When You Should Go With A Pro
Have you been wondering if you should hire a professional security system installer or just do it yourself? Well, there are a few factors you should consider before making this important and rather costly decision. So let's dive head first into the entire subject shall we?
How big is your property?
If you have a larger home with even larger grounds, you should most likely opt for a professional instillation. The reasoning for this is that having a large property means that you'll need a LOT more cameras and sensors around your house, this requires more wiring which in turn translates into long hours. The sensors and cameras also have to be strategically placed around your house to provide you with optimal security so unless you're a whiz-kid or have a fairly small property than it may be a smart decision to go with the pros.
What kind of system do you want?
If you've chosen to go with a hard-wired system and your home is not pre-wired then its best to call a professional installer. Unless of course, you are very handy with tools and electrical work and aren't afraid of electrocuting yourself and stuff like that.
It would also be a good idea to go with a professional if you're interested in having you're home monitored. Monitoring your own home while at work or on vacation is not easy or fun in any way. Does it sound like it would be? Having a pro monitor your house for you is very stress free and requires you to do nothing but answer your phone when they call you about suspicious activity. That's it, set it and forget it!
Do you want a VSS (video surveillance system) installed?
If you decide that you want a video surveillance system, you should probably at least consult a professional before making any decisions. These types of systems require some craft wiring and are usually pretty expensive.
How handy are you?
Are you good with tools? What about electrical work? Do you have a day or two free to spend wiring up your entire property? You should ask yourself these questions before deciding on whether to go pro or not. Installing your own system requires a lot of time and a good amount of electrical work, so if your not comfortable with wiring and don't have much time its probably a good idea to hire a professional. It might sound like fun when you're bragging about it to your spouse or significant other, but once you're three hours in surrounded by wires as well, just make sure you WANT what you wish for.
How big is your budget?
This is probably the most important question and is the deal breaker for most people when deciding on whether to go pro or not. Professional systems are relatively more expensive than do it yourself systems and are a lot less time consuming, convenient, and secure. So if you have the money, I highly recommend going with a professionally installed system. It may put a dent in your wallet but in the end its better than putting a dent in your head thanks to an electrical surge charge.