Habitec Named Best Security Company in Delaware, OH

For 37 years, Habitec Security has been family-owned and operated. The Delaware office has been open since 1991. Habitec provides home and security needs such as alarm system installations, repairs, servicing system monitoring, fire protection and prevention, surveillance camera installations and repairs. Regional Manager Al McFarland points out that Habitec is full-service, dealing with all lines of electronic security and service. “We also own our monitoring system, housed within a vaulted area at our corporate office in Toledo,” said McFarland. Habitec also understands their responsibility to give back to the community. Jim Smythe, the late founder of Habitec Security, was active in civic matters and donated to many causes.

Habitec Joins Toledo Choose Local

Habitec Security has joined up with 250 other local businesses in “Toledo Choose Local”. Toledo Choose Local is a group of businesses that have the same passion for supporting locally owned and operated businesses. Studies suggest that when customers choose to buy locally that three times the amount of money stays in the community versus shopping at large national companies. Buying local does not mean you will pay more. In fact, Habitec Security has very competitive pricing that is often less expensive than the ADT’s of the world. When shopping, think local first!

Habitec Security Moves to New Location in Charlevoix, Michigan

Habitec Security, formerly of Boyne City, has moved to a new location in Charlevoix.

Now located on Bridge Street, Habitec Security serves the region of Northern Michigan from Cadillac north to the Mackinac Bridge.

The business, which specializes in custom home and commercial security systems, had been located in Boyne City for more than 10 years. This branch of Habitec is part of a larger security company based in Toledo, Ohio, with three main locations throughout Ohio and Michigan.

Habitec was founded in 1972 by James Smythe and is currently run by his son, John Smythe. The company has approximately 100 employees overall and maintains six local staff including general manager Paul Donat. Donat noted that every location is unique and tries to become a part of the community it is in, which helps them to better serve their customers’ needs.

“We loved being in Boyne City,” Donat said, adding, “The opportunity to be right on U.S. 31 was the right move for our business to grow.”

Habitec leases space in Charlevoix, and now has more room to expand and be more centrally located to their customer base.

Donat stated that they specialize in high end emergency reporting systems for new construction, which fits right in with much of the Charlevoix community’s needs.

More than 50 percent of their clients are seasonal residents, Donat said, and rely on Habitec to monitor and secure their homes during the winter months.

Habitec offers sales, installation and monitoring of all types of security systems. Such systems may be used to prevent intrusion, burglary, environmental issues such as storm damage and can even notify you of loss of power or low temperature in your home.

“Many seasonal residents take advantage of Habitec’s monitoring services to prevent small issues such as a water leak from becoming disastrous,” Donat noted.

Habitec also offers a unique service for people concerned about living independently while remaining safe. They offer a monitoring system that can be worn by the client at all times, even in the shower, giving them the ability to notify someone should they have an emergency.

“For elderly people living alone or people with special needs, this system can really help them become more independent,” Donat added.

Habitec’s system is monitored 24 hours a day and can be activated by the push of a button, but also includes a two-way voice communication option.

“Closed-circuit monitoring of homes has become very popular,” said Donat.

He said they are installing camera systems for clients to watch their property remotely via the Internet more and more. Customers may want to simply keep an eye on their boat while docked behind their house, or they may want to watch over their pets or children while on vacation far away. Most systems range from one to 10 cameras placed throughout the home and property, but can be tailored to whatever needs you may have.

“Commercial systems are still our primary closed-circuit customers, but residential requests are growing rapidly,” noted Donat.

Habitec Security is located at 1520 Bridge St., Charlevoix. Hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with evening and weekend appointments available.

For more information, call (231) 582-5660 or visit www.habitecsecurity.com.

Copyright © 2010, Petoskey News

Habitec is #1 in Ohio

Toledo Based Habitec Security named to national top 100 list of security companies by SDM Magazine.

Security Distributing and Marketing Magazine (SDM), the security industry’s leading trade publication, recently released their annual list of the largest security companies in the country and named Habitec Security the largest independent security company in Ohio. SDM also ranked Habitec as the 59th largest security company in the United States.

Habitec Security was founded by Jim Smythe in 1972, he built it from a home based business started in his mother’s dining room to a very successful operation with 2 offices in Ohio and one in Michigan. Mr. Smythe passed away in June of 2006, his son John has taken on the responsibility as president and is moving the company forward. Habitec is the only security company serving northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan with a local Toledo based monitoring station.

Habitec Security employs 85 people, many whom have been with the company for more than 30 years. Habitec Security has nearly 13,000 monthly subscribers and is increasing business each year. The company will soon be offering a medical alert device that promotes independent living for the elderly or other family medical concerns. For more information please log onto www.habitecsecurity.com

Click here to view the top 100 security companies ranked by SDM.

