What to Ask Before Buying a Home Alarm System: A Buyer's Checklist

Buying an alarm system involves more decisions than it first appears. Before you sign up with any provider, here are the key questions worth asking.

The Four Key Questions

• Wired or wireless?

• Bells-only or monitored?

• What's the monitoring fee structure?

• Is a yearly maintenance contract included, and is it worth it?

Wired or Wireless?

Both options have genuine strengths. Wired systems are highly reliable with no batteries to manage, while wireless systems offer quicker, less disruptive installation, with sensor battery life as the main ongoing consideration. Some systems combine both in a hybrid setup.

[See our full wired vs wireless comparison guide for more detail.]

Bells-Only or Monitored?

A bells-only alarm simply sounds a siren when triggered, relying on someone nearby to notice and respond, which has become less effective as false alarms have made people less likely to react to a ringing alarm. A monitored alarm connects to a monitoring service, which responds to every activation, whether by contacting you, a key holder, or the emergency services directly.

[See our guide on monitoring types for the difference between call-back and immediate audio-response monitoring.]

What's the Monitoring Fee Structure?

Monitoring costs vary depending on the type of monitoring and provider. Ask for a clear, itemised breakdown of:

• The monthly, quarterly or annual monitoring fee

• Whether immediate audio-response monitoring is included or an optional extra

• Any additional charges for call-outs, resets or extra sensors

A cheaper headline price doesn't always mean better value once you know exactly what's included.

Do You Need a Yearly Maintenance Contract?

Alarm companies often offer a yearly maintenance contract, where an engineer visits to test your system. This typically covers:

• Sensor tests: Checking PIRs and other detectors are working correctly

• General activation tests: Confirming the alarm triggers correctly and, if monitored, correctly contacts the monitoring centre

• Battery tests: Checking all batteries are holding charge, particularly important on wireless systems

An annual visit isn't always essential for a system left largely untouched, but it's worth checking what's included, since battery failure is the most common fault, especially on wireless components. Wired systems typically only have a single control panel battery, which usually lasts 3 to 5 years.

Get Straight Answers from AMCO

If you're comparing alarm systems and want clear, honest answers to these questions, speak to our team.