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5 Home-Tech Takeaways    Jennifer Mallett, CEO,   Level Up Your Home   5 Takeaways of where we are today 1. Expertise in technology sales and home service   is key to bridging the gap between current technology promises in the smart home and what actually happens — especially as it relates to interoperability. Custom integrators know more about this topic than security, insurance and manufacturers! It begs the question: How can we become more involved and our voice represented at industry conferences? I hope to see the   CEDIA   channel represented more next year through attendance and participation at the event. It’s a time investment for individual businesses, but very much worth the time. We have an opportunity to be a part of the early stages of IoT so we can facilitate easier installs and basic needs of our clients that are being missed – as well as the overall go-to market strategy as whole. 2. The service provider industry ...

The days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping — are you ready for winter? More importantly, is your home? There are many things to consider when preparing your home for winter to keep your family safe and warm.  First, regular maintenance and cleaning not only helps to  increase your home’s value , but can also save you money in the long run. According to  Houselogic , a site for homeowners created by the National Association of Realtors, you can lose 10 percent of your home’s total value if you let it fall into disrepair. That can translate to a $15,000 to $20,000 loss.  Second, taking care of your home means more protection for you and your family! Some of the most  common causes of home fires  involve behaviors that sky-rocket in the wintertime. More time spent indoors, more cooking, and more use of home heating equipment means higher risk of fires and  carbon monoxide poisoning .  Stoked for Fire Safety, Part 1: Ev...

PITTSBURGH – December 6, 2021 – Guardian Protection is pleased to announce the acquisition of Rampart Security Systems in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Rampart has operated for 35 years, professionally installing monitored commercial and residential security systems. The acquisition includes 3,600 accounts and will increase Guardian’s customer base in its Western Pennsylvania footprint. Guardian Protection President Bryan Cipoletti commented, “Like Guardian, Rampart Security Systems is family-owned and deeply committed to the communities it serves and protects. This acquisition represents an opportunity for us to grow in a smart and profitable way and aligns with the strategic goals on which we’ve been executing the past few years. We will continue to look for additional acquisition opportunities as we leverage our vision to grow Guardian.” As part of the acquisition, Rampart customers will transition from Rampart’s third-party monitoring center to Guardian’s U.L.-certified Five Diamond...

$17.5 billion. That’s the amount of losses suffered by victims of property crime in the United States in 2020. And that’s just the crimes that were reported to police, based on the latest FBI’s “Crime in the United States, 2020” report. “Crime in the United States” is an annual report published by the published by the FBI. The report compiles crime data reported to law enforcement through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program . Nearly 16,000 federal, state, and local agencies contributed to the 2020 report, using the the FBI’s interactive  Crime Data Explorer tool  as their digital front door. What is property crime? Property crime is a category of crime that usually involves the taking of money or private property. For the purposes of reporting data through the UCR program, the FBI includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Learn more about the difference between burglary and robbery here . What’s the Difference Between Bu...

The two days a year savvy shoppers look forward to most are almost here – Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While it’s certainly exciting to snag a deal on a gift for a loved one (or yourself…) during the holidays, shopping during this time of the year can often be stressful. Safety often gets put on the back burner when shoppers are gearing up for extreme shopping, so we’ve put some tips together for staying safe while you wait in line for doorbusters and hunt the best bargains.  In-store Black Friday and holiday shopping safety tips   Use smart home security to help protect your home while you’re out. Arming your security system goes without saying. But don’t forget to leverage smart home automation devices like smart locks, garage door control, and video doorbells. Plan your shopping trips ahead of time. We know you’ve been researching the best deals at your favorite stores anyway! Do yourself a favor and take a few extra minutes to jot down wha...

PITTSBURGH – November 11 – Guardian Protection announced the following staff promotions aimed at expanding its sales functions.  Brandon Dixon has been promoted to Director of National Account Sales. In this role, he will focus on key verticals to grow Guardian’s National Accounts customer base. Dixon joined Guardian in 2019 as Sales Manager, National Accounts and is credited with bringing strong leadership and process enhancements to Guardian’s National Accounts sales team, while fostering increased sales and Guardian brand awareness among national retailers, restaurants, and franchisees. Dixon has more than a decade of experience in the security industry and held the role of Corporate Account Executive and Sales Manager at Bay Alarm prior to becoming a key member of the Guardian team. Dixon is based in Nashville, Tennessee and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Azusa Pacific University in California. David Errera has been promoted to Director of Commercial Sales, respon...

Beauty in home automation is making the highly complex, simple and hidden. Allowing the home to shine and the owners to enjoy it effortlessly. Thrilled for our Boston Level Up team to be featured this month in Builder & Architect magazine. Excellence all around by the developer and all trades involved from landscaping, pool development and design. Stunning property. Our feature starts on page 67.  Builder and Architect Magazine - Level Up Automation Feature Project highlights include: - Control4  Whole Home Automation system integrates smart devices to work in unison -High performance network with access points for complete Wifi coverage -Whole home security system, including 7 outdoor cameras and 2 Intercom door stations -7 zones of indoor audio and video for entertainment -Whole home automated shades with custom fabrics -Automated smart lighting and temperature controls with custom programmed scenes -2 zones of Outdoor audio and a Wi-Fi outdoor access point f...