIRIES

Reed Security Headquarters
Call 306.653.3200 or 1.844.384.SAFE (7233)
SuRe InnoVations
Call 306.974.0888
PRINCE ALBERT SECURITY INQUIRIES
Call 306.922.7200
CALGARY SECURITY INQUIRIES
Call 587.393.2800
REGINA SECURITY INQUIRIES
Call 306.206.0700



MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY HOURS 2017

Our work family recently celebrated Christmas at LB Distillers. Curtis won the Ugly Sweater Contest (first row, far right).


Thank you to all our Clients, Suppliers, Staff, Dealers, Family Members and Friends for making 2017 another successful year. We appreciate You!


HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

December 23rd, closed
December 24th, closed
December 25th, closed, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
December 26th, closed - Emergency Tech Support Available
December 27th, 
8am to 4:30pm
December 28th, 8am to 4:30pm
December 29th, 8am to 4:30pm
December 30th, closed
December 31st, closed
January 1st, closed, HAPPY NEW YEAR! 
January 2nd, regular office hours

Reed Security HelpDesk (Regular Business Hours):

Self Care     Request Support Online

24/7 Alarm Monitoring Stations:

1-800-268-6870

UCIT Video Monitoring Stations (Construction Sites & Compounds):

1-866-756-7847




HOW TO KEEP THE HOLIDAYS HAPPY 2017

Be Careful of WHAT and WHEN You Post Family Photos!

Travelling during the Christmas holiday season? There's nothing worse than coming back to a home that just had a break-in

Here's the TOP 6 HOLIDAY SECURITY TIPS you can implement to protect your Home and Property while you're travelling.


1. USE COMMON SENSE

DO NOT advertise on Facebook or Instagram that you are on vacation. Social media is the equivalent of a diary in a glass house. You may think you’re letting your friends and family know you’re having a great time, but people often forget to change their privacy settings. Thieves will also know you are travelling.

If you like to post photos - post them after you get back.

If you lose a key, then get the locks changed. A better alternative is to eliminate keys altogether by installing an alarm.com smart lock with built in keypad.

Ask all strangers for identification. The person who is “lost” and looking for directions could actually be a burglar checking to see if someone is home.

Never hide an extra key outdoor - especially underneath a mat or on top of a light fixture. This is the first place the bad guys look. Leave an extra house key with a friend or a neighbor. Again, a better alternative is to eliminate keys altogether by installing an alarm.com smart lock with built in keypad.

For insurance purposes take photos of the contents of your home and keep all receipts in an off-site location. Great options are Google Drive, Microsoft Cloud and Dropbox.

Write down the model and serial number of all electronics. This will come in handy for a future Police report and insurance claim.



2. MAKE IT DIFFICULT

Door chains are easy to bypass. Install deadbolts. We have alarm.com smart lock options with built in deadbolts.

Install window bars on all basement windows. They are a great visual deterrent and can be connected to a monitored home security system.

Install a stopper or stick on all sliding doors and windows. You can find these at your local hardware store such as Home Hardware, Canadian Tire or Rona.

Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Many burglars go door to door looking for targets that forgot to lock their front doors.

For cabins, consider installing roller window and door shutters. Visit kimbel.ca to see samples.


3. MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU ARE AT HOME

Burglars target unoccupied homes so keep your home well lit at night. Install timers that turn lights, radios and televisions on at different times. This gives the appearance that someone is home. A better option is to install alarm.com smart lights and smart appliance modules and setup on an alternating schedules.

If you’re taking an extended vacation of more than a week, hire a student or service to shovel your driveway.

Cancel the newspaper and have a friend or neighbour pick-up your mail.

Park a vehicle in the drive-way. Don’t forget to lock the doors and remove any valuables.



4. INSTALL A MONITORED HOME OR CABIN SECURITY SYSTEM

The insurance companies agree. You are 400% less likely to have a break-in and can qualify for an insurance discount of up to 25%.

  • NEW! $0 Equipment, $0 Installation Plans
  • No Phone Line required
  • 24/7 Monitored Protection from intrusion, fire, flood, low temperature, and carbon monoxide
  • Includes Police / RCMP and Fire Department dispatch and Call List notification
  • Optional ALARM.COM - control your smart lights, smart locks, and smart thermostat with *free apps
  • Optional ReedHD™ Wi-Fi Doorbell - Know Who's at the front door, record audio and video onto the cloud
  • A monthly subscription is required for all service plans



5. IN CASE YOU DO HAVE A BREAK-IN

If it looks like a door or window was forced open, DO NOT go inside. The Burglar may still be on site.

Call the Police from your mobile phone and wait.


6. ALWAYS GET 3 QUOTES

Do NOT Sign Up with Door to Door alarm companies with Limited Time Offers. Before you know it you will be on the hook for thousands of dollars with a company that doesn't have a local office. Many door to door alarm companies have summer programs (May to September only). After that good luck. Be sure to search Google for reviews and ask friends and family who they use for home security.


If you would like more information on Smart Home or Business Security & Automation please Contact Us for a Free Security Evaluation.

