If you are living in a luxury and high-end condominium, 24-hour security and a concierge service are some of the perks that you expect. It is part of the price you pay to enjoy the exclusivity and security of that building. For property managers and owners, hiring a condo concierge security service is an essential part of making residents feel safe and secure.
The challenge here lies not in finding a security firm that can keep your property secure. It’s in ensuring that you pick a firm that can meet your expectations and that of your clients.
Factors to Consider When Hiring a Condo Concierge Security Service
Before you embark on the search for the best firm that can offer the best condo concierge security service in Toronto, it pays to know the factors to consider. Them possessing any of the skills and competencies listed below will give you the assurance that you have picked the right people in the business.
1. Highly trained and flexible security guards
In protecting condos, the expectations of the roles and responsibilities of security guards have expanded. Hiring well-trained and experienced security guards is non-negotiable. Training is important so that the guards are well-equipped and able to respond most efficiently to all kinds of threats. Proper training will also enable them to face these threats while staying calm.
However, security guards are asked to go beyond the standard services. The security guards must also be responsible for checking on equipment, tracking and monitoring visitor parking, key tracking, incident reporting and, in some cases, managing parcels or deliveries. The guards must be competent to handle any task that is thrown at them during their shift. The ability to offer services beyond the limitations of their roles is what defines a reliable and competent condo concierge security service.
2. Customization of services
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to security services. Every building or property is subject to different kinds or levels of threats. Therefore, the most reliable condo concierge security firm can tailor its services based on the assessment of threats.
For example, the security measures applied to residential property are not the same when managing a commercial complex. Security firms that understand and implement this are ahead of their competition.
Before deploying security guards and staff to your building, the firm must conduct a thorough evaluation of your security needs. This approach will enable them to provide the appropriate level of security measures to fit your needs. The delivery of bespoke security solutions also reflects the firm’s flexibility when meeting the unique requirements of each property.
3. Security services beyond the scope of technology
In today’s digital era, there is too much reliance on technology for some firms when providing security services. However, this method of providing services is largely flawed since technology is subject to failure.
Although technology is advancing at a rapid pace, it is no replacement for the trained human eye. An overreliance on technology is not a good thing, especially for a security firm responsible for securing an entire building.
The primary goal of implementing a security team to monitor your building is to deter threats and incidents. Essentially, the firm has failed its job when it is unable to deter such crimes from happening. This scenario exposes the most common flaw in a technology-based approach to providing security.
In most cases, once the security or surveillance cameras are deployed, no one is there to actively monitor those cameras for any suspicious activity. Even if the incident was managed to be captured on film, there are instances when the perpetrator is unrecognizable so no one is apprehended..
Installing cameras throughout the building is not enough to assure the residents of a condo building that they are living in a secure environment. Properly trained security personnel must be available on-site to defuse any threats and to address any situations and decide whether to alert the residents or not. Security technology tools are good to have but they are not enough to replace human beings.
4. An integrated approach to security
Furthermore, an integrated approach in your condo concierge security system must be employed. Such an approach involves both the use of cutting-edge technology and traditional security measures that involves security guards. This seamless combination of humans and technology is integral to the success of keeping the entire building secure.
The reason that you need both is that neither technology nor humans can be in two places at once. An integrated approach is one way to ensure that you have all bases covered – literally and figuratively speaking. In a condo unit, you are monitoring not just the residents but also visitors that come in and out of the building. It can be difficult to keep track of the traffic if you have to rely on only the human element or the technological element. Both aspects need to work together to ensure a seamless process of maintaining everyone’s security.
5. Licensing and legal requirements
While most property managers refuse to admit it, the common make-or-break factor when choosing a condo concierge security service is pricing. The most expensive firm is not guaranteed to offer the best service, while the cheapest one won’t assure you of value either.
The gist here is to look beyond pricing and be objective in assessing the capacity of the security firm to provide the required services. The best way to do that is to look at their licence. The legal requirement for operating a condo concierge security service in Toronto is that personnel must comply with provincial or state licensing requirements. This licence will serve as proof that the personnel has undergone the necessary professional training. It also means that the personnel have basic knowledge of first aid and are protected with insurance.
For specialized services or equipment, you must choose a firm that has the proper licence for the job.
Final Tip
Securing an entire building is not an easy task. If you consider the factors discussed above, there is no guarantee that you can hire the best in the business. However, you can be assured that you will find the firm that will be the best fit for your needs.
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