Question about Brinks

[jeremy_ho@xxxxxxxxxxx (jj3000)]

When I bought my house the previous owner had brinks disconnected the
monitoring service. But of course in such a way that it won't work as
a standalone, and require a sales person to activate and try to sell
me a monitoring contract with it.

I don't know the model of the alarm (I can check if needed) but some
questions:

1) I have a "detached garage" (but wall attached to house) garage is a
seperate door away from the house, but it is also wired up to the
alarm.   When I arm the alarm, the exit sequence is, exit front door,
close lock front door, open garage door, close garage door and lock
(from inside garage).  Will it work properly?  I am not sure while the
alarm is arming it will detect door shutting and opening, or does it
only trigger after the time ran out, and a door remain open?

2) Is it possible to have the arm time to be, say 3 minutes and disarm
time to be 1 minute?  I would like lots of time to exit the house but
when I come back/or break in I would like it to sound sooner.
Although.. it would probably take me as long to enter the house as I
exit so it might be a moot point.

3) finally service about the contract.. the sales guy told me after
the 2 or 3 year monitoring service contract, if I discontinue the
monitoring service, the alarm will work as a standalone. Would he be
lying about this?  I am afraid after the contract is over and I don't
renew the monitoring, the alarm will revert to the state of error
("call 1-800...")  like it is now.

4) Is this the only way I can make my alarm functional and work as a
standalone, is to get the monitoring service for a couple of years?  I
am thinking a working alarm (either standalone or monitoring) is an
asset to have and since it is already installed there is no reason for
me to rip it all out install another system.
Especially say, if I sell my house, I will have a brinks system that
is working as a standalone, but it is also capable of the monitoring
service if the buyer choose to.  Isn't it more attractive than what I
have now, with is a non-working alarm that requires signing up for a
monitoring contract?

I do like the monitoring service for a peace of mind and might even
have the service indefinitely; but I would like to know if others have
similar experience.  It seems this is the only way to take "ownership"
of the alarm (as in getting it to work)

thanks in advance.