The cost of installing a new home security system

Having a security system in place makes your home much safer. A home security system’s primary purpose is to be a deterrent but it will also help with burglar identification. Installing a home security system, therefore, has no downsides apart from the cost. The cost of installing a new home security system can be quite significant, depending on the size of your home, whether you are hiring one of the top home security companies to install it for you, and a variety of other factors. In a nutshell, you can expect to pay anywhere between $0 and $2,000. This article is going to walk you through the factors that determine how much your home security system will cost.

Factors that make up the cost of installing a new home security system

The cost of a home security system is determined mostly through the following factors:

• Equipment
• Monthly cost
• Activation and installation
• Wiring

If you want to burglar-proof your home on a budget, it is possible to install and activate the home security system on your own, as well as opt out of any monthly fees. The only thing you will need to pay for is the equipment and possibly the necessary installation tools. However, you will be putting in some of your own time to install the system, as well. Depending on your line of work, it might actually be cheaper to hire professionals. With this in mind, let’s take a look at how these factors influence the final price of your home security system.

Equipment

No two pre-made home security systems are identical. All of them feature different equipment. Some systems even utilize different types of home security cameras to cover a broad range of homes. Other systems will allow you to select the equipment on your own, making them highly flexible. With this in mind, the cost of installing a new home security system is directly related to the number, type, and quality of its equipment.

On its own, the equipment actually is less than 50% of the total cost of the home security system. Most of the time, you will be able to get everything you need for a decent security system for around $200 to $400. That being said, you can easily triple that number if you want to add more sophisticated equipment or additional security cameras, motion sensors, and the like. Lastly, some home security system companies offer free equipment if you sign a contract with them.

The best way to figure out exactly how much your equipment will cost is to design the system first and then go shopping for devices. That way, you will be able to mix and match the necessary equipment to fit your desired budget while reaping the benefits of investing in your home security. You don’t even need to design the security system on your own, you can always ask for professional advice. Most of the time, this advice will be free of charge. But some companies might ask for a nominal fee.

Monthly cost

The best home security systems have professional monitoring. But to take advantage of professional monitoring, you are expected to pay a monthly fee. Since this is a feature that you definitely want to at least consider, it is worth knowing how much these fees are. On average, the monthly monitoring cost is around $25, with some companies charging as low as $10 and some going as high as $50. The monthly cost depends on the amount of equipment that is being monitored, as well as the service type. Advanced services cost more, of course.

It is entirely possible to install your own home security system (more on that soon) and have it monitored by a professional monitoring company. But one of the risks of DIY home security installation is the fact that some companies will refuse to monitor systems that they haven’t installed. And there’s always the possibility that if anything unfortunate happens that your DIY installation will take the blame. Even so, many people choose to install their own home security systems and then search for a professional monitoring company. Most of the time, this solution works exactly as it should.

Installation and activation costs

Most people do not have the time to learn how to install a home security system on their own. Therefore, they rely on professionals to install the system for them. Installation costs are usually determined by the number of devices, the ease of installation, as well as the security system type. Wired systems are generally more expensive to install, as they require additional work around the home. On average, the costs to install a wired home security system are usually three times higher than the costs of installing a wireless system.

As for the activation, you can expect to set you back anywhere between $0 and $100. Some home security system providers do not charge activation fees while others include them in installation fees. And if you were installing the system on your own, expect that you will need to pay a higher activation fee if you want it professionally monitored.

There can also be additional costs. For example, you may want to try and improve the privacy of your home at some point while you are installing the security system. And that means additional expenses. Professionals usually charge around $100-$200 for a simple, wireless, installation but some companies might waive the installation fees if you sign a monitoring contract with them. Your security system’s wiring determines much of the installation costs, in fact. Let’s take a look at exactly how the wiring influences the overall cost of installing a new home security system.

On average, the cost of installation will range between $120 and $600.

Wiring

Home security systems come in two options: Wired or wireless. There are advantages to both. Wired home security systems offer cheaper equipment and easier maintenance but they come with additional installation costs. Wired systems are also not susceptible to hackers. Lastly, wired systems are ideal for areas that have a bad cellular connection. As for the cost, it depends on the amount of drilling and wiring that it takes to install a home security system. If all you need is a single camera, the difference in cost between a wired and a wireless system would not be significant. You will pay less for the camera and more for the installation.

On average, wired home security systems cost anywhere between $800 and $1,600.

Wireless

Wireless home security systems, on the other hand, are touted as being the “latest and greatest” when it comes to home security trends. The wireless home security camera market went over $5,000,000,000 in 2021! With internet coverage being vastly improved in the last couple of years, wireless home security systems have been steadily rising in prominence. Wireless systems usually have smart capabilities and offer numerous quality-of-life improvements. For example, you can have your home security system turn lights on and off at given times, control the temperature inside the home, and lock/unlock the doors for you. Of course, the entire system is controlled by the user, there is no AI involved.

One of the main advantages of wireless home security systems is the fact that potential burglars can’t simply cut the phone line and disable the entire thing. It is also much easier to install a wireless home security system due to the fact that there is no wiring required. This means no holes, no repairs, etc. All of this would clearly indicate that the cost of installing a wireless home security system is much lower. That would be true if it weren’t for the fact that wireless equipment costs are significantly higher.

On average, a wireless home security system will cost you anywhere between $200 and $2,000. 

The cost of installing a new home security system – DIY vs Professional Installation

When it comes to the cost of DIY installation vs professional installation, there is much more to look at than the installation costs themselves. It also depends on the fact whether you will be monitoring the system on your own. Going without professional monitoring will, of course, lower the costs. But while you can get alert notifications on your phone, you will need to contact the authorities yourself. Most people choose to go with professional monitoring as it offers additional safety.

With that in mind, what you need to do is calculate the savings of DIY installation and compare them to activation costs. Try to find a monitoring company that will not charge you an activation fee for your DIY system to keep the cost of installing a new home security system low. That way, you can maximize the gain from your DIY installation. But for the most part, it is better to leave the installation to the professionals.

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