Previous owners cancelled, dealers went out of business, or a new owner never set up an account. The panel works, but nobody answers it.
Security play · Monitoring and service plans
Security monitoring plans, sold to homes that already have the hardware.
Recurring monitoring revenue is what makes a security company valuable, and plenty of homes have a system that nobody monitors or services. Spur finds owners with likely orphaned, self-monitored, or aging systems, writes a clear plan offer with what's included and what it costs, and mails it with a QR code to sign up.
Free forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
USPSFirst-Class
Teresa Collins3409 Tates Creek RdLexington, KY 40502Scan to see what's included
Teresa C. scanned your monitoring plan card · 18 min ago
AI-written for this owner · Mailed in 2 days
RMRmonthly recurring revenue is what your company is valued on
Takeoversexisting hardware, so less install cost per account
Annual checksensors, batteries, and communicator in one visit
The problem
Thousands of homes have alarm hardware that nobody monitors or services.
An app notification while you're asleep or on a flight isn't a dispatched response. Many owners don't realize the difference until it matters.
Sensor batteries die, smoke detectors age out, and communicators lose their network. Without a service plan, the system degrades quietly.
How it works
From list to mailbox in one workflow.
Five steps from orphaned systems to monthly monitoring revenue.
app.usespur.com
See it in Spur
A monitoring takeover list in Spur
Sample Lexington homes likely to have unmonitored or aging systems. Names are partly masked.
Zips 40502 + 40503Owner-occupiedValue $350K+Owned 3–20 yrsExclude monitored customers
- Teresa C.3409 Tates Creek RdOwned 6 yrs · built 1998Likely inherited system
- Mark & Ellen J.1820 Lakewood DrOwned 14 yrs · built 2004Older communicatorService plan
- Donna P.612 Chinoe RdOwned 18 yrs · built 1958Service planSmoke detectors 10+ yrs
- Jason W.2215 Ashwood DrSold 5 months agoNew owner takeover
- Ana R.3640 Tates Creek RdOwned 9 yrs · built 2006Self-monitored likely
AI draft for Teresa C. · 3409 Tates Creek Rd
YOUR SYSTEM IS ON THE WALL. IS ANYONE ANSWERING IT?
Hi Teresa, many homes in Chevy Chase have an alarm system that a previous owner or dealer set up, but nobody monitors today. Others rely on app notifications, which only help if someone sees them in time.
We can take over your existing system, in most cases without replacing the panel. Our plan includes 24/7 UL-listed monitoring that dispatches help, an annual visit to test every sensor and replace batteries, and a communicator check. It's $39 a month with no long contract.
Scan the code to see exactly what's included, or to book a free system test first.
Bluegrass Alarm Co. · KY Lic. #1094 · (859) 555-0126
Sample data for illustration. Your results depend on your market and filters.
Playbook
How to sell security monitoring and service plans
Recurring monthly revenue is the core of a security business. It smooths cash flow, funds growth, and largely determines what the company is worth when it's time to sell. Every new monitored account adds to it for years, and an account that starts with hardware already on the wall costs far less to add than a new install.
Plenty of homes have that hardware. Owners cancel monitoring, dealers close or sell, and new homeowners inherit a panel with no account. Some owners switched to self-monitoring through an app, which only works if someone sees the alert in time and acts. A clear explanation of the difference between a notification and a dispatched response is the most persuasive part of a monitoring card.
Bundle service into the plan. Owners value what they can see. An annual visit to test sensors, replace batteries, check the communicator, and flag smoke detectors near the end of their life gives the plan a tangible benefit. The NFPA recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years, and many monitored homes have detectors older than that.
Price it plainly. State the monthly price and what's included on the card. Avoid long contracts if you can, or explain the term clearly. Homeowners have heard plenty of stories about auto-renewals and cancellation fees, and transparency sets you apart.
Keep the plan visible. Send a renewal card 30 days before each anniversary that recaps the service visit and any issues found. Plans that remind owners of their value cancel less.
Track attrition by source. Takeover accounts, new-owner accounts, and upgrade accounts can cancel at different rates. Tag each new plan with the list and card that produced it, and review cancellation rates every quarter. Lists that produce long-lasting plans are worth more postage than lists that produce quick cancellations.
Make the switch easy. Owners worry that changing monitoring companies means new hardware, lost time, or a fight with the old provider. Explain on the card that most panels can be reprogrammed in one visit, that you'll check for any existing contract, and that the system stays on the wall. Removing the hassle is often what turns a scan into a signed plan.
$11.7Kin yearly recurring revenue from 25 takeover accounts at $39/mo
Recurring revenue compounds.
- Spur Team: $588/yr, plus 2,000 cards on Team at $0.94 each = $1,880
- 25 takeover accounts × $39/mo × 12 = $11,700 per year
- Year one total cost: $2,468, against revenue that renews every year
Example math. Takeover rates, pricing, and attrition vary by dealer. Run your own numbers →
One tool, not four
Spur vs. the usual RMR growth tactics
What you needThe usual waySpur
Homes likely to have unmonitored hardwareCold lists of every door✓ Built in
Clear plan price and inclusions"Call for details"✓ Built in
Takeover offer, less install costNew install every time✓ Built in
Renewal reminders on autopilotSilence until cancellation✓ Built in
New RMR tracked by listNo idea what worked✓ Built in
Monitoring Plans by the numbers
Why service plans have real value
10 years
the recommended maximum life of a smoke alarm before replacement
2022
the year major U.S. carriers shut down 3G, leaving some alarm panels unable to reach monitoring
$11.7K
in yearly recurring revenue from 25 takeover accounts at $39/mo
FAQ
Monitoring and service plan questions
How do alarm companies grow recurring monthly revenue?
Add monitored accounts steadily: takeovers of orphaned and self-monitored systems, new owners, and upgrades for past install-only customers, each with a clear monthly plan.
What's the difference between monitoring and self-monitoring?
Professional monitoring sends alarms to a staffed center that can dispatch help. Self-monitoring sends a notification to the owner's phone, which only helps if someone sees it in time and acts.
Can I take over another company's alarm system?
Often, yes. Many panels can be reprogrammed to your monitoring center, though some proprietary systems need a new panel or communicator. A free system test tells you.
What should a security service plan include?
24/7 monitoring, an annual test of every sensor, battery replacement, a communicator check, and a note on smoke and CO detectors nearing the end of their life.
Keep exploring
Related plays and guides
Start in minutes. No card required.
Grow the revenue that renews every month.
Find homes with unmonitored systems, mail a clear plan offer, and keep every plan visible with renewal reminders. Free to start.
Find homes ready for monitoring — freeFree forever plan · No card · 20 property searches a month
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