Tag Archives: LiveWatch

SafeMart.com Launches First Indoor Infrared Video Cameras

Posted on by

CHICAGO (July 10, 2012) SafeMart has launched its first ever series of indoor video surveillance cameras to include infrared night vision technology. The wireless cameras deliver powerful new indoor surveillance security through cutting edge infrared capabilities that allow the cameras to capture high definition images in all levels of light.

The new Indoor Wireless IP Video Camera (ADC-V520) and Indoor Wireless IP Video Camera with InfraRed (ADC-V520IR) record and capture in high definition, come with full color 720P resolution and have longer wireless range for a greater ability to secure the whole home. Installation is fast and easy, as with all products from SafeMart, and is completed with a simple push-button process.

Both fixed lens cameras offer high, medium and low-resolution image capture options, in addition to adjustment options for brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness and exposure. The V520IR also comes with a clear new night vision image capture, meaning it provides state-of-the-art security all day and all night.

“With so many ways to customize your video cameras, it’s easy to make sure the camera is providing the best image and service to the customer,” says SafeMart President Chris Johnson. “That’s really what we’re about here at SafeMart: giving our customers the best equipment, best service and the best overall experience.”

The new cameras from Alarm.com include the most advanced video technology available, ensuring customers have more options and better security than ever before.

SafeMart is constantly striving to bring the newest and most highly rated security products to customers. The new infrared cameras are only the latest example of that determination and desire to ensure a customer’s peace of mind.

 

SafeMart Expands Wireless Home Security Capabilities With Verizon Wireless

Posted on by

CHICAGO, IL, May 15, 2012 — SafeMart is excited to announce its expanding service with the addition of Verizon Wireless as a network service provider for SafeMart’s award-winning wireless home security systems. This will provide LiveWatch monitoring customers with an even faster and more effective means of managing their interactive home security systems.

“We have added the Verizon Wireless network to deliver the best possible experience to our customers,” says Chris Johnson, President of SafeMart. “Using multiple vendors and networks gives our customers more flexibility in choosing the wireless network that delivers the best coverage. Our top priority is our customers’ satisfaction and every decision we make, we make with our customers in mind.”

Verizon Wireless’ broad and reliable network will increase accessibility for SafeMart’s wireless customers. SafeMart already covers the entire US, but Verizon is known for coverage in certain areas that other providers don’t service. LiveWatch monitoring customers will be able to monitor their homes from any location using this wireless network.

The improved wireless network is only one of many measures SafeMart is taking to provide the best home security to its customers. SafeMart also offers fully customized and professionally configured home security systems with its revolutionary Plug & Protect™ delivery model.

SafeMart’s use of the latest cellular technology ensures the most convenient and dependable methods of home security and automation for homeowners. With Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE and 3G networks, SafeMart is able to offer its customers the best wireless options possible for their home security systems. The combination of SafeMart’s wireless services and customized equipment and Verizon Wireless’ nationwide coverage will make home security even easier.

About SafeMart

SafeMart has redefined home security. Delivering revolutionary protection and peace of mind, SafeMart delights customers across the country. SafeMart leads the industry with its interactive Plug & Protect™ wireless alarm system that empowers customers with cutting edge protection and control. SafeMart provides unbeatable value and exceptional service with its award-winning LiveWatch alarm monitoring service. SafeMart (a division of LiveWatch Security, LLC) is the most recommended security company in America. Recently, SafeMart was named the #1 Wireless Security Company in America, #1 Alarm Monitoring Company in America and won a national award winner for e-Commerce Customer Service.

Security Speaking Podcast: SafeMart Home Security President Chris Johnson

Posted on by

Editor-in-Chief of Security Sales & Integration Scott Goldfine talks with President and Founder Chris Johnson about SafeMart and the home security industry as a whole.

SG: Welcome to security sales and integration, security speaking podcast. I’m Scott Goldfine (“SG”), Editor and Chief of SSI. I thank you for listening as each week we discuss the trends, issues, opportunities, challenges, technologies and more, affecting today’s electronic, security industry professional. My guest today is Chris Johnson (“CJ”), President and founder of St. Mary’s, Kansas based SafeMart Home Security. SafeMart markets its Plug & Protect™ wireless alarm system and LiveWatch alarm monitoring service to both residential and commercial customers. Having made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies, consecutively from 2009 to 2011, the company focuses on providing professional grade security at lower costs. With customer-installed solutions spanning security and surveillance. Chris, thank you so much for joining me today.

CJ: No problem, thanks for having me Scott.

SG: Now Chris, if I come to you as a home owner looking for a system, why should I go with SafeMart as opposed to a large national provider like ADT, or a similar local or regional company offering complete installation services?

CJ: Well I think the answer to that may be two different parts. Let me just start by saying, at SafeMart when we deliver our LiveWatch security services and then the alarm equipment that enables those services, we are focused on making sure that our customers are well covered, as opposed to say, “minimal coverage,” just to get a contract. On the other side of the coin, we try not to sell anything that the customer doesn’t need. It’s kind of a unique sales approach in an industry that is known to operate kind of on both extremes. There are some local and regional companies that do a fantastic job. A lot of companies that I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with over the past few years where I think that we actually appreciate good competition. Those companies that truly have a long term view, and are focused on taking care of the customer. There is enough space in this market for a lot of different approaches.

SG: What are the roots and genesis of the business, how did it get started? Is it accurate to call SafeMart a do-it-yourself model? Where do you fit in the scheme of things, and how did it get started?

CJ: Let me start with the background and then address the question about do-it-yourself if that’s ok. My background is kind of a maze of really neat experiences, which in retrospect kind of looks like a straight line leading to SafeMart. At seventeen years old I started my training to become an EMT, and challenged the state board exams a few days after my eighteenth birthday. EMS was a pretty cool gig for an eighteen year old, you grew up fast. While I continued working for a local EMS service I quickly went on to start my paramedic training and college coursework. At 22 I was made director of our local county EMS department, which was a hospital based department. I continued working EMS and at the same time I functioned as the Operations Director for that hospital. All of this to say that I have extensive background in emergency services, working with law enforcement, fire, EMS agencies, emergency dispatchers. I loved the excitement and the opportunity to help people, but it’s also really been a great life experience with some things I’ve done with SafeMart. Over the next several years I continued as a paramedic, but also had an opportunity, an interesting opportunity, to play some key roles with a telecom training company, working on some new e-learning initiatives that they had. I worked both on the publishing side and on the sales side of the business. So again, some unique experiences that helped and all came together. I had no idea where Providence was taking me on this wild path, but we woke up one morning to the “.com bust,” and at that point I guess my entrepreneurial side kicked in. I saw an opportunity maybe to do my own thing so to speak, and a short while later I took a phone call from a past colleague at the telecom company who knew that I wasn’t going to be interested in waiting for the dust to settle after this technology bust. It was 2001, and there were some people who saw an opportunity to fill a void in the residential alarm market. What started with them, with kind of a manufacturing focus and they even had a prototype of a self-contained wireless alarm system, that quickly proved to be an uphill battle with some pretty well established alarm controls and sensor manufacturers in that space. Even with a niche focus, for somebody to enter this space as a manufacturer, unless they’ve already got a customer kind of established and in the wings, it’s pretty hard to establish any upside for the company or any measurable benefit for the homeowner. So after a complete assessment of the landscape, nothing too technical of course, mostly a gut feeling and just observations, I came up with the concept and founded SafeMart. Today, we’ve grown into a pretty substantial force, participating in what I consider a true paradigm shift in the residential security market. So that’s kind of the background of the company, long story long.

