Burglary is a major worry for most homeowners. From protecting your belongings to keeping your loved ones safe, the risk of burglary is a huge motivator to improving one’s home safety and security. Within the last year, there were over 407,000 domestic burglaries reported to the UK police. It is therefore no wonder why many people are wanting to install a burglar alarm in their homes. But how to choose a burglar alarm installer? It can be hard to know who to trust, so we’ve put together an easy guide on the things you need to consider when choosing a burglar alarm installer.
How do I choose a burglar alarm installer?
There are a lot of burglar alarm installers out there. It can therefore be hard to know who to trust and which one you can rely on to install your home burglar alarm. Here are the main things to look out for when choosing an installer:
Legitimacy
Firstly, how legitimate does the company look? Do they have an up-to-date website and social media pages? Can you find a registered address or head office? Although these things alone don’t guarantee a reputable burglar alarm installer, they do aid in the search for a reliable company to do the job.
Accreditations
There are some key accreditations to look out for when choosing a burglar alarm installer. We recommend you choose a company with a National Security Inspectorate (NSI) accreditation. NSI approval is the hallmark of excellence within the security industry. When installers acquire this certification, it guarantees that they have passed the necessary audits and are in line with the most stringent industry standards. Approval lets you as a customer know that the company is technically competent, is professional and has acquired certain certifications, and can be trusted due to having reputable leaders at the head of the company with proper employee screening processes in place. NSI Gold is the highest level of NSI accreditation, which we encourage you to look out for when choosing a burglar alarm installer.
Experience
A company with lots of experience shows that they have received repeat business and have the knowledge and expertise needed for installing burglar alarms in homes to a high level. Although a company just starting out could still provide a good service, a company with over 30 years of experience in the home security industry are a more reliable choice, and are likely to be able to provide further advice on the state of your home’s security.
Read Reviews
There’s no better way to get a sense of a burglar alarm installer than reading some reviews about the company. Word of mouth is a powerful tool and can be useful to evaluate if the installer could be a good option for you. Check to see if the company has a Trust Pilot page or anything written about them on Google Reviews. Alternatively, checking out the comments on their social media pages can also be useful to gauge what their customers have to say about them.
Speak to Them
After you’ve carried out a bit of background research on the burglar alarm installer, we recommend getting in touch. You’ll probably be able to get a good sense of their customer service, as well as their knowledge and expertise, giving you a good, or bad, feeling about them.
Why is it important to use a professional burglar alarm installer?
It’s important to use a professional burglar alarm installer as it can guarantee that the burglar alarm is installed properly. If a burglar alarm is not installed properly then it might not work efficiently, which could jeopardise your home security, as well as result in unwanted false alarms.
When your burglar alarm is professionally installed, it also guarantees that all the necessary safety checks have been carried out and that the system has been professionally commissioned. Not only does this make the system safe to use, but it also means that in the unlikely event of the system entering an issue, the security provider is responsible.
Can I install a burglar alarm myself?
Nothing is stopping you from purchasing a burglar alarm and installing it yourself. However, it is not recommended and could lead to injury, as well as a non-effectively working burglar alarm. A professional installer will use qualified engineers to install the alarm system, who have the required electrical knowledge for installing burglar alarms. There are some DIY burglar alarm models on the market, however, these are usually reasonably simple and arguably not as effective as a high-quality, professional system.
How much does it cost to have a burglar alarm installed professionally?
The cost of getting a burglar alarm installed professionally can vary with each installer. It’s important to note, that as well as the burglar alarm components, you will also need to pay for the labour cost of getting it installed. However, this added labour cost ensures your system is installed properly and to the required industry standards, extending the lifespan of the system.
Costs may also vary depending on what type of system you have installed and the size of your property. A large home will need more components within the alarm system to cover the square footage, and will therefore be more costly. For an accurate cost, we recommend getting in touch with an installer and getting a direct quote for the installation.
What alarm should I choose?
Your chosen burglar alarm company should help you decide which type of burglar alarm is right for your home, helping to find a solution that also works for your budget and security requirements.
Once I get in touch with an installer, what will happen next?
Once you get in touch with an installer, you will want to understand what burglar alarm system they would recommend and how much it will cost. Most installers will provide you with a free quote after asking a few questions about your security needs and your property. They may also ask to carry out a site survey of your home.
Can Homewatch install home burglar alarms?
Yes, Homewatch has over 30 years of experience in home security and installing burglar alarms. We are also NSI Gold accredited, meaning we work to the highest industry standards and can guarantee a high level of work, as well as 5* customer service. You can also check out our Trust Pilot page to see what our customers say about our work. Once you get in touch, we’ll provide you with a free, no-obligation quotation.
Simply call us on 0330 094 7404 or email us here.
