Fed up with ADT, Vivint, or another Reno alarm company? Scott Ferguson at Kiwi Alarms personally manages your entire transition — contract cancellation, permit transfer, new installation, and monitoring — with zero stress on your end.
Most national alarm companies operating in Reno — ADT, Vivint, Ring — use multi-year contracts, typically 36 to 60 months, with automatic renewal clauses buried in the fine print. Many Reno homeowners don't realize they've been auto-renewed until they try to leave.
The most common contract traps to watch for: early termination fees that can run 75–100% of remaining months, 30-day written cancellation notice requirements, and equipment ownership clauses that mean the hardware on your walls belongs to them — not you.
The good news: these fees are often negotiable, especially if you have documented service complaints, are close to your contract end date, or if the company has raised your rates since signing. Call Scott before you do anything — he's helped dozens of Reno homeowners navigate this without paying unnecessary fees.
Typically 36-month contracts. 30-day written cancellation required. Equipment generally owned by ADT. Rate increases common after year one.
60-month contracts standard. Equipment financing often tied to the contract. One of the harder companies to exit early in Reno.
Month-to-month monitoring — easiest to leave. Equipment is yours. Main issue is monitoring quality gaps vs. professional Brinks monitoring.
No long-term contracts — month-to-month monitoring. Equipment is customer-owned. Easiest transition of the major providers. Main limitation is self-monitored gaps vs. professional Brinks coverage.
Scott installs your new system first — same day in most cases. Then he helps you cancel the old service, so you're never left unprotected.
Tell Scott who you're currently with, roughly how long you've been a customer, and what's frustrating you. He'll give you honest advice on your situation — including whether it makes sense to act now or wait out your contract.
Scott installs your new Kiwi Alarms system first — no waiting for your old service to be cancelled. Most Reno and Sparks installs are done the same day you call. You're protected from day one.
After your new system is live, Scott walks you through cancelling your old service — or handles the conversation with you. He knows the retention scripts ADT and Vivint use and what actually works to get out cleanly.
Scott handles the Reno or Sparks alarm permit update so you're always compliant. Brinks Home Security monitoring is already live from install day. You're fully covered — with a real local person to call if anything comes up.
This is the step most DIY switchers forget — and it's the one that creates problems down the line. Both the City of Reno and the City of Sparks require your alarm permit to reflect your current monitoring provider.
If your permit still shows ADT or Vivint after you've switched, you're technically operating an unregistered alarm. False alarm fines in Reno start at $100 per incident for unregistered systems — compared to a warning for registered ones.
Kiwi Alarms handles the permit transfer paperwork as part of every installation at no extra charge. You don't fill out a single form.
Reno requires a registered alarm permit for all monitored residential and commercial systems. Annual renewal required. False alarm fines apply to unregistered systems. Scott handles the transfer as part of your installation.
Reno Alarm Permit Portal →Sparks has its own separate permit system — independent from Reno. If you live in Sparks, your permit is through the City of Sparks, not Reno. Scott knows the difference and handles whichever applies to your address.
Sparks Alarm Permit Portal →Every Kiwi Alarms system is installed personally by Scott and monitored by Brinks Home Security. Here's what that means day to day.
Industry-leading 24/7 professional monitoring with fast emergency dispatch and cellular backup.
No hold music. No ticket numbers. Text or call 775-247-7782 and you're talking to the owner — the person who installed your system and knows it by heart.
Control your alarm, locks, thermostat, and cameras from the Alarm.com app. Remote arm/disarm, real-time alerts, and full event history from anywhere.
The price Scott quotes is the price you pay. No installation day surprises, no annual rate hikes, no equipment rental fees buried in the monthly bill.
Scott installs your new system first — before you've even cancelled the old one — so you're never left unprotected. Most Reno and Sparks customers are live and monitored the same day they call.
Scott has been living in Reno since 2005 and working in the alarm and security industry since 2006. Kiwi Alarms is his locally owned company — and his reputation depends on every single install. That's a different level of accountability than a national franchise.
"We were stuck in an ADT contract and Scott talked us through the whole cancellation process. Had our new system installed the same week. Night and day difference."
"He installed our system the same day we called. No surprises, no sales fluff — just solid service. Wish we'd switched from Vivint sooner."
"Scott handled everything — even helped me figure out I wasn't actually in a contract anymore. Saved me from paying a fee I didn't owe. Incredibly honest guy."
Straight answers about contracts, cancellations, and what comes next.
It depends on your contract. Most ADT and Vivint contracts have early termination fees, but these are often negotiable — especially if you have service complaints, are near your contract end date, or the company raised your rates after signing. Call Scott at 775-247-7782 before doing anything. He'll give you an honest read on your options.
Call ADT's cancellation line and provide your account details. Most contracts require 30 days written notice. ADT's retention team will offer a lower rate — be prepared for that. Get everything confirmed in writing before ending the call. Scott can walk you through the exact language to use before you make the call.
Yes — both Reno and Sparks require alarm permits that reflect your current monitoring provider. Kiwi Alarms handles the permit update as part of every installation at no extra charge. Skipping this step can result in false alarm fines for unregistered systems.
Sometimes. If your sensors and panel are Alarm.com compatible, some equipment may be reusable with the Brinks monitoring platform. Scott will assess what you have during the free consultation and give you an honest answer — he has no incentive to replace equipment that works fine.
Scott installs your new system first — same day in most cases for Reno and Sparks customers — so you're never left unprotected between providers. He then walks you through cancelling your old service after the new system is live. You can be fully switched and monitored the same day you call.
Scott regularly helps Reno homeowners switch from ADT, Vivint, Ring Alarm, SimpliSafe, and other national alarm providers. He has experience with most major systems and can advise on the transition regardless of who you're currently with.
No sales pitch. No pressure. Just an honest conversation about your current contract and whether switching makes sense right now. If it doesn't, he'll tell you that too.