Do you want to get into the security business? Are residential security services ticking all your boxes, but you don’t know where to start? Or are you’re looking to start a residential security program at your company, but don’t know what you need?
Either way, whatever your questions may be, we’ve got the answers for you. We’ll tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the fascinating world of residential security, and what it takes to make it in the industry.
Who Needs Residential Security Services Anyway?
More often than not, the people who get residential security services are figures in high positions. They could be important statesmen, celebrities, diplomats, judges, and many others. That’s simply because those are the people who are at the highest risk of being targeted. But the list doesn’t end there.
A lot of people who live in condominiums, apartment buildings, communities, or are part of the HOA can benefit from hiring residential security guards. Also, people who go away on business or vacations often, and want to keep their homes safe are ideal candidates for residential security.
Basically, anyone who wants to protect their homes and family members from potential threats, thefts, and risks should consider hiring residential security guards.
The Benefits of Having Residential Security Services
A lot of people think that by installing a security system, they’ll prevent any and all thefts and burglaries. Unfortunately, that’s not really the case.
While a security system might deter the more inexperienced burglars, it won’t scare off the pros. They can either bypass the system or be in and out of a home so quickly that there’s no chance law enforcement can respond on time.
Even if a person lives in the safest community ever, maybe even a gated one, there’s still a chance that someone could break-in. Just look at the Bling Ring case.
Back in 2008, several high-profile celebrities found themselves to be the targets of robbers. As it would later turn out, it was a group of teenagers who had broken into the homes of famous A-listers and stolen millions of dollars in cash, jewelry, and clothes.
If that shows us anything, it’s that security systems, no matter how elaborate, aren’t full-proof. That’s why it’s so crucial to combine them with trained security guards and officers who can always be at the scene at a moment’s notice.
But more importantly, a security officer will prevent a burglary from even happening in the first place. In fact, if they do their job right, an officer won’t even have to interact with a burglar or thief. All their work is done beforehand when they collect intel, design strategies, and secure weak points.
What Residential Security Services Entail
Residential security services is an umbrella term for countless things that both guards and officers do. There are a ton of things that the pros will do behind the scenes to ensure their client’s safety. However, it usually all starts with one single step — risk assessment.
A security officer first has to establish all the potential risks, threats, and weak points before they start planning. Then, they’ll come up with the absolute best systems for a home/building, and implement them all to ensure a client’s safety.
Residential security guards will also stand at checkpoints, greet residents, and manage access to the area. Also, they will report and respond to any accidents and incidents at a moment’s notice.
Other common residential security services include:
- Receiving and managing packages
- Facility monitoring
- Parking enforcement
If you want to learn more about all the responsibilities and duties of a security guard, check out our article on residential security companies.
Training to Be a Residential Security Guard
There’s a lot that goes into being a residential security guard, and there’s more to it than meets the eye. If you want to be successful in your field (which we’re sure you do), you need to train hard.
Now, depending on your previous experiences and jobs, there are a couple of different routes that you can take. If it’s your first time ever stepping into the EP industry, you should first start with the basics.
Some things that every EP agent and security officer should know include:
- Hand-to-hand combat
- Risk assessment
- Perimeter security
- Driving different types of vehicles
These skills are basically just the tip of the iceberg and don’t even begin to cover all the things pros in the industry do. That’s why, if you’ve never done anything like this before, you need to attend a training program.
Luckily, there are a ton of different executive protection programs out there, some even specifically for residential services. You can also check out some classes online to try and understand what the job entails exactly.
In addition to training, you also need to get all the proper licenses that all guards and officers hold. No matter if you want to apply to a security company or open up your own agency, if you want to work in the field, you need all the proper certification.
Developing Social Skills
The thing is, if you want to make it as a residential security guard, you’ll need to brush up on your social skills. A huge part of your job will be interacting with residents and getting to know them better.
Also, you need to learn more about their everyday routines and habits, and basically understand what makes them tick. If people feel like you’re expressing a genuine interest in them, they’ll trust you more, and feel safer with you around.
To Sum up
Residential security is a fascinating field, and one with a promising future.
It’s fast-paced, engaging, and exciting, and learning all the ins and outs of it can be really fun. But it takes a lot of training, practice, and dedication before you can call yourself a certified residential security officer.
We hope that we’ve answered all your questions when it comes to residential security services, and what those entail exactly. But if you have any more questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to leave them all down below.
