When two security quotes land in your inbox, they rarely look like the same kind of offer. One says "$0 down" and a monthly figure. The other asks for a real number up front. It is natural to assume the first is cheaper, but the two quotes describe different arrangements, and the price on the first page is only part of the story.
Here is a plain-English way to compare them, whichever company you end up choosing.
Two Ways to Pay for a Security System
Buying outright. You pay for the equipment and installation, and it is yours from the day it goes in. Any monitoring is a separate, optional service. That is how we sell: when you buy an Ajax system from Loch Security you own the hub, keypad, siren, sensors and cameras, with no multi-year contract.
Leased or subsidized equipment. The company supplies the equipment at little or no upfront cost and recovers it through a monitoring agreement, usually with a multi-year term. In many agreements the hardware stays the provider's property, or becomes yours only after the term ends. Loch does not lease equipment, so we can't speak to any particular company's contract. What follows is a checklist for reading one.
The Questions That Decide Which Is Cheaper
You can't tell which option costs less from the first page of a quote. Ask each provider for answers in writing:
- Who owns the equipment, and when? Today, at the end of the term, or never?
- How long is the term, and what happens if you leave early? Look for early-termination charges and for what happens if you move.
- What does monitoring cost per month, and can that price change? Multiply it by the full term, then add any taxes shown separately.
- What is included? Cameras, a smart lock, a video doorbell and extra sensors are often priced separately. Ask for every device itemized.
- What happens at the end? Does the equipment keep working if you stop paying for monitoring, or does it become a paperweight?
Add up what you would pay across the whole term under each quote, not just the first month. That is the number to compare. Because we don't know your quote, we can't tell you which way it will come out, but the exercise often changes which offer looks better.
Where Buying Outright Costs More, and Where It Doesn't
Buying costs more on day one. That is the honest trade-off, and it is the main reason people hesitate. Our Ajax starter package is from $2,095 plus installation, and NDAA-compliant AI cameras are from $180 each. Every quote is itemized, so you can see each device before any work starts. Smart locks and video doorbells are priced on your quote.
What you get for that upfront cost is flexibility that is hard to price but easy to feel later:
- No term to break. Moving, renovating or simply changing your mind doesn't trigger a charge for leaving. If you move, the portable parts come with you, or you can leave the system for the new owners.
- Monitoring is optional and month-to-month. Many homeowners self-monitor through the Ajax app at no monthly cost. If you want 24/7 professional monitoring, it is available through our monitoring partner LANVAC's ULC-listed centre on a month-to-month basis, with no long-term lock-in.
- The system still works if you cancel monitoring. Because you own it, you keep the equipment and can still watch and control it from your phone. You only lose the monitoring-centre service.
- You can change providers. The hardware is yours, so you aren't tied to one company to keep it running.
Whether that adds up to a lower total depends on how long you stay, what you choose to monitor, and what the other quote includes. For a household that expects to stay put for years, ownership tends to look better. For someone who moves often, a short lease may suit better, though you would still want to check the early-termination terms.
A Few Cautions
- Read the whole agreement, not just the monthly price. The renewal, early-termination and equipment-return clauses matter most.
- Compare like with like. A quote with two cameras and a quote with six are different offers. Ask for the same scope from every company.
- Check the camera hardware. Cameras built on equipment flagged under the NDAA raise data-security concerns, which is why we install NDAA-compliant AI cameras. Our NDAA page explains what that means.
- Taxes are extra. GST applies in Alberta, and every Loch quote shows it separately.
Get an Itemized Quote to Compare
If you have a lease-style quote in hand, we are happy to put an itemized one next to it. Our assessments and quotes are free. You can see current packages on the pricing page, read the FAQ on contracts and monitoring, or build a setup in the system builder.
We serve Edmonton, Leduc, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, Nisku and the surrounding area. Call 825-957-1200 or use the contact page.