Habitec Appears in Security Trade Publication

Habitec grows in Michigan with Citizen buy
By Martha Entwistle – 03.04.2010

TOLEDO, Ohio — Habitec Security, which calls itself the largest independent dealer in Ohio, this week acquired Citizen Security Systems of Carlton, Mich.

“It’s a small company in southeast Michigan that’s been in business for ten years and has a couple hundred account base,” said John Smythe, president of Habitec.

Chris Ruelle, the former president of Citizen Security, has joined Habitec as a sales consultant. Habitec is in the process of transferring all monitored alarm systems to its monitoring station here.

Habitec has about 13,000 accounts and is roughly half residential and half commercial. It has 90 employees and two branch offices, in Traverse City, Mich., and Columbus, Ohio. The company was founded by Smythe’s father, Jim Smythe, in 1972. John Smythe took over as president after his father passed away five years ago.

Smythe said the company’s made about 100 acquisitions over the years, including five since he took over.

While Habitec’s commercial business has slowed considerably in 2009, its residential business has done very well. “Our security systems installations on an annual basis was up more than 15 percent,” Smythe said. “And our cancellations stayed low.”

And for 2010? “We expect small [overall] growth again,” he said. “While the margins on commercial are thin, we’re finally starting to see some jobs close in the initial part of this year. We’ve won some bids and we weren’t the lowest bidder. They were sold, instead, on our company.”

Smythe said he’s had valued guidance over the past five years from some veteran alarm company owners who serve on his board including Mel Mahler of ADS, and John Bourque of HB Alarm. Mahler and Bourque were close friends of Smythe’s father, and they’re all Honeywell First Alert Professional dealers.

At the most recent First Alert Professional conference, Smythe gave some guidance to other FAP dealers in a seminar on Internet marketing, something he’s a big proponent of.

“We’re doing a lot more of that than we used to,” he said. Through search optimization on his site, Google ads and Google click campaigns he’s “generating way more leads than through other means … we get five to six leads a day through the Internet marketing, which is a lot for us.”

Citizen Security Systems Merges with Habitec Security

We are excited to announce that Habitec Security of Toledo, OH has acquired Citizen Security Systems of Carleton, MI. Citizen Security Systems is a company similar to Habitec Security in that they both handle all electronic security needs for both commercial and residential customers. Habitec is in the process of transferring all monitored alarm systems to their own command center located in Toledo, OH.

Chris Ruelle, President of Citizen Security, will be joining Habitec Security as a full time security consultant. Citizen Security Systems will be assuming the name Habitec Security. The current customers will receive the best in security protection as has been the tradition of Habitec Security since 1972. Habitec Security has had a presence in Southeastern Michigan for over 35 years and hopes that this acquisition will strengthen their position there.

Habitec Launches Total Connect

Access your Security System Anytime, Anywhere! As technology brings the world closer together, the need to feel connected is a reality today. With Habitec’s Total Connect Service you can now utilize the internet to control your security system in real time.

Learn More

Barnhart Electric Merges with Habitec

We are excited to announce that Habitec Security of Toledo, OH has acquired Zanesville’s Barnhart Electric. Barnhart Electric is a company similar to Habitec Security in that they both handle all security needs for commercial and residential customers. Habitec is in the process of transferring all monitored alarm systems to their own command center located in Toledo, OH.

Barnhart Electric will assume the name Habitec Security. The current customers will receive the best in security protection as has been the tradition of Habitec Security since 1972. Habitec Security has had a presence in the Columbus area for 25 years and hopes that this acquisition will strengthen their position there.

Habitec Secures Moon Rock

Habitec Security has been awarded a contract to secure a rock from the Moon. On Nov, 12 2007 Gene Kranz, a former NASA flight director, will return to his alma mater Central Catholic High School with a rock from the Moon. Mr. Kranz was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio before he became well known for his role in saving the crew of Apollo 13. Mr. Kranz is donating the Moon rock to Central Catholic which will be on display at the Kranz Exploration Learning Center.

In order to display the Moon rock to the public Central Catholic has to follow strict security guidelines required by NASA. Habitec has been chosen as the security company to design a system that will assure NASA the Moon rock will be secure. Habitec will be installing a sophisticated digital video system which among other features will have the capability of seeing in total darkness. Along with monitored 360 degree motion detectors, NASA can be assured that the Moon rock is in good hands with Habitec.

Habitec Lights The Night

Habitec employees, friends and families participated in the annual Light The Night Walk demonstrating their support for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Participants carried illuminated red and white balloons to light up downtown Toledo and celebrate and commemorate lives touched by blood cancers.

The Habitec Heroes team walked in remembrance of the late Jim Smythe, founder of Habitec Security. Mr. Smythe lost his courageous battle with leukemia in 2006 and will always be remembered for his love of reaching out to help people in the community. This philosophy of helping others has continued and the Habitec Team has brought a generous contribution to this organization.

If you are interested in joining us in the Light The Night Walk, please contact us.