There’s the question of the DIY market that you asked about, originally that’s kind of the way that we started, was a real strong DIY or do-it-yourself focus. You think about the acronym DIY and it has different connotations for different people. We really started developing at that point something that we wanted to play in the middle. So on one end of the spectrum in the industry, you’ve got large trade dealers from ADT to a one-man-shop. On the other hand, you do have the true DIY players who expect the customer to figure out the ins and outs of the alarm and kind of become an alarm technician overnight, for a one time deal, which is not real exciting. Both ends have challenges, one has high costs and the other has frankly low value. We operate in what I consider middle ground, of what we call professionally configured systems. While we still rely on the customer to participate in the placement of the sensors and things like that, which by the way makes them ultimately more familiar with their system, and more comfortable to use it.

With our Plug & Protect™ process we give the customer the best of both worlds. Professional quality equipment, UL listed central station monitoring, professionally configured programming set up and activation, plus lower costs on our end, which are passed on to the customer. That’s kind of the long and short of where we see ourselves in this market.

SG: I know Chris you and I have talked about that a lot of players that have sort of come and gone in that space, how has that been flushing itself out and where do you see that going?

CJ: It’s one of those things where people look, and I’ve had conversations with a lot of dealers around the country, who are trying to figure out what direction they’re going to go, some big, some small, some really do a fantastic job, some not so much. We’ve seen a lot of competitors come and go, on the internet specifically. I used to keep track of them, I don’t even bother anymore. I think the number is in the hundreds, and even thousands if you count all of the ADT or money dealers that end up advertising, which is a different story. The ability to flip the contract makes the economics quiet interesting with the advertising. The idea of the internet, it’s a great place and easy place to get cheap leads, I can tell you that the advertising competition is fierce in this space. Again, much of it is driven by the dealer market, big and small. When they can flip a contract for a healthy multiple, even with a handsome bounty on that contract, the math in the end sometimes doesn’t end up working out, because the total costs aren’t always rolled in. We’re a lot of times good at certain things, but not always good at everything so really looking at true costs I think sometimes takes months or maybe a year. It ends up being kind of a flash in a pan for a lot of companies advertising online. I would say that it’s growing, but I haven’t seen any evidence that it’s growing faster than the overall market, which is on the uptrend. Now certainly there are inherent moves to that medium, whether it’s social networking or just people researching more online, and I think that there are a lot of traditional dealers who have a great presence online with their local website telling their story and why they’re a great company. I don’t think the presence in that medium should be confused with trying to compete in the pretty cutthroat space of advertising online.

SG: How is SafeMart structured in terms of number of employees, their roles, how you train them, their expertise, and then how and who does your monitoring and how is service handled?

CJ: My business partner Brad and I run the business together with a really fantastic management team. We have about fifty employees and then other contractors. We have what you would expect from a security company, a good portion of our head count is in sales and technicians, then as a technology company, we have our web and application developers, we’ve got our marketing team, and then a great bunch of critical support roles like accounting and inventory management. There’s a lot going on but we have on the sales side a very extensive training program that lasts about six weeks. For the technicians, we insist that our tech’s are top notch, from the most experienced on our team all the way down to say the newest recruit learning what a RJ31 X-Jack is, or what a end of line resistor is and we’ve got a whole spectrum of experience on our team. Our technicians have a long, more progressive, never ending training process. This team is driven to know every residential panel, inside and out. We get a lot of support from manufacturing training and industry training, but most of it we have developed internally within the past ten years. We’ve got a very strong focus on training both on sales and technical side. We partner with CMS, to handle our alarm monitoring, they’re a good partner where all of our accounts are with CMS. On the service side, we service all of our own customers remotely.

SG: Do you think that this model is something that traditional security dealers might look toward as things change? Particularly the way technology has been enabling some of these things, where do you see that heading for the more tradition type of dealer?

CJ: There will always be a place for the traditional brick and mortar roll in a truck dealer. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind. There are some significant challenges ahead, which are going to require them to adapt, mainly to customer expectations changing. There’s a lot of great companies who operate in this space. If they remain focused on long term success, driven by the best technology, and that doesn’t just mean a key pad. Software plays a big role in the solution now. The best technology and taking care of the customer, and actually making a profitable business which would seem obvious, but again, when you have a lot of it driven by dealers who can flip contracts, it really changes the dynamics of it. If they’ve got a solid business and they can focus on those elements I think it will serve them well. We’ve got a very large number of dealers in a very fragmented market. When they are just focused on selling a contract or treating their customer base as an annuity, I really think the days of easy money from flipping contracts without a long term focus is going to change. This shift is more of a financial shift as it is a shift in the delivery mechanism that we’re focused on. The local and regional companies that have a solid business, and take care of their customers are going to survive and actually flourish as there’s some cleansing in the market. But there’s going to be a lot of headwinds and I think that on the residential side that there’s going to be some things really being thrown into the mix including new competitors that a lot of the effects of that ultimately are unclear. On the commercial side, I think there will always be a growing need for full on site surveys and installation. Since the downturn of the housing market, there have been a lot of security companies who have by necessity redoubled their efforts to focus on commercial accounts and some of them actually like it. They see, “Hey I can actually make a profit on the installation, imagine that.” I’ve talked to a lot of dealers who have moved into commercial space, again out of necessity, who intend on staying there because the value proposition is much different. They can sell the quality of their company and their technicians, as opposed to just being focused on price. I think as the U.S. economy improves these commercial opportunities are only going to grow. There will always be a need for traditional dealers in this space, and look, the good work that they do on site in a lot of cases cannot be replaced. That’s my take on the residential and commercial side, and again the shift that’s happening I don’t think is as much with a delivery mechanism as much as it is a financial focus.

SG: Looking at the competitive landscape, more recently we’ve seen a lot of the telecom’s, and cable companies coming in and taking a real shot at home security and bundling those things with other products and services. How concerned are you about that and where do you see that going?

