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New Owner

New Homeowner Guide

Just Moved In? Your Alarm Is Ready.

Millions of homes have alarm panels left by previous owners. Don’t let yours collect dust — activate professional 24/7 monitoring from $14.99/mo.

Check My Panel

Sound Familiar?

You just moved into your new home and found an alarm keypad on the wall. Maybe there’s a motion sensor in the hallway, a siren in the garage, and contact sensors on the doors. The previous owner left all the equipment — but there’s no active monitoring.

Quick Check: What Do You Have?

Alarm keypad on the wall

This is your main control panel. Look for brand names like Honeywell, DSC, Qolsys, 2GIG, or Interlogix on the front.

Sensors on doors and windows

Small white or beige contacts on door/window frames. These detect when doors or windows are opened.

Motion detector(s)

Usually mounted in corners near the ceiling in hallways or main rooms. They detect movement when the system is armed.

Cellular communicator or phone line

Your panel needs a way to communicate with the monitoring center. Most systems use cellular (a small radio module inside the panel) or a phone line. We can help you figure this out.

How to Activate Your System

1

Identify Your Panel

Look at the keypad on your wall. Find the brand name and model number. Common brands include Honeywell Vista, DSC PowerSeries, Qolsys IQ Panel, and 2GIG GC2/GC3.

Tip: If you can’t find the model number on the front, open the panel box (usually in a closet, basement, or garage) and check the label inside.
Check if your panel is compatible
2

Reset the Master Code

The previous owner’s master code is still in the system. You’ll need to reset it to a code only you know. This is usually done through the panel’s installer menu.

Tip: If you’re not sure how to do this, call us at 743-ALERTOR and we’ll walk you through it for your specific panel model.
3

Choose a Plan

Pick the monitoring plan that fits your needs. All plans include 24/7 professional monitoring at no extra cost.

Start with Alert ($14.99/mo) for basic monitored security, or choose Reach ($18.99/mo) if you want the Alarm.com mobile app to control your system from your phone.

View all plans
4

Activate Online

Complete checkout on our website. We register your panel with Alarm.com and connect it to our UL-listed central station. Your home is protected within minutes.

Tip: You’ll receive Alarm.com login credentials via email. Download the app to control your system remotely (Reach plan and above).
5

Test Your System

After activation, test your system to make sure all sensors and zones are working. Call us to put your system in test mode, then trigger each sensor. We’ll confirm we receive every signal.

Common New Homeowner Situations

Panel is beeping

The backup battery is probably dead. Enter any 4-digit code + OFF to silence it. Replace the battery (usually a 12V 4-7Ah sealed lead acid battery inside the main panel box).

I don’t know the code

The default installer code varies by brand (Honeywell: 4112, DSC: 5555, etc.). We can help you reset both the master and installer codes. Call 743-ALERTOR.

Previous owner’s service is still active

The previous owner needs to cancel their monitoring service first. Once cancelled, the panel is free to be registered with Alertor. This is required by Alarm.com policy.

Panel is very old

Older panels (10+ years) may not support Alarm.com. If your panel isn’t compatible, you can upgrade to a Qolsys IQ Panel 4 and reuse your existing sensors. We can help you with the upgrade.

New Owner FAQ

Yes! Alarm panels, sensors, motion detectors, and keypads are all reusable. They stay with the property. You just need to activate monitoring under your name with a new Alertor account.
Usually no. If your existing panel is compatible with Alarm.com, you can use it as-is. You may need a new cellular communicator ($50-100) if the panel doesn’t have one. We’ll let you know during the compatibility check.
During the activation process, we’ll check if the panel is currently registered with another provider. If it is, we’ll guide you on next steps. In most cases, the previous owner has already cancelled when they moved out.
Sensors have batteries that last 3-5 years. If a sensor isn’t responding, try replacing its battery first. If that doesn’t work, you may need a new sensor — they’re typically $15-40 each. Call us for troubleshooting help.
Yes. You can add wireless sensors, cameras, smart locks, and more at any time. Check our add-ons page for available options and pricing.

Your New Home Deserves Protection

Check your panel compatibility in 2 minutes. No commitment, no cost.

Check Compatibility Free Call 743-ALERTOR