Home alarm installers

It is not just the installation of the alarm it will be the need for ongoing annual maintenance to keep within the conditions the insurer specify.

I use A1 Security Systems Ltd from Petersfield they do cover a large area.

http://www.a1securitysystems.co.uk/index.html

I was hoping that they would have more about the professional association they belonged to on their website so you could look for other companies with similar memberships in your area.

Hi Graham

When I lived in Camberwell I found myself in a similar situation.
The local police station had a crime prevention officer (CPO) who did home surveys,
advising if any work (e.g. window locks) was advisable for free.
The CPO also had a list of recommended local specialist traders.

I used Justyn Gorman of JG Security Systems & he was very good.
In fact he was so good I got him to put in an alarm & do other security work when we moved to Ruislip. Justyn works in Surrey so here is a link to his website, & he is also a HiFi enthusiast!

Cheers - John

Graham, if you are in any way capable of diy, I would suggest installing it yourself. I did the same 18 months ago and it was easy.

Mine is:
all hard-wired,
uses the best dual sensors,
uses the best bell box,
phones & texts me if intruder,
phones & texts me if fire,
dummy box at back of house wired to mains,
remote keypad.

It worked first time and has never failed. I'm in total control of all it's configurations and because I installed it, I can solve any future problems or add more sensors.

The wiring is incredibly easy, as you just follow colour codes. Modern alarm systems are made very easy to install.

My bits cost approx £500, which is quite a lot (I don't have many sensors) as I was choosing the expensive options. If a professional was to install an identical kit, it would have cost over £1,000 and I would be in their hands forever. There are other advantages such as buying 6 core cable to enabling you to double up on critical connections where only 4 core is needed. I wonder how many professional installers would go to the trouble.

The only downside is that it won't be NACOSS approved, but as this costs around £70 per year to maintain, but only saves £50 on insurance, it's a waste of time.

If you're interested, I can post the website where all the products can be bought and lot's of help sort.

What about the wireless kits available from retailers, I was looking at them the other week?

I'm envious of your DIY skills count.d.
I painted the front & garage doors today.
The results demonstrate why I prefer to use trades & avoid DIY!
If Graham installs an alarm which isn't NACOSS approved could it invalidate his insurance?

Hiscox insure our property and contents and they tend to be be very specific about security, they require that we have the alarm set at night while we are a bed. So as we have cats we had to have pet clips fitted such that the cats do not set off the PIR sensors.

In 1982 I did a DIY install of a Burglar alarm, just laying out the cables and hiding them under the carpets etc took 24 hours of my time. The system worked well for about 10 years until the control box components started failing, it then became a real hassle and as I was then travelling a lot and did not have much private time I got A1 in to update and maintain the system.

Thanks for the info guys.

I think I need to get the professionals in for this job as it needs to be certified and serviced etc.

As I now have a rather expensice hifi I don't want to invalidate the contents insurance policy!!

quote:

Hiscox insure our property and contents and they tend to be be very specific about security, they require that we have the alarm set at night while we are a bed.

I'll have to check our policy. We have been with Hiscox for a number of years and my recollection was that an alarm system was to be installed, but they were relaxed about it being set at night. I would hate to think that I am in danger of invalidating our policy as we too have cats that roam the house at night.

Don't worry too much Rob.
My ins' is also with Hiscox, & I understand they set different conditions depending on where you live & the value/nature of your insured possessions. In London I had to get an alarm & specified window/door locks. Now I'm in the middle of nowhere, there are no specified conditions for cover.

While we are on the Hiscox topic, be aware that for coverage of your goods in the car they have to be in the boot. - Until you have read the T&Cs you might be at risk.

I felt sorry for the PCSO who tried to do this round here. Poor woman was told by one of my neighbours "Don't worry love, everyone round here looks out for each other and most of us have shotguns, if anyone breaks in someone will wing the bugger!" The joys of rural living! That said people actually do look out for one another, we got a call one night from another neighbour saying that they'd seen someone going into one of our (unlocked) outbuildings. We found some poor kid who had run away from a care home in Hull (about 50 miles away) bedded down on the concrete floor. My mother called out the Police to come get him, vulnerable child and all that, but I really felt sorry for the kid, I think I'd rather rough it round here than live in care in Hull!

Also Hiscox are good, they payed out for a former boss's granite kitchen surfaces after some clever person (I suspect his wife) tried to clean them with an acid based dishwasher cleaner. I'm sure most insurance companies would have muttered something about human stupidity and accidental damage being different things!

quote:

Originally posted by Graham Russell:
I have just changed insurance companies to Hiscox and part of their Ts&Cs is the requirement to have an alarm installed. Can anyone recommend an alarm installer in/around Surrey?

Thanks
Graham

Banhams. Cover London and surrounding areas. Very pro-active on annual maintenance and all that gubbins.

Thanks for the reassurance 555. It's just that I haven't read the small print since taking out the policy so it is nice to know there is nothing to worry about.

Rob