CJ: That’s a good question. It’s a question that a lot of people are asking right now. I think the thing that we keep focusing on is the total market penetration. Market penetration on the residential side has been pretty flat for about two decades, about 18, 19, 20 percent. With new competitors coming into the space does that number grow? Some think it will double over the next ten years. If this happens, on the surface it could look like that it will amount to a net gain for existing dealers, as more marketing and focus and awareness expands the total market for everyone. That would hold true if everything else stayed the same. That is absolutely clear that it would be a boom to everyone in this industry, if nothing else changed. But, there’s also chance they will take a scorched earth approach and acquire customers at any cost. As they compete and vie for a position amongst each other, I mean look they’ve got huge advertising budgets and millions of existing customers. In this scenario, the outlook would not be as bright for traditional dealers and frankly would not be as bright for the customers, but the ability of these service providers to bundle will make it hard for customers to know how much that security piece or how much that automation piece actually costs. I realize that it’s easier said than done, but that’s another reason that we cannot compete on price because a traditional dealer is not going to compete on price with a telecom provider; with the marketing budget, with the economy scale, and with the ability to bundle. I know the emphasis in this industry for a long time has been on price or at least hook them on price or get the contract at any cost. That is the financial element that I’m saying is going to change, and we’ve got to focus on quality and taking care of the customer and long term outlook. I think that there’s some challenges too that they’re going to face. It’s not going to be just as easy as walking in and taking market share.

SG: Looking at this year Chris, what is your outlook? Has your outlook changed since maybe late last year when you first looked towards 2012? What have you seen in the first quarter, and what are you looking for in the rest of the year?

CJ: 2012 just goes back to the question about the telecom players coming in, and I want to make one more point there. I think 2012 is going to be the beginning of a new era in residential security for a lot of reasons. New entrance into the market and a rapidly changing platform, hardware and software. It’s going to get really interesting. There is a key element which I consider kind of a wild card as far as what’s going to happen in the competitive landscape, and that is the inherent complexity of this business. The needs analysis, the system configuration, the programming, the monitoring procedures, the dispatch procedures, the licensing, the alarm permits, it’s a lot of complicated elements of this business that create a pretty high barrier to entry for any company. The big players are not just going to walk in and take all the market share. If it were that easy I think they would have done it by now, but make no mistake they’re coming and in some markets are already here. For 2012, in addition to the changing competitive landscape, the manufacturers are scrambling to develop new platforms. The alarm panel as we know it, I think is going away. As we know it, the brains, the platform, what we’re seeing now with the integrated touch screens that are being slapped on to the old style platform I think is just going to be a stop gap. While they are probably developing more flexible, modern platforms, and don’t get me wrong I like the new emphasis on the touch screen, the consistent user interface, more intuitive navigation, I think the manufacturers finally realized it was probably not a great idea to have alarm engineers designing a user interface. I’m really excited about what we’re seeing from Logics, Honeywell, and others, as they really focus on mobile and user interface and a truly integrated platform. There’s also a lot of developments on the software side with interactive services and customer’s expectations for mobile connectivity and all of these things are coming together at once. It’s going to be interesting. On the economic outlook, I think the past three or four years have been really challenging for a lot of companies. I think demand as a whole is increasing, from what I’m hearing and seeing, and we’ll be relatively strong this year. I think the market will be somewhat clouded by all the disruption that’s starting but again, those companies who focus on their core competencies will do fine with a stronger consumer. For us specifically, we look for an ever increasing number of subscribers who want interactive services as I mentioned, and I think that will hold true for all of our colleagues. As we try to get this value proposition in home security from a need to a want, so a really big shift there with some stickier services. The bottom line for us is we are expecting our strongest year ever.

SG: Fantastic, Chris we’re out of time but thank you so much and I wish you continued success and a good rest of the year.

CJ: Thank you very much Scott, it was a pleasure talking to you.

SG: I want to remind listeners, for comments or questions please e-mail me at scott.goldfine@securitysales.com and as always thank you for listening.

SafeMart Named National Growth Hero by Interlogix Global Security

Posted on by

CHICAGO (April 30, 2012): Interlogix Global Security (NYSE: UTX) honored home security leader SafeMart with the National Growth Hero Award for being the fastest growing home security company in America in 2011.  The annual award recognizes a home security and alarm monitoring provider for the fastest growth during the previous calendar year.

SafeMart won the National Growth Hero Award by focusing on delighting customers.  “Customer service is a category that is extremely important to us because our growth is directly tied to our customers’ experience.  We follow up every activation with a ‘Customer Delight Call’.  We are with you from start to finish.  We don’t purchase contracts from dealers and we don’t sell our contracts to fund growth.  We grow the old fashioned way; we deliver a superior experience to our customers.” says SafeMart CEO Chris Johnson.

SafeMart is unique because of its focus on customer service and because it provides its award-winning, LiveWatch home security solutions in a revolutionary way.  By delivering, professionally-configured, wireless security systems that are ready for placement, SafeMart has eliminated the need for expensive installers, long contracts and high monthly fees while giving the customer a more convenient, superior solution.  The delivery model allows SafeMart to reinvest money into customer service which has led to explosive growth over the last 18 months.

“Our teams take pride in delivering fantastic ‘Customer Delight’ that is much more than satisfaction.  We want to provide the best customer experience in the country for every single customer.  This Award is a reflection of our efforts to deliver superior value and service to our customers.” says Johnson.

While the recognition is welcome, Johnson acknowledges that in a service industry, they can never be complacent and they will continue to outpace the rest of the industry by pushing the company to provide the best home security and alarm monitoring customer service in America.

About SafeMart
SafeMart® has redefined home security. Delivering revolutionary protection and peace of mind, SafeMart delights customers across the country.  SafeMart leads the industry with its interactive Plug & Protect™ wireless alarm system that empowers customers with cutting edge protection and control.  SafeMart provides unbeatable value and exceptional service with its award-winning LiveWatch alarm monitoring service.  SafeMart (a division of LiveWatch Security, LLC) is the most recommended security company in America.  Recently, SafeMart was named the #1 Wireless Security Company in America, #1 Alarm Monitoring Company in America and won a national award winner for e-Commerce Customer Service.

Press Contact:
Sam McBride
785-321-3154
sam@safemart.com

Make Sure Your New Home is Safe

Posted on by

A new home can be unfamiliar, especially in terms of security. When choosing a house and neighborhood, evaluate the safety of not only the house’s structure and surrounding area. Here are some ideas on how to ensure that your new home is safe.

