Just Bought a House with Vivint? Here is Everything You Need to Know
Just moved into a house with Vivint? Learn how to activate the system, get a pin code, pricing plans, what features are included, and whether the equipment is yours to keep.
Congratulations on your new home purchase! If your house came equipped with a Vivint smart security system, you're already on the right path towards protecting your new home.
Navigating the next steps with an existing Vivint setup can feel overwhelming. Should you activate the system? Throw it away? Do I need to give the system back to Vivint?
I'll cover everything new homeowners need to know about the existing system including pricing, ownership, features, and finally how to get the system up and running.
The Previous Home Owners Left Behind the Vivint Panel and Equipment
First, check to see which panel you have. The latest panel that vivint offers is the Smart Hub panel (featured above). It's possible you might have the Sky Control Panel which is similar to the Smart Hub panel, but it's all white.
If it's any other panel, Vivint will require you to buy a new panel. But if you have either the Smart Hub panel or Sky Control panel then you are in luck!
You may be wondering "Is this equipment mine to keep? Or does Vivint need this back?". The good news is that it's yours to keep! So what you do next is up to you.
This means you can either reach out to Vivint to set up the system or toss it in the trash. I'd recommend keeping it since the hardware cost can be between $600-$2,000 range. That is what everyone ordering the system brand new must pay.
If you're shocked by that price tag just know that Vivint is like the Apple of alarm systems. It has both great hardware and software, but that does come with a price. Fortunately for you won't have to pay that.
Lastly since you are only turning on the existing Vivint system, it's month-to-month services. No contract. All you would pay is just your first month to get it up and running. It's one of the better deals in home automation.
How Do I Get Activate the Vivint System and Get a Pin Code?
Here is what you'll need to do in order to get your account set up and get a pin code.
- Phone Vivint at (833) 606-2573 and press 1 to speak to sales (in order to use the system or get pin code you must be a customer)
- Give the sales rep your address for them to search for the old account
- Once they find the old account, they can tell you want is installed and discuss the features of the system with you
- To start the services, you'll need to pay your first month usually between $29.99 – $49.99 per month (no contract) with the rep over the phone
- The sales rep will then schedule another phone call with the panel activation team to remotely activate the service, set up your account info, and set up a pin code to use the system.
Once the system is set up, you'll have access to the 24/7 professional monitoring services, access to the app on the phone, as well as any other features with the Vivint system such as video, doorlocks etc.
The good news is that when you set up an existing system, you won't have a contract. You'll also save good amount of money since you don't have the buy the hardware too.
Due to security reasons, Vivint will not give out the old pin code from the previous account owner.
If you don't want to use the system, but still need the pin code then your best bet will be to reach out to the previous owners. Otherwise, you'll need to reach Vivint or visit their website here to start the services to get the pin. Since it is month to month, you can always cancel the service after getting your pin if you really don't see yourself using it.
How Much Is the Monthly Price to Just Activate It?
Vivint has three different pricing plans for their services.
| Plan | Price | | --------------------------------- | --------- | | Monitoring w/ App | $29.99/mo | | Monitoring + Smart Home | $39.99/mo | | Monitoring + Smart Home + Cameras | $49.99/mo |
They are $29.99, $39.99, and $49.99 per month. The $29.99 covers basic alarm monitoring to police, fire, and medical. This will also cover the app on your phone. For $39.99 per month, you can have everything that $29.99 covers, but also control any home automation items left behind from the app too.
If you'd like to do an account upgrade to a higher tier later, that's easy just reach Vivint support at any time.
This means that if they have an automatic lock or thermostat, then you can now control that from the app on your phone. Finally for $49.99, you can control everything including the video feeds. This will give you access to view live video from your smartphone wherever you are at as long as you have cell phone service.
I do want to point out that their services are month to month. Most companies require a 3 year contract or make you pay hundreds of dollars upfront. If you have Vivint in your home already then you can cancel the services anytime without penalty. This makes it the best deal in home security assuming that all the equipment is in there.
