Do I have to sign a long-term monitoring contract?
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No. All Sentinel monitoring plans are month-to-month with 30-day cancellation. We don't believe in locking customers into multi-year contracts — we think earning your business every month is the better approach. Equipment you purchase from us is yours outright, with no financing or lease obligations.
Do I own the equipment, or is it leased?
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You own it outright. There are no equipment leases at Sentinel. You pay for installation once, and the hardware belongs to you. If you ever switch monitoring providers, the equipment stays with you. Some competitors lease equipment as a way to lock you in — we don't do that.
Can you monitor a system I already have installed?
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Often yes, depending on the equipment. Many alarm panels from major manufacturers are compatible with our monitoring platform. We'll evaluate your existing system during the free assessment and tell you whether it can be used, whether it needs upgrades, or whether starting fresh makes more sense. We won't push you toward new equipment unless there's a legitimate reason for it.
What's the difference between a DIY system and professional installation?
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DIY systems can work, but they have real trade-offs. Sensor placement matters — a motion detector in the wrong spot creates blind spots. Wiring matters — wireless systems can have communication gaps. Panel configuration matters — default settings often leave zones uncovered. Professional installation means your system is assessed, placed, and tested by someone who's done it hundreds of times. It also means you have someone accountable when something needs service.
What happens if I get a false alarm?
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Our monitoring center contacts you before dispatching authorities. If you can verify it's a false alarm, we cancel the dispatch at no cost. Most cities have false alarm ordinances that result in fines after a certain number of police responses per year — we'll help you set up proper entry and exit delays to minimize false triggers. We also provide training on proper system use after installation so your household or staff knows exactly how to operate it.
How quickly does your monitoring center respond to an alarm?
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Our average alarm-to-response time is under 30 seconds. When your system triggers, the signal hits our UL-listed monitoring center, a trained analyst reviews it, and contacts your verified list immediately. If we can't reach you or a pass phrase isn't provided, we dispatch. We don't have an automated phone tree — a person answers the alarm every time.
How long does installation take?
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Most residential installations are completed in a single day — typically 4 to 6 hours depending on property size and system complexity. Commercial installations vary based on scope. We work around your schedule and clean up completely before we leave. Before we go, we walk you through the full system so you're comfortable operating it.
What's included in the free security assessment?
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One of our certified technicians visits your property, does a full walkthrough of all entry points and vulnerable areas, reviews your existing security setup if you have one, and identifies specific gaps and risk factors. You'll get a detailed written quote with multiple options at different price points. There's no obligation to purchase and no pressure sales approach — just an honest assessment of what your property needs.