5 Reasons Your Homeowners Association Should Hire Live Security Services

Should your homeowners association (HOA) use a live guard security service? While no association enjoys having to increase their expenses when it may not be necessary, a security officer (or officers) is a cost-effective way to prevent a variety of expensive or dangerous problems. Here are five ways security services earn their keep for you and your homeowners.

1. Everyone Shares the Cost

Everyone wants the best security, but the cost for all the homeowners to try to achieve that individually could become astronomical. The HOA itself would spend even more trying to cover all its common areas. And neither group would likely be interconnected with one another to provide a full layer of security. 

A much more economical solution is for the association itself to add live patrols and security stations that help protect everyone. The homeowners and association share the cost and the benefits, making things manageable. And unlike computer security, you can move patrols to target particular needs — from keeping an eye on kids getting off the school bus to covering security when the automatic gate malfunctions. 

2. You Can Scale Up or Down

Do you need added security for a big community gathering? Could outside workers be a liability risk during construction? Do owners want added patrols for a while after a break-in? If any of these situations are a concern for you, contracting with a service means you can add officers for special reasons and reduce them at other times. 

3. Association Rules Are Enforced

Security officers don't just watch for crime happening or suspicious activity. They also help enforce both city rules and your own community rules without creating conflict or escalating disputes.

A friendly but firm reminder by trained security professionals can help enforce anything from the speed limits and parking regulations to late-night quiet times and picking up after one's pets.

As an added benefit, your HOA staff doesn't have to spend their time trying to enforce these regulations, and they aren't the bad guy in enforcement. 

4. You Have Liability Either Way

Failure to provide adequate security isn't just a bad idea— it's also a liability risk for the association. Under premises liability, the association is responsible to provide safe common areas for tenants, workers, and their guests. Failure to provide a reasonably safe environment could land the HOA in legal trouble and the subject of lawsuits. 

Security services improve that safety and, therefore, reduce financial liability and the possibility of reputation damage.

For example, patrolling officers can check to ensure that pool gates close correctly, that equipment storage is locked, that kids aren't running around the pool, that all the cameras work, and that snow or ice is removed from walkways. They can also target the particular liability risks throughout your common areas. 

5. It's a Selling Point

While you don't hire security officers for publicity's sake, they do create appeal among potential buyers. Buyers see that you take security seriously and that their home and family will be better protected. They will also see officers enforcing rules that make living in your community enjoyable.

These differences may set apart your community from others — especially if there's a lot of competition during a buyer's market. 

Where to Start

Want to know more benefits to using outsourced live security within your HOA? Start by meeting with the security professionals at All State Security 1, Inc. Our trained officers can provide whatever level of security your community needs, ranging from occasional patrols to 24-hour security staffing. Call our office today to make an appointment and learn what we can do for you.