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Home Alarm System - DIY or Fitted recommendations..

Hi All,

I am due to move house very soon, it's a relatively safe area and I've noticed half the homes on my new estate have alarms and half don't. I've decided to go ahead with an alarm, but am wondering how easy it is to fit one yourself. It's a new build so no previous alarm and I'd like to go wireless to avoid needing to run cables all over the house. If anyone has any experience of setting up there own wireless alarms and how easy it was I'd be really interested to know. Is it easy enough to do yourself or would you recommend leaving it to the experts? Any specific alarm brands/systems that you'd recommend?
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Comments

  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Wireless alarms are easy to install yourself but will only put off casual or opportunistic intruders. A serious burgler will have ways of getting past them. a Wired in system with battery back up is the most secure.
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
  • wymondham
    wymondham Posts: 6,356 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Mortgage-free Glee!
    Are you looking to get reduced insurance? If so you'll need a pro fitted system...
  • Kat88
    Kat88 Posts: 60 Forumite
    I'm not sure what a pro fitted system is? Not really fussed about doing it for reduced insurance, more so for safety. I don't completely understand why a wired system is more secure than a wireless?
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,496 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If you get an expensive professionally fitted & maintained system you can get a discount on your home insurance. With our home insurance it would have to be a discount of about 500% to make it worthwhile.

    The theory is that Mr Burglar can block or interfere with the radio signal from your detectors to your control panel. I wouldn't worry about it unless you have lots of expensive stuff & very determined & knowledgeable burglars.
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • rich13348
    rich13348 Posts: 840 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Also if you have an alarm and make a claim on your insurance there can be a hefty excess to pay.
  • tired_dad
    tired_dad Posts: 637 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    depending on the amount of contents insured, your insurer may insist on a certified alarm instal. These usually come with a service contract.
  • Risteard
    Risteard Posts: 2,000 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Really you should be having the alarm installed in compliance with BS EN 50131, which will not be a DIY job and will also require annual servicing.
  • brightontraveller
    brightontraveller Posts: 1,379 Forumite
    edited 13 July 2015 at 3:27AM
    Kat88 wrote: »
    I'm not sure what a pro fitted system is? Not really fussed about doing it for reduced insurance, more so for safety. I don't completely understand why a wired system is more secure than a wireless?
    [FONT=&quot]There are a few reasons but the main signal interference / jamming deliberate or not? [FONT=&quot]W[/FONT]ireless are often battery powered and as such people are to lazy etc to change them when [FONT=&quot]needed[/FONT]...[/FONT]
    Alarms/security tends to be either a visual attempt to scare mr burglar away or covert smart water, hidden cams etc neither really stop anyone..... Best is to fit dead locks to doors, locks to windows, don’t leave doors/ windows open,.net curtains to stop prying eyes, Join neighborhood watch and probably best buy a dog… Some people mark there goods, note all the serial numbers etc some don’t want there old tat back and just want to claim for lots of shiny new things so the last is personal preference…. If its not for insurance then wireless are fine as a visual...
  • Xeorix
    Xeorix Posts: 385 Forumite
    Risteard wrote: »
    Really you should be having the alarm installed in compliance with BS EN 50131, which will not be a DIY job and will also require annual servicing.

    This. To get a proper discount on your home insurance you need to have a compliant alarm, as well as it to be NIC fitted. On top of that, the alarm should be serviced which is around £50 a year.

    Any discount you get from your insurance will cover the cost of your alarm servicing, and don't forget that if you get burgled and your alarm wasn't activated, you might not be covered on your insurance.

    The way I see it is that an alarm is a deterrent to prevent the mither of going through insurance, premium increases etc.
    Cashback
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  • Why don’t you try Think Protection. I read about them on a blog. They are cheap and has no contract and has all sorts of devices with all the latest features and btw don't use devices from different brands. They will result in compatibility issues! :)
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