Describe the task before choosing the model
List what needs attention, when it occurs and whether it requires an officer to stay in place. A reception desk that must verify arrivals throughout a shift presents a different assignment from periodic checks of a closed property. Do not start with a fixed officer count or assume that a patrol vehicle means continuous presence. Ask the provider to explain how each proposed task fits the staffing model and the hours purchased.
Make patrol expectations explicit
For a patrol proposal, ask what a visit includes, how completion is documented and how access problems or urgent observations are escalated. Clarify whether any response service is included and what limitations apply. Avoid inferring a guaranteed arrival time from general marketing language. Keep detailed routes and visit timing private. A report confirming a completed visit documents that attendance; it does not establish what happened between visits.
Define the dedicated post
For a staffed post, specify the location, shift hours, priority duties and relief arrangements. Decide what happens when a task would take the officer away from the post. For example, a warehouse gate assignment and a separate perimeter check may compete for the same person’s time. Ask whether the proposed staffing can cover both duties under the agreed operating conditions, or whether the scope or staffing needs to change.
Consider a combination only when the scope supports it
A property may need a staffed entrance during operating hours and agreed checks after closing. Document each part separately, including responsibility at the transition. A combined model is not automatically cheaper or more protective. Its suitability depends on the actual tasks, property conditions and available service. Review the coverage plan with the people responsible for operations and risk before committing.
Use a comparison worksheet
Put the same questions beside both options: when is an officer present, which duties are included, who handles exceptions, what evidence is delivered and how are changes priced? Mark any unconfirmed service level as pending. Ask for a written explanation of tradeoffs rather than relying on broad claims about deterrence. No coverage model guarantees prevention of loss. For wider business-preparedness planning, Ready Business provides separate planning resources; it does not endorse this comparison or a particular security product.
Copyable planning checklist
- Tasks requiring continuous attendance identified
- Visit scope or dedicated post hours stated
- Relief and conflicting duties addressed
- Incident escalation and any response terms confirmed
- Reporting evidence and recipients agreed
- Coverage gaps and exclusions understood
Sources and scope
Ready Business: broader preparedness resources. Official resources accessed September 29, 2026. Agency links are references, not endorsements of GTS. The checklist is original planning material, not an official form.
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