The Yard

  • Inspect the house’s yard and the surrounding yards. Unkempt properties are a more likely target for intruders because they imply a lack of habitation or care.
  • Trees that are close to the home can provide access to a higher floor entry.
  • Overgrown bushes and landscaping give intruders more hiding places. Check the property for potential covers for intruders.
  • Certain locations are more susceptible to floods. Find past records of flooding in your area if the house is near large bodies of water.
  • Particularly dry areas of high temperature are also more likely to spread and start fires.
  • Make sure that enough natural lighting reaches the yard. Look for sources of artificial light as well for nighttime around the house.

The House

  • Check the doors for sturdiness. Make sure they are made of solid wood or metal, and they are not worn from age or use. Many intruders enter households by kicking in the front door.
  • In addition make sure there are no windows near the door that intruders could break to unlock the door from the inside.
  • Inspect all possible points of entry for intruders. Make sure windows and doors all close and lock properly.
  • The house number should be clearly seen from a distance. Police and other officials may use this to find you and help more quickly in an emergency.

After you have decided your new home will keep you safe and comfortable, there are still some more measures to protect your home against intruders.

Practice Safe Habits

  • Keep the garage door closed so intruders cannot use it as a means of entry. Many intruders enter households through doors in the garage because they are less likely to be locked or reinforced.
  • Do not keep a key hidden around the house. Rather, keep your spare keys with a trusted neighbor.
  • If you have a tool shed, make sure it is also well secured. Otherwise, it may provide tools for intruders to use when breaking in.
  • Have phone calls from your home forwarded to your cell phone if you are not home, so others won’t know when you are gone.

Reinforce Doors and Windows

  • Rekey or replace the locks of your house. This will ensure that you are the only one with copies of your key.
  • Install anti-lift devices for the windows so intruders cannot use them to enter your home. You can use through-the-frame pins for vertical sliding windows, and wooden sticks or dowels for horizontal sliding windows.
  • The windows should open no more than 6 inches for ventilation.
  • Sliding glass doors should also have anti-lift devices to keep them from being lifted out of the track. You can use through-the-door pins or upper track screws.
  • For sliding doors, keep the latch and door rollers working properly.
  • If you do not already have them, install deadbolts and strike plates in all doors.

Install a Security System

  • A home without a security system is 3 times more likely to be broken into, and losses due to burglaries average $400 more.
  • Surveillance cameras will help you keep an eye on all areas of your house.
  • Yard security such as a lawn perimeter alarm will also deter intruders before they even get close to your home.
  • Certain security systems allow you to control your house locks even when you are far away. This eliminates the need to keep spare keys, which can fall into the wrong hands.
  • Alarms will immediately and effectively alert you to an intruder, so you can keep your family and home safe.
  • Make all aspects of your home security system secure and effective. Intruders will be able to find the weakest spot of your system and use it.

Maintain Your House and Yard

  • If the house’s lighting isn’t sufficient, install lights and lamps around the house to eliminate any hiding places.
  • Keep the greenery trimmed and well kept. Intruders use overgrown bushes and trees to stay out of sight.
  • If you have a gate, keep it in good condition. It won’t completely stop intruders but it will deter them, and they are very easily spotted when trying to climb over fences.
  • Do not leave personal property lying around in the yard. This signals to outsiders that the homeowner has items worth stealing and can convey carelessness.
  • Plant roses or thorny plants under windows and fences to make breaking in harder for intruders.

SafeMart Steps To Safety: Apartment and Condo Living

Posted on by

The city life offers its residents a constant pulse of creativity, energy and excitement. But, with that bustle and exhilaration comes a high number of people living in close proximity, often in a multi-unit building. According to a National Crime Prevention Council study, apartment residents are 85 percent more likely to be burglarized than those living in other types of housing and condo owners are nearly 25% more likely.

Here are some security tips to offer your urban clients who are looking to purchase in a multi-unit building.

Secure all points of entry and items you own and store outside:

  • Lock all the windows. Often being on a high floor lures people into a false sense of security. Intruders can access higher-level apartments because of fire escapes, ladders, and possibly even from another balcony.
  • Always dead bolt the front door. Many apartment dwellers feel that because their front door opens to an interior hallway they don’t need to deadbolt or lock their doors. This provides easy access to criminals who can easily break in via a door lock.
  • Check the door’s quality to make sure it can’t be kicked down. A sturdy door should be solid wood or metal.
  • Put locks on outdoor furniture, grills, bikes and other items that maybe accessible to thieves on decks and patios.

Give the impression of habitation when you leave:

  • Keep the television or radio on when you leave, to make it sound like someone is home.
  • Keep the shades down and use light timers when you are out for the evening or out of town
  • If you are leaving for an extended period of time, ask someone you know to pick up your mail for you or put a hold on its delivery
  • If you live alone, consider adding an additional name aside from yours on your mailbox to give the appearance that more people reside in the unit.

Stay informed and aware:

  • Look up crime rates and the location of any sex offenders around your apartment to keep yourself informed.
  • Meet your neighbors and join a condo association board, if available. Your neighbors will be able to help recognize signs of suspicious behavior.
  • Keep track of everyone that could have a key to your unit. As a rule, you should always change the locks when you move in.

The tips above will help lower the likelihood of your apartment or condo falling victim to criminal activity, but nothing helps more than having a security system in your apartment or condo.

Our partner, SafeMart, has reinvented the way home security is delivered so that renters and owners can add a home security system without having to sign long contracts, wait for installers or pay for expensive support visits.  SafeMart.com lets you customize a system that fits your apartment or condo and gives you 24/7 control from your mobile phone or computer.  It’s the perfect solution for apartment renters or condo owners.

This was a guest post from Sam McBride who writes the home security blog for SafeMart.com

Home Security System Alerts Sent To Your Phone with LiveWatch Alarm Monitoring

Posted on by

In this alarm monitoring video, SafeMart showcases LiveWatch alarm monitoring and its ability to arm and disarm a home security system remotely from an iPhone, Android, iPad or computer.

VIDEO: SafeMart Presents Plug & Protect™ Wireless Home Security (HD)

Posted on by

In this home security video, SafeMart reviews the benefits of a wireless home security system with Plug & Protect™. Plug & Protect™ is changing the home security industry by empowering the consumer to build, customize and interact with their home security system from anywhere in the world.

VIDEO: Home Security On A Smart Phone With LiveWatch Alarm Monitoring

Posted on by

Make arming your system convenient and start controlling your home from anywhere in the world!

SafeMart Launches Neighborhood Safety Contest

Posted on by
During the month of March, SafeMart is giving away 6 months of free monitoring for SafeMart customers or a $50 gift card for participants who are not SafeMart customers.  The winning neighborhood also gets, a 30 minute virtual consultation with a SafeMart Security Consultant!

SafeMart’s Neighborhood Steps To Safety™ include but are not limited to the list below

How do you keep your family and the families around you safe?

