Things to Know When Hiring Private Security

While it's a smart decision to hire private security in Dallas, it is, sadly, not enough.

With the proliferation of security agencies, it's easy to hire an agency whose professionalism ends on the internet. And the outcome is often devastating.

The truth is, you have to do due diligence to make the right choice. Here are some tips to guide you.

Is the agency part of a chain or locally-owned?

In matters of security, the latter is always better. Local private agencies are familiar with the area in which they operate. They understand the terrain and are better positioned to deal with local threats. With a local agency, you may even communicate directly with the boss rather than dealing with the call center. For instance, when you need private security in Dallas, it's best to hire one of the local agencies like Sundown.

Are the officers licensed and trained?

"Is this even supposed to be on this list," you may ask? While this may be obvious, you'll be surprised that several people fall into the trap of hiring unscrupulous agencies. Don't get carried by the well-ironed uniform and smooth talk; ensure the agency is licensed and their officers have received extensive training. You can ask to see licenses and individual training certificates.

Do they offer the services you need?

Here's another common mistake people make when hiring private security. If you search 'private security in Dallas' on Google, it'll return thousands of results. But all the companies may not offer exactly what you want.

Private security is a broad field, and you shouldn't hire just any company that advertises itself as a private security agency. Whether you want a security consultant, manned guarding, patrol officers, or armed officers, make sure they offer it.

Do they monitor their officers?

Many security officers are on night, full-time, or weekend duty when their office is closed. If there is no monitoring, effective oversight will take a hit. You don't want a security oversight to happen in your business or while you're out with your family.

That's why you need to know if a security company has supervisors who stay in touch with their personnel on the field outside work hours.

What is the overall cost?

Of course, you should know how much private security will cost you. Ask the company whether they charge per hour, weekly, or monthly. Request an itemized estimate with the cost for each service clearly written.

You should also know if you'll pay for equipment, uniforms, and the like. If their quote is within your budget and the company seems perfect, finalize.

However, be wary of lowball offers. If you have doubts an agency charging considerably less is qualified, do not hire them. In private security, inferior services can be costly. Better to pay a few dollars more now than get into a whole lot of problems later.

And if you need private security in Dallas and the surrounding areas, save yourself the hassle of screening multiple agencies and get a quote from the widely trusted Sundown Security today.