3 Reasons Why Sonos Will Make Your Holiday Music Sound Better
‘Tis the Season To be Jolly
Happy Holiday season 2021!
It’s December and holiday music is everywhere.
- Recitals
- Retails stores
- Radio
and at home?!
We hope you are getting a feel for the season with beautiful holiday sounds.
We at Strand Security here in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina love getting into the holiday spirit by playing holiday music on our Sonos speakers.
We do not just sell and install Sonos, we use these speakers in our office and home daily. We just love Sonos for ourselves, and our customers.
Let’s look at the three top reason Sonos will make your holiday music sound better!
1 Sonos Speakers Offer Incredible Sound
There is no comparison, at least that we’ve found. Sonos speakers offer incredible sound, and as there are an array of Sonos speakers to choose from, they offer size-defying sound in any room you install or place your speaker.
Be the sound hero of the season. Play the best music with the best-quality speaker at your next holiday party.
2 Sonos Speakers Will Play in Multiple Rooms in Your Home of Office
From Sonos:
Enjoy a more immersive listening experience when you place speakers in different rooms around your home. Use the app to pair your speakers together in the same room on WiFi for detailed stereo separation and a wider soundstage.
If you are planning a holiday get together with friends, family or your office, enjoying music as you move from room to room is quite an amazing experience.
Using the Sonos app, enjoy an immersive listening experience!
3 Sonos Speakers Are Easy to Integrate with an Existing Smarthome System!
At Strand Security, we install and service smarthome systems daily for our customers. We are able to add your new Sonos speakers to an existing home theater setup, or adding it to Zwave or URC smarthome system, too!
Why not upgrade this holiday season and add some Sonos in your home of office?
BONUS: Sonos Speakers are Portable and Offer Effortless Charging!
If you are looking for a smaller investment with big payout, we suggest grabbing a nice mid sized portable Sonos speaker. The engineers at Sonos have developed an amazing and unique effortless charging system and the sound will go on and on and on!
Hosting a Holiday Party? You’ve Got To Get Sonos
Whether you are hosting a holiday recital, party or movie night, Sonos will wow your guests!
In the mood for fun? Sonos is a must-have for those who like to entertain.
Not technically inclined? We offer installation to our customers! Come and visit us in Murrells Inlet to learn more about Sonos.
7 Family Gift Ideas For The 2021 Holiday Season
It’s December! Happy Holidays 2021
Raise your virtual hand if you’ve been out shopping for gifts! Many Americans start early; they shop all throughout the year and start serious shopping as early as September.
Of course,there are those among us who wait until the last minute, or just can not find the right gift for the right person.
Have you ever considered giving a family gift? We’ve put together 7 awesome family gift ideas that work for the holidays, or any other momentous occasion (think New Baby, Adoption, Anniversary)
Here they are…
7 AWESOME Family Gift Ideas For The 2021 Holiday Season
1 Family Season Pass to an Amusement Park
One of the best gifts you can give a family is the gift of an experience. Why not purchase a family pass to a local-to-them amusement park? In the Myrtle Beach area that means a park like Broadway Grand Prix Family Race Park or one of several Waterparks. Most of these parks offer a family season pass valid for a few months or a whole year to enjoy over and over again!
2 Family trip
If you are a grandparent, or aunt/uncle and you want to go big… consider inviting your family on a trip somewhere special. It could be a country like Mexico or Costa Rica, or a family destination like Walt Disney World. No matter what you pick, if the trip is a gift, you’ll have a blast.
PS This is one of the best gifts to give because YOU will enjoy this gift as well.
3 Camping Gear
For the sport and outdoor enthusiasts, why not get a camping gear package together. Nothing says ‘family fun’ like sleeping in a tent! Don’t stop at the tent. Supply the sleeping bags, backpacks and the makings of an outdoor kitchen. Be sure the tent your purchase is big enough for the family to invite you, too! đ
4 SONOS speaker System
For the family that has everything, or those who have older teens, a SONOS speaker system could be a perfect gift. They often don’t want to go anywhere, but would like to host a party, or two! Give the gift of sound this season. Start by connecting with us – we don’t only sell these speakers, we install them as well.
