House Alarm

Sith-Smith

Apologies if this is the wrong forum to post this question.

I've finally (after two years of looking) bought a house. Before moving stuff in I want to get an alarm fitted. Any ideas on the best/cheapest way of doing this?

So far I've had Banham security round. They've quoted about £950 installation and £250 yearly running costs/maintenance.

BEAR

sounds mega expensive when you can get a basic system for £300 and add on extra sensorrs and a 2 year guarantee
will this be on a police connection? ( usually £25 a month for average system)

and a routine maintenance visit is £45 plus vat

batteries will need replacing every few years

(i do the accounts for an alarm company...cant help with anything techie tho)

Sith-Smith

Thanks for the response

It included £150 in maintenane a year and the rest is for tsomething they call 'Keyholders' In case of an alarm, they'll contact someone on a designated list to go to the house and check.

dodgydl

This quote does sound expensive to me too. I would shop around for a few other quotes.
Rather than the cost of a monthly connection to the police or the "keyholders" thing why dont you have a speed-dial fitted to the alarm. We had one fitted to our alarm - cost £200 fitted by an approved installer but that is a one off cost. You can programme up to 8 phone numbers into it and if the alarm goes off in calls the numbers in order you have set to alert you. If one number does not answer it goes to the next number until the call is answered (recordable message to inform that alarm has been activated)
That way you can either check your house yourself for intruders, have a relative or friend check or call the police direct yourself.