Moving in is when most people find a keypad they don’t know the code to, a sensor on every door, and a sticker from a company they’ve never called. The good news: a lot of that equipment can often be put back to work. Here’s how to sort it out before you pay for anything new.

STEP BY STEP

Seven steps for a home that came with an alarm

1. Find the panel and the keypad. The panel is usually a metal or plastic box in a closet, garage or utility area; keypads sit by the main doors. Take a photo of each, and of any model label you can see. Don’t open anything that’s wired to power.
2. Find out who monitored it. Check yard signs, window stickers and the keypad screen, or ask the seller or their agent. Ask whether the old account was closed.
3. Ask whether the panel is locked. Some systems are locked by the previous provider. A provider can tell you whether it can be reset or needs a new panel.
4. Check how it calls out. Many older systems were built to dial out over a home phone line. If you don’t have one, the alarm may not be able to reach anyone. Here’s how to check.
5. Decide what you want it to do. Professional monitoring or alerts to your phone only? A video doorbell, outdoor cameras, smart locks?
6. Get a compatibility check before buying new gear. A site review shows which sensors, keypads and sirens can stay and what has to change.
7. Check your city’s alarm permit rules. Many DFW cities require a permit for monitored alarms. Your city’s police alarm unit can tell you what applies.

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