5 ZWAVE
Does your family have gadgets, but no smarthome? Zwave can connect all your tech to create a smarthome. We love this technology and we are experts in putting this together for our customers. Give us a call to see if this might be the perfect gift for a loved one.
6 Family Membership – Jump Park, Zoo or Museum
How about a family membership to a local Jump park, Zoo or Children’s Museum? These passes make perfect gifts to busy families.
7 Home Theater
Last but not least, go big or go home: here is a BIG idea for the family (your own maybe?) that has everything! Give the gift of their own home theater! That would include the new TV, surround sound stereo, new seating and everything in between! It’s a gift that keeps on giving, year after year.
The Best Security and Technology Brands We Recommend in 2021
Did You See Our Ad in Sasee Magazine?
If you live on the Grand Strand, you might have seen our ad in Sasee Magazine this past summer or this fall!
We are spreading the word of our services to homeowners new to the area, to those who want better services, and to those who want to switch and save money!
In case you missed the magazine ad, here it is.
What you are not seeing is the brands we work with here at Strand Security!
If you are looking for the latest technology, the best service, the best brands and technology, Strand Security has you covered.
Here are the best security and technology brands we recommend to our customers in 2021.
Honeywell on the Grand Strand
We install and service Honeywell Security Systems. Whether you live in Georgetown County or Horry County, we’ve got you covered. This is a trusted brand with many options for both home owners as well as commercial use.
URC Total Control
Smarthomes and smart business owners use URC total control! We love the technology of URC and we have many happy customers who can attest to this effectiveness of these systems!
Dahua
When installing security cameras, we look to Dahua for a wide range of options to offer our customers! They are a one-stop-shop for all things video!
Abiding by the philosophy of “Innovation for All”, Dahua offers a wide portfolio of security-related products, ranging from IPC, NVR, HDCVI cameras, HCVR, PTZ cameras, thermal cameras, Access Control, Video Intercom, Alarms, Mobile & Traffic products, display & control, VMS and so on. Dahua products are based on an open platform that features easy integration with third party partners through a standard SDK.
UBIQUITI
Ubiquiti is a multi-application network operating system. It connects all your networks, locations and gives you “Simple IT that just works”. Ask us about ubiquiti if you are a small to medium size business owner!
Sonos
Home sound systems and home theaters use Sonos speakers to bring the music to the party! We love and use Sonos right here at our office. Feel free to stop by for a demo anytime. Don’t forget: we don’t just sell Sonos speakers, we also install and service them and integrate these speakers into existing smarthome systems!
Onkyo
No home theater is complete without an Onkyo receiver and sound system!
From their website:
(Onkyo receivers are) affordable and versatile home theater centerpiece tailored to deliver a best-in-class entertainment experience for your movies, music, and next-gen gaming systems.
Denon
Denon home sound bars are an affordable choice for a home sound system!
No matter what Denon system you chose, be confident that Strand Security can install and service your new system for years to come.
Marantz
Master the art of listening with Marantz. Marantz products include
Z-Wave
Z-Wave is the smarthome control you need when convenience and ease-of-use is paramount!
Z-Wave is the leading wireless technology behind many of the secure, trusted brands that are working to make everyoneâs home smarter and safer. With Z-Wave, smart home products can communicate with each other no matter what brand or platform they are built on using a central smart hub.
HikVision
The leader in security camera solutions is HikVision. We use and trust HikVision to keep our own family and business location safe and secure.
Smart Builders Install Security Systems While Constructing the Home
Are You Building a Home on The Grand Strand?
Welcome to the Grand Strand! If you are new the state of South Carolina, or to the Myrtle Beach area, we want to make you know how excited we are to have you join us in this wonderful place we’ve called home for 10+ years!
The growth we’ve seen on the Grand Strand is phenomenal! In a recent article, we touched on all the different areas the Grand Strand is growing, including new schools, 5+ new hospitals, lots of new road construction and yes, new residents!
Whether you are renting, buying or building a new home, you are not alone.
