Have you decided to buy a security system for your home? Whatever you do, don't call the first number you see somewhere. It's far better to shop around, make notes, and compare all the different distributors and products available.

Inviting sales distributor representatives for an evaluation is probably the best way to compare home security distributors. Have at least two (three is better) representatives come over and thoroughly evaluate your home in terms of its vulnerability, and then look over the contracts before signing. You should also do some other research and learn what other people's experience is with them.

Brinks, for example, is a company renowned for its business in the security industry. Most customers seem reasonably satisfied with their Brinks service, if the system was installed correctly. Their quick response time and excellent customer service is often quoted by their customers. One customer describes nine years of using Brinks' services without a problem.

Yet at the same time, others were upset by what they describe as a bait and switch tactic when it comes to the contract length and the upgrades to the system to truly make it safe. They were also displeased with poor fire monitoring and unsatisfying distributor customer service.

Let's compare home security offered by ADT and Brinks.

ADT is like Brinks in that it is an old, respectable distributor that's been around for over a hundred years. They are perhaps the second-most renowned American distributor in the home security business.

Just like Brinks, ADT has a mix of customers that range from extremely happy to extremely angry over the quality of service. One customer describes the service people as "idiots," yet at the same time praises the people in charge of the monitoring center.

Poor installation done by third parties are the most common cause of negative reviews. One customer advises people to read the contract thoroughly, test the system each month, and only buy straight from ADT. These steps will help you have a more positive experience.

So it looks as though the home security industry isn't very consistent when it comes to distrtibutor customer service, but slightly more so in reliability. But like anything else, it's a good idea to compare home security distributors, read your contract, and watch out. Don't let the company lead you blindly!