SafeMart’s Neighborhood Steps To Safety™:

  • install a home security system that monitors:
    • intrusion
    • fire
    • carbon monoxide
    • flood
    • freeze
  • communicate with neighbors when:
    • vacationing
    • contractors are working on your home
    • visitors will be staying at your home
  • hold your mail and newspapers while on vacation
  • develop exit plans for emergency situations in the home
  • trim bushes in front of the home
  • make sure the city keeps your street well lit
  • add motion sensitive lights to the exterior of your home
  • form a formal neighborhood watch group
  • introduce your neighbors to all of the people living in your home
  • tell neighbors where your family sleeps in your home so they can communicate to fire fighters
  • use door locks with codes rather than leaving keys out
  • [what do you do that’s not on the list?!]


Terms and Conditions:
Email, video, images and audio files are all acceptable forms to nominate a neighborhood.  Submissions must be emailed to Sam@SafeMart.com by Saturday, March 31, 2012 at midnight to qualify.  SafeMart will review all submissions and post submissions on our blog at SafeMartBlog.com.  SafeMart will review the submissions and select the winning neighborhood.  The selection is the sole discretion of SafeMart.

The winning neighborhood will receive a 30 minute consultation from one of SafeMart’s Security Consultants conducted using Google Hangout.  Additionally, the individual who nominates their neighborhood will receive 6 months of free monitoring if they are a SafeMart customer or a $50 gift card to iTunes or Google Play if they are not SafeMart customers.  Only valid where legal.  This promotion is for entertainment purposes only.  This offer may be terminated at any time without notice.

Entries and the information given to LiveWatch Security, LLC (d/b/a SafeMart) during the submission process is the sole property of LiveWatch Security, LLC and can be used for any purpose including but not limited to blog posts, emails, testimonials on the website, tweets, Facebook posts and content for Google+. LiveWatch Security, LLC reserves the sole right to use the content submitted freely and without authorization from the submitting party.

2012 Stevie Award Winners Announced: LiveWatch Security for Customer Service

Posted on by

The Stevie Awards honored LiveWatch Security, LLC for the best customer service in America with the 2012 Stevie® Award for Best e-Commerce Customer Service. This worldwide competition recognizes companies across all industries and in a variety of different areas.

Of the more than 1,000 organizations that submitted entries, finalists were chosen based on an average score from 93 worldwide professionals. Past winners of Stevie Awards include E*Trade, AT&T and SalesForce.com.

“We are honored to be recognized for this latest award because customer service is a category that is extremely important to us. Our teams take pride in delivering fantastic ‘Customer Delight’ that goes way beyond satisfaction. Our goal is for SafeMart.com and LiveWatch Security to provide the best home security customer experience in the country for each and every customer,” says LiveWatchCEO Brad Morehead.

The e-Commerce Customer Service Award recognizes companies like LiveWatch for customer service, and also the use of online technology and social media in unique and innovative ways. “We pride ourselves on attention to detail with every phone call. This recognition for customer service is something our team is really excited about because we look at each phone call as an opportunity to impress a current or a future customer,” said Joe Thomas, Director of Customer Service and Support.

“Our goal is not to just ‘satisfy’ a customer, but to deliver such an amazing experience that they are delighted. Our customers can’t wait to tell their friends and family about the home security experience that they received from LiveWatch,” says Morehead.

While the recognition is welcome, both Morehead and Thomas acknowledge that in a service industry, they can never be complacent and they will continue to push the company to provide the best home security and alarm monitoring customer service in America.

About LiveWatch Security, LLC
LiveWatch Security® has revolutionized home security in America. LiveWatch Security protects and delights its customers with its award-winning LiveWatch Security, interactive smartphone controls and commitment to delighting every customer. Thousands and thousands of customers are switching to LiveWatch while saving up to 30-70% off of traditional, location-constrained competitors. LiveWatch Security from SafeMart® with Plug & Protect™ has forever improved the way you can secure your family, home and belongings. LiveWatch® Security is the most recommended security company in America. Recently, LiveWatch Security and (its e-Commerce division) SafeMart were named the #1 Wireless Security Company in America and won a national award winner for e-Commerce Customer Service.

SafeMart Launches LiveWatch Customer Center for Home Security and Alarm Monitoring Customers

Posted on by

CHICAGO, IL, Feb 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — The leading innovator in home security and alarm monitoring launched the LiveWatch Customer Center today. SafeMart developed the LiveWatch Customer Center to give home security and alarm monitoring customers the ability to customize information, confirm appointments, sign contracts and keep up to date on the latest information about system upgrades and new devices.

In addition to creating one place for customers to go for their own account information, it will provide resources to help customers find ways to improve their home security system. “We spent long hours discussing how customers will interact with the Customer Center and what information is valuable to them,” said Director of Web Development Joseph Mioni.

The LiveWatch Security Customer Center is another step towards SafeMart’s goal of making the delivery of home security seamless for the customer. Plug & Protect(TM) gives the user the ability to purchase, place and activate a customized home security system with alarm monitoring in the comfort of their own home and on their own schedule. The LiveWatch Customer Center takes this experience a step further by moving the contract signing, personalization of alarm monitoring information and future additions to the system online. SafeMart provides consulting to customize the system, review of alarm monitoring and technical support, but the addition of the LiveWatch Customer Center to Plug & Protect(TM) gives the customer the ability to complete portions of the process at their convenience.

“This is the most exciting product launch that we have had since Plug & Protect(TM). The platform will already be the most advanced in the industry and we plan to continue to add functionality as the year goes on,” said CEO Chris Johnson.

The LiveWatch Customer Center will go live today at 12:00pm CST to a select group of LiveWatch customers who have been selected to beta test the platform. Feedback from the beta testers will be reviewed by Mioni and the development team and the final version, LWCC 1.0, will go live before the end of February.

SafeMart Announces Leap Day Contest!

Posted on by

SafeMart is excited to announce the Leap Day Contest!

The SafeMart Leap Day Contest:

To enter the drawing for a $29 iTunes gift card:
1) Read the Terms and Conditions (below)
2) Tweet your answer on Twitter (Tweet @SafeMart)
3) Post the answer on our FB wall
4) Wait for the announcement on March 1st to see if you won!

 

“There are three criteria that a calendar must meet in order to be a leap year.
The number must be evenly divisible by ____.  If the year can be evenly divided by 100, like 2000, it will not be a leap year unless it also happens to be divisible by ___.”

 

Question: What are the two missing numbers?