Purchasing a Spec Home on the Grand Strand
New neighborhoods are sprouting up like mushrooms all along the Grand Strand. We can’t seem to keep up with the new names, new locations and new homes that are being built and can we just say the volume of spec homes is staggering!
Grand Strand Realtors can not seem to find enough homes to list, while home buyers are outbidding each other for their favorite homes!
If you are one of the new residents thinking about purchasing a spec home, or working with a builder, or a contractor to build a new home, we’d love to talk to you.
Why?
To save you money!
Adding a Security System To Your Newly Constructed Home
If you are considering adding a security system or smarthome technology to your new home anytime in the future, it will pay for you to talk with your contractor today about adding the wiring before the dry walls go up!
This will save on labor cost later, and will ensure the wiring is placed in exactly the right spot you want and need it to be.
Construction is a Great time To Add Smarthome and Security System Capabilities!
Next, if you are considering a smarthome system for your newly constructed home, consult a security and smarthome expert to find out how to wire the home for this technology as well.
Electric wiring is done before dry walls and painting is done, so it makes sense to plan out the location of your wall units, security cameras and other technology so as not to ruin perfectly good and newly painted walls.
Our team at Strand Security works closely with Grand Strand contractors to ensure the best possible location for your home security system.
Save Time. Save Money. Get Security!
Why not save time and money when building a new home? We know from experience there are quite a few ‘hidden costs’ to building a new home. Why not save some from the start by being proactive and getting wiring done right?
What is your security worth to you?
After-School Home Safety Tips To Keep Families Safe and Protected
Kids are going back to school and that means parents who work outside of the home, will have help with caring for their kids after-school.
Whether it’s a babysitter, family member, neighbor or whether your child teenager is old enough to come home to an empty house, it’s important to go voer home safety rules every so often. Take the month of August to reevaluate your family safety plan.
Being aware of potential danger is the first stop to preventing harm!
The Ride (or Walk) Home
School bus safety and rules come from the school district. Take the time to go over the school bus rules with your child so that they know what to expect. It is important to tell your child(ren) to let you know that the ride to and from school isn’t safe any longer for a variety of reasons (bullying, unsafe driver, unruly students, heat or cold)
If you child walks home alone, or with a group of friends, make sure you have a system set up to check on them each day right after they arrive home. Go over the rules (no lingering, don’t bring friends home) so that you both know what to expect!
Kids Home Alone
When is your child ready to stay home alone after school? It depends on each child as well as the area you live in, technology you currently have installed in your home, the maturity level of the child and the state you live in (law)
Read more about how to know your child is safe to stay home alone after school.
If you think your child might be ready to be home alone without a babysitter or after-school care, read this!
Babysitters, Tutors and Neighbors, Oh My!
If you do need to give a babysitter, tutor or neighbor access to your home, it’s important to have a security system installed with a mobile app so that you can have a visual of what’s going on at home!
Hiring a babysitter should not stress you out , instead focus on creating a back-to-school family safety plan!
Strangers at the Door!
Tips about how to handle a stranger at the door, from a previous article here on the Strand Security Blog. We suggest you share the following with your teenager who might be home alone!
1 Take a look at the Stranger.
Try to get a look at who is knocking on your door. You may need to find a window in the house that makes your front door visible or use the peephole if you have one. You must have a way to see who is at the front door without opening it!
2 Keep Your Phone on You.
Have your phone visibly on you for the knocker to see. If a situation should occur you will have easy access to call 911.
3 Call Out to Someone in the House.
âCan someone get the door?â or  âIâll get itâ
Maybe you are alone but the knocking stranger does not have to know that! Make it evident that there are others in the house with you. This can deter any planned unwanted activities.
4 Do Not Ignore Them.
Sometimes the first reaction is to just ignore a strangerâs knock all together. However, in doing so, you are silently announcing that your house is empty and now is a good time to break in. So, it is better to say something no matter the time of day. A majority of break-ins occur during the day when people are thought to be at work.
5 Request Their Identity.
If a utility worker knocks at your door, ask for them to prove their identity with the company they work for. You can always call the subjectâs company to check if they have sent someone to your house.
