Your contractor should be a licensed security alarm installer in your state. Some states do not require a significant amount of licensing for alarm installers. However, other states heavily regulate the security alarm industry. The licensing ensures that you are getting your alarm installed by a qualified professional. This can protect you from future problems that can come from using an unscrupulous installer.

Find a contractor who can help set you up with an alarm monitoring service. The contractor you hire to install your alarm is generally not going to be from a monitoring service. This service will cost you a monthly, quarterly, or yearly fee and you should a monitor lined up for the alarm system before it's installed. Many installation contractors have relationships with monitoring companies and can provide you with discounts and other incentives.

If you don't want to go with a monitored alarm, find contractors with experience setting up closed-circuit alarms. These alarms are not designed to contact a monitoring company for assistance. They are designed to alert you to intruders or disturbances in your home.