Terms and Conditions: Offer expires at 12:01am on 3/1/2012. Offer is only valid for Facebook users who have “liked” SafeMart or Twitter users who “follow” @SafeMart and who submit an answer by posting on our wall and / or Tweeting the answer with “@SafeMart” in the Tweet. Offer is only available for a limited time, while supplies last and may be canceled or modified at any time, subject to the sole discretion of LiveWatch Security, LLC (dba SafeMart). Maximum of 1 entry via Twitter and 1 entry via Facebook per customer (2 entries total).

Winner is selected by SafeMart from all qualified correct entries submitted by the deadline. If the winner does not redeem their gift certificate within 48 hours of SafeMart announcing the winner, the winner will forfeit the right to redeem the prize detailed below.

There is 1 iTunes gift certificate available with a balance of $29 which will be awarded to the person who answers “The SafeMart Leap Day Contest” correctly and who fulfills the above requirements. This gift certificate is subject to all terms and conditions specified by Apple Inc or any other vendor who is involved in the distribution or redemption of the gift certificate. The gift certificate is not redeemable for cash.

Customizable Home Security by SafeMart: Three Flat in NYC

Posted on by
Natalie Lee and Shannon Wood got a SafeMart system when they moved into a three flat in New York City. Living alone, the two women feel safer knowing if anything goes wrong, help will be on the way.
“When we get home at night we want to be sure there’s no one in our apartment,” Wood said. “We live in a fairly safe neighborhood, but it’s still New York City and we get a feeling of safety from the system.”
Lee and Wood installed motion sensors in the living room and each bedroom which assure that no one is there without their knowledge, in addition to door sensors and light modules.  They also use the light modules so that they can remotely turn the lights on before they come home, adding an extra level of security.

Just a few years ago, Wood and Lee would never have thought about purchasing a security system for their flat. But with technology and the SafeMart line of products quickly evolving to meet their needs, it was an obvious choice when they moved in together.

“You don’t need to have kids to need a home security system now,” Lee said. “You just need to want a little safety and peace of mind.”

Customizable Home Security by SafeMart: Single Male Living Alone

Posted on by

Anderson and his family may be the most common type of people to need a home security system, but the incredible technological advances made over the last decade have opened up home security systems to a wider range of people than ever before.

Matt Connolly had never seriously considered getting a security system because he lived alone in an apartment building with a doorman in downtown Chicago.  But when a friend told him about some of the new security products, it suddenly made sense.

Connolly uses his home security system with emPower in a different way than the typical family.  He uses a system with carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, flood sensors, pan tilt cameras and Schlage door handles to ensure his apartment is safe. Even though it’s a home security system, Matt doesn’t have a single component that protects a door or window because he lives in an apartment building with a doorman.  Even with all of the advanced featured, he was also able to set the system up wirelessly and on his own because of Plug & Protect™.
One of the biggest concerns for Connolly is protecting his apartment from fires and carbon monoxide, so the system provides a sense of protection.  Another worry for Connolly is that residents in surrounding apartments could cause damage to his apartment, a fear that his new line of home security products has calmed.
“Other people in the building have had flooding from the people who live above them,” he said. “So the flood detector was a must because it allows me to always be sure there won’t be water pouring through my ceiling.”
Meanwhile, the Schlage door handle provides assurance that only people with his permission get into the apartment. With this easy to set-up device, Connolly is able to let friends who are in from out of town in to his apartment without leaving a key.  When the cleaning woman comes to tidy up his apartment, he simply gives her a unique code and knows when she comes and goes.
While Connolly uses the system to make sure his apartment isn’t damaged, and to let his friends in and out, home security systems can be just as important for those with security concerns.

Customizable Home Security by SafeMart: Suburban Family

Posted on by

There are thousands of ways to use a home security system.  Our next 3 posts will be about a few specific examples of people using their home security system specifically for their needs.

When Frank Anderson moved his family into a suburban Scottsdale, Ariz. house, one of his most pressing concerns was safety. With two young children and a wife moving into an aging house, Anderson decided not to leave anything to chance and to purchase a home security system.

“It was really about peace of mind,” Anderson said. “This is the first time we’ve lived in a house as a family and I didn’t want to have to worry about if my kids were safe at home.”  So Anderson opted for the total home security package.  He installed sensors at the doors, windows and to detect motion or if glass breaks, in addition to cameras, wireless smoke detectors, a thermostat and Schlage door handles.  And, by opting for the Simon XT with emPower service, Anderson was able to use SafeMart’s unique Plug & Protect™ installation service. This enabled Anderson to place all of these advanced features on his own without wires, hassle or relying on a high priced installer to oversee the installation. “That made a huge difference to me,” Anderson said. “If I’m getting a home security system for my family, why would I let an installer I don’t know into the house to do it?”

Anderson also chose the Schlage door handles so that he can let contractors into his house throughout the day—even when he’s out—without giving them keys to the home. By using Simon XT with empower, Anderson will be able to remotely control all his services easily and wirelessly, meaning that even when he’s away from home he still knows his children are safe and secure.

Perhaps the most important features in protecting his children are the remotely accessible cameras he installed. Now, Anderson can check in throughout the day to see that everything is well at home. “The whole system is so advanced, but it was still very intuitive and easy to install,” he said. “It was really as easy as taking a computer out of the box and plugging it in.  The whole system was ready to go.”

SafeMart Home Security Sponsors Safety and Customers Win

Posted on by

CHICAGO, IL, Feb 07, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — SafeMart, The Official Sponsor of Safety™ asked thousands that have purchased LiveWatch alarm monitoring to vote for which team would score a safety in the big game this weekend. Although very rare, it only took New York one defensive play to score a safety. The SafeMart customers who participated in SafeMart’s promotion and chose the Giants were rewarded with a month of free alarm monitoring.

“We have always tried to move our business in a way that delivers a better experience for our customers,” Chris Johnson, CEO of SafeMart, said. “That mindset is what created Plug & Protect™ and it’s what drove us to engage with our customers with a promotion for the big game in Indianapolis.”

After all, “Customers decide how they’ll engage with companies, how they’ll receive information about promotions and new products, and how they’ll get answers to questions about existing products. We wanted to see how our customers would react to a promotion centered around a big event. The response was really exciting,” said Director of Customer Loyalty Sam McBride.

SafeMart ran the promotion free of charge as a benefit for current customers, with hundreds of submissions pouring in overnight. “We believe in interacting on a personal level with our customers. We want them to know that we are listening and that we will continue to open channels of communication on different platforms,” said McBride. “We also believe in thanking our customers for their loyalty, which the ‘SafeMart Safety’ promotion did.”

By last Saturday night, SafeMart had hundreds of responses from excited customers who hoped to have something extra to cheer for on Sunday. As it turned out, the game played out perfectly for the customers who favored New York and SafeMart has rewarded the hundreds of customers who won.

