In metropolitan regions like New York City, townhomes are central to the lifestyle of people living there. Sometimes, townhomes are simply a residence. Others, a townhome could be used as an office. They can also be used as both a home and office space at once. While this works well from an efficiency perspective, especially in highly populated areas, it also presents a number of key security challenges. Overcoming these difficulties depends on installing an integrated security system in which multiple components work with one another to protect your building and the people in it.

Equipping your townhome with security solutions

The first thing you want to do if you are going to invest in an integrated security system is to get a good estimate. You don't want to have to pay too much for an estimate and you should be able to get a free estimate from the most trustworthy security vendors. Before settling on solution providers to give you estimates, you will probably want to get some references and read reviews. A fraudulent security company or a vendor that is interested in taking advantage of the consumer can do a great deal of damage, even if you only use them to get an estimate. Once you have a good provider, take advantage of consulting help that can come with a quality estimate.

Generally speaking, an integrated security solution will include a combination of surveillance cameras, alarm systems, solutions that can tell you who has entered your building and when to alert you when somebody tries to enter without authorization, and alarms that can notify law enforcement officials in the event of a break in. Getting a good lock, intercom, or safe can also come in handy.

The greatest challenge, however, stems not so much from installing these components, but integrating them so they can work well in conjunction with one another. This is where choosing the right solution provider is particularly important. 

Selecting the right security solution provider

Fraudulent security vendors, particularly locksmiths, are a major problem in New York City. Besides getting references and reading reviews, you can also interview vendors, call the Better Business Bureau, or perform some web research of your own. Researching basic security best practices can give you a few ideas about good questions to ask security providers and help you find the right vendor for your needs.