6 Do Not Share Information.
Strangers may take advantage of you by saying they are in trouble, hurt or in need of help. As much as we all would like to help our fellow citizens, it may be a better choice to let them know you are calling 911 and help is on the way.
Technology can help in this situation! Read more about which devices can help here.
Cyber Safety at Home
THIS is the time to talk to your kids and teenagers about online safety: cyber security! Not when they start to act strange, not when they are upset, scared or sad. Talk to them before leaving them home alone for extended periods of time!
Cyber safety and security should take an important, prominent place in your back-to-school family safety plan.
Set rules, boundaries and check in often!
House Rules
Last but not least… house rules are house rules whether you are home as a parent, or not! Make sure you instill a sense of responsibility in your child or teenager, to build mutual trust. Respect goes both ways. Always be sure to tell the kids you’ll be checking the cameras remotely if they are home alone. They need to know you can see them or talk with them.
Safety rules about pool usage, opening doors for strangers or or operating dangerous tools are all important enough to warrant a frequent reminder!
Your house, your rules, and that includes rules for friends and rules for pets, too!
After-School Activities!
We wish you, your family, your kids a fantastic 2021-2022 school year. We are here to help you navigate it all. If you need smarthome solutions to keep your family safe, need (additional) security cameras, or a panic button for your employees or elderly parents, we can help you with all of that!
If you are thinking a home theater would be great to have at home, we can help with the design, installation and servicing for that as well! Just give us a call!
Control your Home Security with this Updated App | Honeywell
Summer Vacation, Here We Go!
As we write this article, springtime is quickly taken over by summer weather, and summer activities are here to stay for the next few months in South Carolina. Myrtle Beach is a great place to work and live and even if you don’t travel far to take a break, there are plenty of gorgeous places to visit on the Grand Strand.
Last year, during our 10th business anniversary, we highlighted South Carolina and the Grand Strand on grand scale! We love this community : we live and work right here alongside you, our customers.
Summer is one of the best times to ‘play’ and be out and about. But before you do, make a safety and security plan. There is no sense in going out to play only to come back to a home that’s been burglarized or vandalized!
Keeping an Eye On Your Home While On Vacation
In this recent blog article on the Strand Security blog, we gave our readers and customers 5 ways to prevent a break in while away on vacation. Preventing a crime is always better than a clean up afterwards.
A home invasion, or a burglary will bring forth all sorts of headache, least of all the feeling of your home and privacy being violated by criminals.
Take these 5 actionable tips before going away this summer!
Monitor a Home While On Vacation with a Mobile App
When you do go away this summer, due to a vacation (or an unexpected hurricane!), monitoring your home from any location will give you peace of mind.
In order to monitor your home, you will need security cameras installed – Strand Security is happy to consult with you on what type of cameras are best for your home, or business.
Wouldn’t you love to know what’s happening in-real-time in and around your home?
You can!
Get the New and Updated Honeywell Total Connect App
Isn’t it time to check out all you can do with the Honeywell Total Connect 2.0 App? Download it today to control and remotely manage your garage doors, thermostats, lights, locks, video doorbell, cameras, and more.
Do you have questions about Honeywell, smarthome technology or any other integration? Our doors are always open. We will be happy to help you monitor your home from afar, or we will monitor it for you!
How To Integrate Your Home and Your Car Systems for Security and Safety
Smarthome Technology for your… Car?
Say what? Can you really integrate your car alarm system with your home security system?
Yes, now you can with Alarm.com and the latest smarthome technology. The program is called ‘Connected Car’. Learn more about it here in this article!
Connect Your Home And Car System
Why would you want to connect your home and car systems? Well, let us count the reasons!
- Track a vehicle’s location
- View engine status
- Analyze fuel efficiency
- Connect car and home on one easy-to-use-app
Real Time Car Status
Want to know what is happening with your car, in your car and where it is?
Connected Car offers customers 24/7 awarenessâeven when the car is parked and the engine is offâthanks to a dedicated cellular connection and backup battery. Now when your elderly parent, the babysitter or your teenager drives the car, you have the data you need for peace of mind!