About SafeMart: SafeMart has redefined home security. Delivering revolutionary protection and peace of mind, SafeMart delights customers across the country. SafeMart leads the industry with its interactive Plug & Protect(TM) wireless alarm system that empowers customers with cutting edge protection and control. SafeMart provides an unbeatable value and exceptional service with its award-winning LiveWatch alarm monitoring service. SafeMart is the most recommended security company in America.

Five Most Dangerous Cities In America

Posted on by

According to 2010 data, the metropolitan areas of Detroit and Memphis topped Forbes’ annual list of “America’s Most Dangerous Cities”. The list gathered data from the FBI’s 2010 crime report and focused on metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), large cities with suburbs surrounding them, of populations north of 200,000. Forbes compiled the list according to data the FBI categorizes as violent crimes, consisting of murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

This list focuses on property crimes—burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft. These five MSA have over 5,000 property crimes per 100,000 inhabitants and all of them have robbery crimes over the national average (the only large MSA with over 5,000 property crimes to not make the list is Spokane, WA with 5,039.2). The US as a whole has a property crime rate of 2,941.9.

Note:

  • All numbers are per 100,000 residents
  • If a crime is both a violent crime and property crime, it is recorded as a violent crime.


5) Fayetteville, NC

With a property crime rate of 5,221.4 and a robbery rate of 168.8, the Fayetteville, NC area, which includes Cumberland and Hoke Counties, starts off the list as the best of the worst. The area is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major US Army base, and the Pope Army Air Field, both located in the city of Fayetteville. In 2008 the city was declared “The World’s First Sanctuary for Military Families” and TIME magazine declared it America’s Most Pro-Military Town”. Despite the military presence, the city of Fayetteville has a property crime rate over double the national average—6,033. Fayetteville’s robbery rate of 168.8 is higher than the national average.


4) San Antonio, TX

The Greater San Antonio region is the largest MSA to make the list—boasting over 2 million citizens—and is a popular tourist destination, with over 20 million tourists visiting the city every year. The population as a whole has a property crime rate of 5,233.1, due largely to crimes in the city of San Antonio. San Antonio differs from other large cities in that it doesn’t have independent suburban cities surrounding it, causing a high density rate inside the city which could be a factor affecting the crime rate.


3) Macon, GA

Macon, GA is the first of two Georgia MSAs to make the list. Including Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe and Twiggs Counties, Macon has a property crime rate of 5,334.1 and a robbery rate of 155.6. The median household income in the city is $27,405 and over 25.5% of the population is below the poverty line, a probable influence on the high rate of theft.


2) Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC is a popular tourist destination, attracting an estimated 14.6 million visitors each summer. Its economy is built on the tourist industry; the area has approximately 450 hotels and 120 golf courses and is marketed largely as a family-friendly destination. Largely unbeknownst to tourists, the city of Myrtle Beach has a theft rate of 113 per 1,000! Muggings and pick pocketing are common crimes against tourists and could explain the high rate of theft, which makes up most of the property crimes in this MSA.


1) Columbus GA

Columbus, GA is this years property crime capital, with the highest theft rate in the nation—5,824.6. The MSA includes Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion and Muscogee Counties in GA and Russell County in AL. The city of Columbus is home to 64% of the total population, and has a theft rate of 49.1 per 1,000 residents and a burglary rate of 18.8 per 1,000 residents.

SafeMart Home Security Named Stevie Award Finalist for Best Customer Service

Posted on by
Just a month into 2012, SafeMart has already secured another award for having the best e-Commerce Customer Service in the country. SafeMart has been named a finalist for The Stevie Awards e-Commerce Customer Service Award. In this nationwide competition, SafeMart Home Security will either win a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal for having one of the top three e-Commerce Customer Service teams in the nation.The Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service recognizes the accomplishments of sales, customer service, and call and contact center professionals in companies all around the world. As a finalist for the e-Commerce Customer Service Award, SafeMart is recognized for not only its customer service, but also its innovative use of online technology and social media.Joe Thomas, SafeMart Director of Customer Service and Support, said, “We pride ourselves on attention to detail with every phone call. Being nominated for a Stevie Award for customer service is an honor, and we are really excited about it, but it won’t slow us down—each call presents a new opportunity to ‘wow’ a customer with great service.”The world’s premiere business awards, The Stevie Awards organizes the American Business Awards, the International Business Awards, The Stevie Awards for Women in Business and The Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service. This is the sixth annual Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service, and this year The Stevie Awards are presenting Silver and Bronze Stevie awards along with the first-place Gold.Of the more than 1,000 organizations that submitted entries, finalists were chosen based on an average score from 93 worldwide professionals. Past winners of Stevie Awards include E*Trade, AT&T and SalesForce.com.   This year’s award winners will be revealed at an awards banquet in Las Vegas on February 27.

“Our goal is not to ‘satisfy’ the customer, but to deliver such a great experience that they are delighted. In this case, they can’t wait to tell their friends and family,” SafeMart CEO Chris Johnson said. “We want people to walk away from every interaction with SafeMart knowing that we did everything possible to take care of their needs.”

In addition to a nomination for the e-Commerce Customer Service Award, SafeMart will be included in the voting for the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite Customer Service. Online voting for each category will take place from mid-January to early February.

SafeMart.com Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of a New Way to Home Security

Posted on by

CHICAGO, IL, Jan 10, 2012 – SafeMart.com is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its ground breaking do-it-yourself (DIY) home security system.  This DIY home security system changed the way that companies and customers look at the home security delivery experience, and SafeMart is taking this opportunity to look back at the path from DIY to the industry’s most innovative home security company and the inventor of Plug & Protect™.

The journey began in St. Mary’s, Kansas when CEO Chris Johnson and the rest of the SafeMart team rethought the way home security is delivered, but they focused on a small market of so called “DIYers”.  Today, SafeMart empowers customers to choose a home security system to fit their needs with professional and cutting edge devices that the mass market can easily use, understand and control.

“We wanted to change what customers expected from their home security company,” Johnson said. “And we did. We wanted to change the experience of purchasing a home security system.  That meant we had to leverage technology to improve the delivery model, give customers more options and provide world class service.”

This process began with a true DIY home security system that was meant for people with electronics expertise. Then, home security technology improved and the Internet took off.  That’s when SafeMart began to innovate and change the industry.  After ten years of hard work and innovation, Plug & Protect™ is truly a self-installable system for the mass market.

“It was that original DIY home security system that started it all,” Johnson said. “And since then, it has been our focus to improve the customer experience that brought us all the way to Plug & Protect™ and it’s what will continue to push the company forward over the next 10 years.”

