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COMMENT ON HOME AUTOMATION AND VERIFIED ALARMS FROM MAY 26, 2015
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 Ken;
     When it comes to home automation, I think most alarm installers would agree, that although some things are outside the purview of your license, there likely won't be an issue with the licensing board unless something goes wrong.  I limit any home automation that I do personally to just using plug in lamp modules.  Re-wiring a light switch isn't rocket science, but if someone gets a shock or it somehow causes a fire, you are left holding a leaky bag of excrement on two counts. 
 A) you worked outside the purview of your license, and
B) I don't know that your insurance company would be obliged to pay for damages from something you caused but were not licensed to touch.  There is a reason why they used to call it a low voltage license years ago.
     Although this can add significantly to the cost, if a customer wants a thermostat installed that he can control remotely using my home automation software, I pay a HVAC tech friend to do a service call to make the connections and to check for proper function for both heating and air conditioning.  The newer heating and A/C units are fairly complex, and although you may get lucky and wire the A/C control correctly, you may have inadvertently disconnected the heating control, or vice versa.  Worse yet, if you introduce voltage across the wrong leads, it can be a very costly mistake on your part.   I call and electrician to wire any electrical switches and a plumber to install any water shut off solenoid valves.  
     As for addressing verified alarms, some communities now require ECV (Enhanced Call Verification) before dispatching the police.    I have started installing extra motion sensors on jobs, and give the central station directions to call the emergency contact on a single zone trip, but not to dispatch the police unless a second zone (likely an interior zone) is tripped.  Anyone that has been in the business for any period of time I'm sure has had an issue with a loose fitting door or window causing problems.  But even if a door blows open in the wind, unless someone walks inside, the motion detectors don't get tripped.  Most of my customers have balked when they found out how much a CCTV system would cost to install.  What many have started doing, was to install a "drop cam" or similar device themselves in the house.  If the alarm system sends them a text, they can check immediately to see if anyone is inside the home.  I was able to increase my RMR with the smart features available on the new systems.  
John from NJ
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RESPONSE
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    To enhance your RMR, protect your business and increase your equity, use the Residential All in One and the Home Automation and Integration Agreement, be properly licensed and insured, and use licensed subs for work that requires a license you don't have.
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