The overall success of your CCTV system can hinge on the expertise of the installers who set it up. There are many important factors to take into consideration: lighting, optics, wiring, security, and more. In other words, your experience connecting your plasma TV to your Blu-ray player doesn’t mean you should set up your home CCTV!
Most homeowners buy from integrators or dealers. These vendors usually work with multiple manufacturers to offer a range of products, as well as installation and support. As with most major purchases for your home, there are several key factors to look for when choosing a CCTV vendor.
Experience
A vendor’s experience is a significant indicator of its reliability and long-term stability. You’ll want to work with your chosen vendor on an ongoing basis as you expand or upgrade your system, so choosing a company that will be around next year is important.
Reliability
Research your vendors’ backgrounds to sniff out so-called trunk slammers. These less-than-reputable sellers offer cheap, poorly made equipment, then offer no support after the sale.
One way to avoid dealing with a shady seller is to look for vendors who provide multiple contact methods – but most important is a phone number. If a vendor’s web site only lets you contact the company through an online form, you should probably look elsewhere.
Installation
The quality of a CCTV installation can have a lasting impact on your home. Qualified installers won’t take a standardized approach to installation – they’ll analyze your needs and make sure you get a system that is customized to your home. They’ll also provide enough training and documentation to make sure your entire family understands the operation and maintenance of your system.
Instant Vendor Comparison
Select the vendors that you would like to compare
Demonstrations
Nothing will give you a better sense of how well a CCTV system achieves your goals than seeing it in action. Some vendors conduct on-site demos, which gives you the added advantage of being able to see how the hardware will look in your home. Others will invite you to visit their facilities to see their products in action or will set up an online demo, which is helpful if you plan to view images remotely.
References
Another familiar way to investigate CCTV systems integrators for your home is to ask for references to other customers. Of course, you will be referred to the vendors' most satisfied customers, but you can still learn quite a bit from them. Here are some sample questions to ask the references:
Has the CCTV system accomplished the goals you set for it?
Are you happy with the overall quality of the images, both live and recorded?
Was the initial installation sufficient for your needs? Or did you have to add components or upgrade?
What do you wish you had done differently?
Have you needed any support or repairs? How did the vendor respond?
Do you know anyone else who uses this system? (This can get you additional references to speak to, some of whom might be more candid.)
If you had to say one negative thing about the system/dealer, what would it be?