SASKATOON SECURITY INQUIRIES
Reed Security Headquarters
Call 306.653.3200 or 1.844.384.SAFE (7233)
SuRe InnoVations
Call 306.974.0888
PRINCE ALBERT 
SECURITY INQUIRIES
Call 306.922.7200
CALGARY 
SECURITY INQUIRIES
Call 587.393.2800
REGINA 
SECURITY INQUIRIES
Call 306.206.0700



23 SECURITY INNOVATIONS AND INTERESTING FACTS WE LEARNED IN CHINA

Who would you rather trust to protect you - industry leaders that keep up to date on the latest security innovations or the dinosaurs that are slow to adapt to change? Reed Security recently traveled to China in search of the smartest, most innovative security camera technology on the planet. We even found security cameras at the Great Wall of China near Beijing (population 21.7 million). Life is different in China. A number of things stood out right away:

1. China has the largest population in the world with nearly 1.4 billion people. People are Everywhere - both the sidewalks and the streets are congested. Be prepared to be bumped into and race to the front of the line.

2. Huge growth in construction. It's common the see clusters of construction cranes of 20 or more at one development (we lost count of how many developments we saw). Apartment buildings are built at record speeds to house the growing population.

3. China is the manufacturing mecca of the world and exports more than 2 trillion USD a year. All the manufacturing has a side effect - a light to heavy smog in the cities we visited.

4. The Chinese people work hard, but about the same as the average Canadian worker. Both work about 2000 to 2200 hours a year.

5. Chinese elementary and middle school students outwork Canadian students. The school day runs from 8am to 4pm. After dinner its 1-2 hours of daily homework.

6. You are unable to use FaceBook, Instagram, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and several other web sites.

7. Don't feel too bad. Over 963 Million Chinese people use the WeChat app for social media and for digital payments.

8. Baidu is the Google of China and has an 82% market share . A censored version of Google has a 10% market share in China.

9. The Chinese people are technologically advanced and use their smartphones constantly (including when we were almost run over by a moped).


10. How many security cameras can you count at this Shanghai (population 25.2 million) intersection? CCTV cameras are EVERYWHERE in China and you definitely have the feeling that you are being watched.

11. However, you also feel safe.

Where is all the data stored? How is the data being used?



12. There is a shortage of factory workers in China and employees have a choice on where to work.

13. Made in China 2025 is a government lead initiative to use Robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at factories to keep production costs low as labour costs increase. What are we doing in Canada to stay competitive?



14. We visited the head office of our partner Hikvision in Hangzhou (population 9.2 million). Hikvision is the largest video surveillance manufacturer in the world.

15. In 2016, Hikvision annual sales were 4.6 Billion USD and they currently have 20,000+ employees (9,000 are engineers).



16. Proud members of the Hikvision North American Support Team were gracious hosts and provided V.I.P. treatment all day. They were happy to showcase solutions and answer our questions.

17. Visits to the Hikvision head office are paid for by the customer.



18. We were impressed with the Hikvision showroom where there was a strong emphasis on Applications - using technology to solve problems. Smart Facial Detection technology predicted Virgil's height +/- 3 cm.



19. The Hikvision factory has more than 2 million square feet and manufacturers 100,000 security cameras a day. That's over 36 million security cameras a year!

20. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the inside for privacy reasons.

21. You can see the Hikvision artificial intelligence strategy at work as little orange self-driving, self charging robots move products from assembly lines to storage areas (Hikvision manufacturers the robots). 

22. The robots complement factory workers who work a regular 8:30am to 4:30pm shift and live in company-provided apartments right next door to the factory.

23. At the employees choosing they can return to work after dinner for some overtime.


We Help Families Feel Safe and Connect Them to Their Homes. We also Help Businesses Reduce Theft and Re-Gain Control.

Contact Us today for a Free Security Evaluation or to find out How We Can Help You.


SASKATOON
Reed Security Headquarters
Call 306.653.3200 or 1.844.384.SAFE
SuRe InnoVations
Call 306.974.0888
PRINCE ALBERT
Call 306.922.7200
CALGARY
Call 587.393.2800
REGINA
Call 306.206.0700


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LOCATIONS

SASKATOON SECURITY
Reed Security Group (HEADQUARTERS)
14-1724 Quebec Avenue
Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9
Ph: 306.653.3200
1.844.384.SAFE (7233)

Sure Innovations
1701 Saskatchewan Avenue
Saskatoon, SK S7K 1P7
Ph: 306.974.0888

Nine Yards Technologies Inc.
Ph: 306.341.2477

 

REGINA SECURITY
ViboPulse Services
Ph: 306.206.0700

WINNIPEG SECURITY
Guardian Advanced Solutions
Ph: 204.250.7510 or 204.878.0061

PRINCE ALBERT SECURITY
Thor Security Ltd.
1-243 South Industrial Drive
Prince Albert, SK S6V 7L9
Ph: 306.922.7200

 

NIAGARA REGION SECURITY
Alltech Smart Security
Ph: 289.990.3234

KAWARTHA LAKES REGION SECURITY
Dot Communications
232 Kent St W Unit 4
Lindsay, ON K9V 6A4
Ph: 1.833.368.2666

GREATER TORONTO AREA SECURITY
Link Secure Canada Inc.
15 Victoria Crescent
Brampton, ON L6T 1E2
Ph: 647.262.7460

 

CALGARY SECURITY
Oxford Security Systems
#501, 2903 Kingsview Blvd SE
Airdrie, AB T4A 0C4
Ph: 587.393.2800

EDMONTON SECURITY
Digitech Security Systems
Ph: 780.444.4449