Innovation at SafeMart has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, Inc magazine named SafeMart one of the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies in the nation for the third year running. Top Ten Reviews awarded SafeMart the top wireless home security company in its review of the industry.  “Watching SafeMart grow from a business that catered to a boutique clientele of Do It Yourself-ers to a company that serves the mass market and is recognized by national publications has been very exciting,” says Johnson.

SafeMart Chosen As A Preferred Home Security Provider for Vanderbilt University

Posted on by

CHICAGO, IL, Jan. 10, 2012 – SafeMart has been selected as a preferred home security company for Vanderbilt University Employees. The company’s announcement comes on the heels of SafeMart scoring high-profile partnerships with alumni organizations and employees of the University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Southern California.

SafeMart is eager to expand its reach by partnering with world-class universities. “SafeMart is focused on providing cutting-edge technology and home security equipment, so it makes sense for us to work with leading universities that are driving the nation forward when it comes to technology and new research,” says Chris Johnson, CEO of SafeMart. “Since Vanderbilt is an outstanding University with faculty, employees and facilities of the highest caliber, our relationship brings together two strong organizations to make sure that Vanderbilt faculty and employees receive the best home security solutions available.”

SafeMart’s customizable products with its LiveWatch Security service have clearly struck a positive note with the Vanderbilt employees. “Tech-savvy customers always love the choices they get to make in designing their own custom home security solution,” says Chris Johnson, CEO of SafeMart. “We offer fully customizable home security systems, alarm monitoring and home automation that includes temperature and lighting control at the touch of a button. We can also provide live video of your home from anywhere in the world. We are very pleased to be invited by the Vanderbilt community to help provide the peace of mind that comes with being secure in the home.”

SafeMart is developing a reputation for being a fast-growing business that makes successful partnerships with top universities because of SafeMart and LiveWatch Security’s dedication to protecting and delighting customers.  SafeMart is now the most recommended security company in America.  Vanderbilt Alumni will find SafeMart a willing partner in finding the right security solution to fit their needs, whether they are in Nashville or the other side of the world. The newest home security company for Vanderbilt employees has quality and affordable service for all its customers.

About SafeMart

SafeMart® has redefined home security. Delivering revolutionary protection and peace of mind, SafeMart delights customers across the country.  SafeMart leads the industry with its interactive Plug & ProtectTM wireless alarm system that empowers customers with cutting edge protection and control.  SafeMart provides unbeatable value and exceptional service with its award-winning LiveWatch® alarm monitoring service.  SafeMart is the most recommended security company in America.

Inc 5000 Interview With SafeMart CEO Chris Johnson

Posted on by

Home Security’s fastest growing company has been added to the Inc 5000 for the 3rd straight year.  We sat down and talked to CEO Chris Johnson about what it took for SafeMart to make the list 3 years in a row and how he views the future.

 

SafeMart Added to the Inc 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies

Posted on by

We sent out a press release earlier in the year celebrating our 3rd straight addition to the Inc 5000 but we just finished a great interview with our CEO Chris Johnson and decided to re-release the press piece on our blog with the video.

Thanks to all of our customers and fans–we continue to improve for all of you!

Press Release with new video:

SafeMart, America’s most recommended home security company, achieved a spot on the exclusive Inc. 5000 list for the 3rd straight year. Each year, Inc. Magazine ranks the fastest growing private companies and SafeMart is proud to be named to the list as a leader in the home security and alarm monitoring industry. SafeMart has more than doubled over the last year leading the home security industry online by focusing on providing a great customer experience.

Founded by a paramedic, and with roots that go back 35 years, SafeMart is a growing family of thousands of delighted customers nationwide. SafeMart is trusted by: Police, Firefighters, State Troopers, Military, U.S. State Department, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Thousands & Thousands of Homeowners across the Country. “Our business depends on our customers trusting us to provide the peace of mind that comes from a secure home and a safe family”, says SafeMart President, Chris Johnson. “Customers turn to us because they know they can rely on SafeMart to protect their loved ones.”

SafeMart Inc 5000 Interview with Chris Johnson, SafeMart CEO

The SafeMart team attributes this success to its unique ability to provide award-winning home security systems and alarm monitoring service while delivering the most delightful customer experience. SafeMart is leading a major paradigm shift in the home security and alarm monitoring industry by providing the most secure technology, and making it easy to deploy. By improving technology, streamlining delivery, providing world class service and fair contracts, SafeMart helps customers save 30-70% each month on their families’ safety.

Johnson notes, “The age of companies locking their customers in with long-term contracts is over; educated buyers now know they can set up and monitor their home security equipment for a fraction of the price and expect twice the service. SafeMart confidently stands behind its service while allowing customers flexibility and providing world-class service.”

Hey EJ and Airbnb, SafeMart Can Help

Posted on by

It has been nearly impossible to avoid hearing about the unfortunate situation involving Airbnb and one of its customers–known as EJ through her blog posts.  EJ rented her home using Airbnb’s service and came home to find that the home had been vandalized and she had been robbed of valuables and irreplaceable personal items.

Situations like this get us worked up at SafeMart because this is something that can be prevented and is a major reason why we push LiveWatch Interactive Services and home automation–you should always know what is going on in your home!

In order to illustrate how helpful a system can be in preventing a situation like EJ’s, let’s assume that when you rent your home out, you want to:

  1. Store valuables in a particular room or closet;
  2. Only provide access to certain rooms;
  3. Change the locks after the tenant’s stay; and
  4. Maintain the ability to actually see your home during the rental period.

First, you’ll want to add a security system that uses cellular communication and that has interactive services.  This does 2 things:

  1. The system cannot be disabled by cutting the phone line (because it doesn’t use a phone line); and
  2. Gives you access to your system from anywhere in the world (see the iPhone app interface to the right).

To secure the room where you’re storing your valuables, a door contact that monitors the opening and closing of a door as well as a motion detector that monitors movement will do the trick. You can also monitor the container where you store your valuables by using a wireless door contact and setting your interactive services settings to alert you if the container is opened.

EJ’s biggest concern after the incident was that the keys might have been copied–naturally she was scared that the vandals might return.  Avoid making copies of keys altogether by installing a door handle that works with your security system that doesn’t require a key.  This gives you the ability to lock and unlock the door remotely and will also allow you to give the tenants a passcode rather than a key.  Using SafeMart’s LiveWatch Interactive Services you can delete the passcode remotely after the tenant has left and add a new passcode for the next tenant.

Lastly, if you want the ability to see the inside of your home while you’re renting it, add a wireless IP camera to the system.  Our cameras can be controlled remotely and don’t require a physical connection to the Internet in your home!

Anytime a customer purchases a system after they’ve been burglarized, we feel awful.  While we are always happy to help after the fact, it is even more exciting to prevent issues rather than react to them. If you have people coming into your home, please take the above precautions to make sure that even while you’re not there, you have control over your home.