Driver Safety Alerts
Next, you can monitor your car as it drives. This is great for parents with a new teenaged driver, or an elderly parent, a nanny or if you are a business owner with a fleet of cars driven by employees. You can monitor speed, mileage, location and more.
Trust us, this will be worth every penny!
The Alarm.com Mobile App Connects It All!
Connected Car allows customers to easily track their vehicleâs location, monitor its diagnostic health and receive alerts for speeding, towing and moreâall from the Alarm.com mobile app.
APPLE: Download on the App store
ANDROID:Get it on Google Play
How Can You Get Connected Car from Alarm.com?
If you already have an Alarm.com system, it’s as easy as connecting with us at Strand Security. You need a car device that connects with your home system. Easy-peasy. let us know you want it and we will order and install it for you.
3 Valentine’s Day Tips To Secure Your Home While You Are Celebrating
Do You Have Plans for Valentine’s Day?
Happy Valentine’s Day! We wish you a wonderful day with the one you love. How will we spend Valentine’s Day? We will take time to be with our family!
Valentine’s Day is a great time to stop and thank those we love and those who have a daily impact on our lives.
At Strand Security, we love our customers, we love our staff and we love our community.
Valentine’s Day is a great time to let someone know you care. And what says ‘I care’ more than helping someone stay safe and secure? Here are 3 tips to secure your home while you are celebrating Valentine’s Day, or not!
 1. Don’t Announce Your Valentine’s Day Plans Online
It seems so simple! Yet many people, teenagers and adults, make this mistake: they will announce their plans to go somewhere, online! Criminals do monitor social media and someone might see your post and know you are away for the day or the evening!
Posting your Valentine’s Day plans online is just not a smart move. Instead, wait until you are home to post pictures or a status.
It’s a simple way to secure your home and we certainly don’t wish a burglary on anyone! Holidays are prime days for criminals: they know people are excited, distracted and often let their guard down. Don’t be that person that is targeted!
2. Arm your System When You Leave
If you have plans to go out and celebrate Valentine’s Day, please remember to do this one thing! Nothing will spoil your day or night quicker than coming home to a home that’s been burglarized!
Before you leave for the day or evening, remember to arm your system. It’s a simple thing to do but an equally simple thing to forget as you rush out the door to make it to a romantic dinner. đ
Arm your system before you leave and have a fantastic date, worry-free.
3. Arm Your System When You Stay In!
Now if you have prepared a lovely backyard Valentine’s Day dinner, or any other home cooked family meal, don’t forget to arm you home! If you are distracted and busy in the home, you still would want your home to be armed, especially if you are in the backyard, or occupied somewhere in the house not near a entrance way. It’s a good habit to get into: arm your home when you are home!
Valentine’s Day Is All About Love!
Nothing says “I love you” more than keeping those you love safe and sound and caring enough to to action.
If you do not have an alarm system in your home, we encourage you to consider the possibilities! Come talk to us and protect those you love.
Home Security Trends To Watch for in 2021
Happy 2021! While we may not all be happy where we are in this pandemic, at least we can say there seems to be a light at the end of the (long) tunnel.
The 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic has affected everything we do.
How and where we
- work
- learn
- shop
- live
The housing market is booming, and so is marketing, outdoor equipment sales and home improvement, just to name a few industries!
In contrasts, the airline industry is in trouble, along with travel and restaurants.
We are seeing new trends and new technology take hold because of the changed circumstances we live in. Today, we’d like to look at 4 home security trends to look for in 2021!
1. Increased Demand for Home Security in 2021
Indeed! This trends that started in 2020 due to the Pandemic will continue far into 2021. As people spend more time at home, they want to improve their home. Increased demand for home security systems will continue far into 2021. Combine this with the increased home sales as people move out of cities to new places due to the ability to work remote and you have a ‘perfect storm’ and more people looking to connect with a local home security company!
2. Increased Demand for Home Smarthome Technology
As we all continue to spend more time at home, we want smarthome technology! Why not, right? What does this mean? Automation for daily tasks, mostly.
