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COMMENT ON HONEYWELL EQUIPMENT FAILURE
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Ken
    I certainly understand the frustration with the Honeywell radios dropping off line and having to go out and replace/service them. We have had those issues along with a slew of Total connect and automation issues. 
    Your best bet is to track those calls and the time (as if there isn't enough to keep track of). I've had great success being compensated for lost time in the form of new product (panels, keypads, etc). Keep good notes and work closely with your rep and move up the Honeywell chain  of needed. Although the issues are aggravating Honeywell has been willing to step up.  ADI swaps out he bad radios with no questions asked. 
    I'm with the dealer that wrote  in from NJ... We've been time Honeywell/ademco/First Alert dealers and to make a jump now would be difficult, but we can't rule that out.
    As long as our companies we stay on top of the Alarmnet reports and Honeywell continues to compensate us for lost time I'll be more willing to hang in. 
    We do have one laptop in the field running Windows 10 and the tech had no issues with converting. He was able to keep all the old accounts and the program is functioning normally. 

Great articles here.  Thanks for the work Ken,
Jason Kenney
International Built-In Systems
Albany, NY
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Representing Yourself On A Buy Sell Deal
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Ken,
    Regarding a dealer who was purchasing an alarm company and had apparently prepared his own “simple agreement”, here is my advice:   Early in my career (over 30 years ago) a wise mentor told me “You don’t know what you don’t know.”  Very profound advice.  Any experienced  alarm company owner will relate to you horror stories of DIY or improperly installed fire systems that they have encountered over the years.  Why would an experienced business person try to “DIY” an alarm company purchase?
Mitch Reitman
S.I.C. Consulting, Inc.
Fort Worth, TX 76133
817-698-9999
WWW.SICC.US
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RESPONSE
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    I often hear how the deal is "really small" so they think they can handle it themselves.  "Do I have some form I can send them ...  preferrably for free?"  I often respond by saying, "So I guess you won't care if you end up getting screwed and lose either the purchase price [if you're the seller] or the bargained for deal [if you're the buyer]."  They care, always.  
    This is a relatively small industry for most of us.  Unless your deal warrants $50,000 to $100,000 or more in legal fees to handle the contract, related closing issues and the closing, you'd be foolish to engage counsel unfamiliar with this industry.  And by familiar I don't mean you sold them an alarm or they are related to you and shot the shit with you over the years about your business.  There are a number of "industry attorneys"; make sure you engage the right one for you. 
    We've got you covered at Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum [Alarm Acquisitions / Sale Department],  Between me,  Jennnifer Kirschenbaum,Esq, Jesse Kirschenbaum,Esq and Dennis Stern,Esq we have the personality that suits you and your deal, the necessary expertise and economical rates.  And, we can back it up with our litigation department if necessary.  
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