You can see all vivint pricing plans here.
What Features Are Included in the System?
Vivint comes standard with 24/7 professional installation support and alarm services to police, fire, and medical regardless of what plan you choose. Every Vivint system also comes with the vivint panel and sensors.
Below is a quick breakdown of the different types of sensors.
- Entry/window sensors
- Motion Sensors
- Glass Break Sensors
- Garage Sensors
- Flood Sensors
- Smoke Detectors
In addition to the sensors, there are three different options that they offer which are the outdoor camera pro, indoor, and doorbell. These are professionally installed by a technician. So if you are wanting to add more to your Vivint system you can reach them at (833) 606-2573.
Lastly there is the smart home devices. Here is a broken down list.
- Thermostat
- Automatic Lock
- Light Switches
- Smart Plugs
All of those devices connect to the system and can be controlled by the app. Their software also gives you the ability to be able to set up different automations throughout the house. For example, you can set up a bed time automation where every night at 10PM the system locks up, arms the alarm, and turns off the lights.
Can I Use Vivint Equipment Without Monitoring?
Yes, you can use Vivint equipment without monitoring.However, you cannot use the app or account login on your phone and there will be no active services. You can still arm and disarm the alarm, and have it set up to automate things such as a lock or thermostat whenever you leave.
If someone were to try and break in while the system is armed, it will sound the siren but will not call the police.
You will need the 4 digit pin code to arm and disarm the alarm. You can contact the previous home owners to ask them what it was. However, if you reach Vivint they will not give that info away for obvious reasons. So if you can't get in contact with the previous home owners, you can reach Vivint to start the system for one month, get a new pin code, and then just cancel the services after that.
Their services are month to month so they will have to give you a pin code once it's activated, but you can just cancel it after that and the pin code will still work.
Is the Equipment Mine to Keep?
If you bought the house and the devices are still in there, then they are yours to keep. If the previous customer failed to move the hardware with them and still owes money on it then they will have to settle it with Vivint. Vivint does not go back for it's devices if a person defaults on their payment.
If the customer had notified Vivint before, they would have asked them to move the panel to their new location along with some of the smart items. Normally they give them new Vivint sensors at the new place.
Can I Add on Extra Equipment to My House Like Cameras?
Yes, you can add on any extra equipment that Vivint offers after the services are activated. They will have you pay upfront for the item and then send a tech out for professional installation. If you want over $600 worth of hardware, then you can finance that amount at 0% APR if you qualify. Then they will just roll the monthly bill into your payment kinda of like a cell phone plan.
I Accidentally Triggered the Alarm, How Do I Turn It Off?
If you accidentally set the alarm off and you don't have the pin code there isn't too much you can do. The only thing you can do is to remove the panel from the wall and then remove the back battery. This will get the panel to turn off and shut the siren down. If the system is not being monitored then you don't have to worry about the police coming.
Here is a guide to removing the panel and taking out the battery
You can sometimes try the code 1234, 2468, or 2580 to turn the system off because lots of times that is what people leave their code as. It is not a guarantee that it will work though!
If you want to start the services and get support, you can contact vivint using (833) 606-2573 or visit their website.
Vivint vs. Other Home Security Systems
Vivint is top of the line in home security with both great hardware and software. It comes with all the bells and whistles that you would hope for in alarm systems and just simply works out of the box exactly like you would expect it too.
However, if you don't want Vivint then I'd either recommend Cove or ADT.
Cove is a newer company with affordable hardware and services. However, their price point for both devices and monthly pricing is a great value. The system is really affordable, but still good quality and the same goes for their services. The only catch is that it's all DIY. So there is no professional installation. Pricing for the system is around $300 and their monthly cost is around $30 per month.
ADT is Vivint's top competitor. They offer similar services and hardware quality. Their monthly starts at around $49.99 per month if you pay for the system up front similar buying costs.
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