Connecting things like your thermostat, lights, security system, security cameras, shades and audio system so that you can automate through programming, as well as use voice commands to complete tasks. Amazing and smart!
3. Demand for Simplicity and Integration of Smarthome Devices
While the demand for smarthome technology has increased, so has the demand for simpler ways to use and integrate these systems. As children, teenagers as well as elderly relatives are home alone more, the need to keep things simple is evident. Brands are looking to simplify technology with the end user in mind.
It has to be simple and easy to use. User-friendly apps, easy-to-read screens and technology integration for technologically challenged seniors are all ways brands are leaning into this trend.
4. Increased Demand for Health-Related Features To Combat Germs Spread
Last but not least, we continue to see an increased demand for health-related features in our home and home security systems, as well as commercial security systems. We’ve seen the need for increased voice-command features so we can be hands-free and germ-free and temperature screening solutions for businesses. As parents continue to work from home and children continue to learn at home, this demand shall continue to increase and evolve.
2021 Home Security Trends
While this is not a complete list, we are confident that these trends are on-point. Most likely we will see an increased demand in home security systems as more people are relocating. The Myrtle Beach and South Carolina Real Estate market has exploded. So many people who used to be geographically bound due to jobs, are now free to live wherever they wish. Many are choosing the Grand Strand for their new home.
We welcome you and your family!
How to Connect With the Right Home Security Company
Are You Looking for a Home Security Company?
When moving to a new town or state or when you purchase a new home, it might be time to find a home security company to help you navigate the security and safety concerns of your new home.
How do you go about vetting the many choices of home security companies to find the one that is right for you?
This article will give you a few tips to get you moving in the right direction. Ultimately, it’s up to you to find and connect with the best fit and the best company to protect your home and family!
Connecting with the Right Home Security Company
When it’s time to choose a home security company to install and maintain your security system, understand you should always focus more attention on customers service and brand quality, than on price.
Ultimately, just about anyone with a screwdriver can hang a security camera – but it’s the knowledge and years of experience that will tell a professional where to hang that camera and to what system to connect it, as well as diagnose system failures or service interruptions.
Connecting with the right security company means connecting with a company that is interested and invested in your community and will serve your community for years to come.
Here is how we would start a search to connect with the right home security company.
1 Research ‘Local Home Security Company’ Online
Before leaving your home, and don’t we all want to avoid that these days, start your research online. Google ‘local home security company’ and add your location if needed.
Look for websites, Google reviews, social media presence, online reviews and images.
Create a list of several local home security companies.
2 Ask For Referrals from Friends and Neighbors
Next, ask your friends and neighbors for referrals. Don’t just ask ‘Who do you use?’ but ask them questions about WHY they picked that local business and what they love about working with them. Ask them what services they’ve contracted for and how responsive that company is when an emergency arises!
3 Keep an Eye Out for Service Vehicles and Signs in your Area
Last but not least, keep an eye out for service vehicles in your neighborhood. When you take your dog for a walk, try to find signs. When you take a bike ride with your family, look for those service vehicles. take note of which ones are helping your neighbors with their home security needs!
4 Pick Up The Phone and Call
Now that you have developed a list of potential local home security companies you want to give your business to, pick up the phone and call! There is no substitute for a phone call inquiring about services!
You will know pretty quickly if you are getting what is ‘advertised’ so to speak!
Does a human answer the phone? If you got the answering service or a machine, how quickly, if at all, was your call returned? Did you get answers to your questions and a friendly human on the line? Move this company to the top of your list!
5 Prioritize Your Needs and Wishes
Once you have a top 3 of local home security companies you potentially want to work with, make a list of services you need now, and additional services they offer that you are interested in for a future project.
That could includes additional services like
- smarthome systems
- central vacuum
- security cameras
- commercial security
- home theater installation
- and more!
Choose Locally Owned and Locally Operated!
One more point to drive home. We highly recommend asking each potential business if they are locally owned and locally operated. Supporting your local businesses in 2021 is more important than ever.Â
If you are in the Myrtle Beach area, in Horry County or in Georgetown County, we invite your to give us a call!
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