Home and Burglar Alarm Costs and Prices | Installation & Monitoring

Fitting a new burglar alarm can seem like a tiresome job; after all, you’ve lasted this long already without a serious break-in, and it’s unlikely to happen now just because your old model has ran out of batteries, right? Well actually, that’s exactly why it might happen. Most home intruders are deterred by the simple presence of a well-lit and/or audible working burglar alarm unit installed on the exterior of the property – so just a weekly check could help keep you, your family and your valuables safe for longer than you might think.

Home Burglar Alarm Cost Summary

Price Range = £69 to £200+

Average Cost = £130

Cheapest Price = £69

Even if you don’t already have a burglar alarm, however, there are several other reasons to get one installed. Imagine going away for a fun family holiday, a bit of time for rest and relaxation – only to finally get home (perhaps after an uncomfortable flight) to find the house trashed – your rooms ruined, the valuables gone – and perhaps even sentimental items snatched too. You are then faced with calling insurance companies and filing charges for the next few weeks – and suddenly installing a new burglar alarm doesn’t seem like so much of a hassle. But exactly how much does it cost? And what kinds of burglar alarm are available?

Ultimately, the cost of a burglar alarm will depend on a number of different factors, not all of which can be predicted – it’s only with careful planning and consideration that you’ll be able to get the best value for money on your new home alarm system. To help give you an idea of what to think about before making your purchase, we’ve put together the following self-help guide, which should tell you everything you need to know!

Types of Burglar Alarm System

There are two major types of burglar alarm system to choose from – hard-wired and wireless.

1. Hard-Wired – these systems are robust, reliable and require less maintenance than a wireless service – they rarely suffer from signal failure or connection problems, and are fitted directly into the fabric of your home – so you won’t have to worry about the system going down while you’re out or away, and your property is protected for longer. Hard-wired burglar alarms should also comply with British Standards 4737 or BS ENS0131.
2. Wireless – unlike hard-wired burglar alarms, wireless burglar alarm systems work without any significant lifting, drilling or building. They often work at a greater connection speed too (if you live in a good signal area), and rarely cut-out – although the risk is increased a little. They are also portable, so you can take them with you if you ever end up moving home; and they are cheaper to install – helping to save you a bit of extra cash and reduce your home alarm cost! Wireless burglar alarms should also comply with British Standards 6769 Class VI.

Get more information on different wireless burglar alarms and security systems prices.

Burglar Alarm Installation Cost

According to popular burglar alarm provider ADT, installation fees are commonly split into the following categories:

• Basic System Installation (including an internal siren, decoy bell, control panel and access keypad) – £99.00
• Speech Dialler Installation (including all of the above plus a speech dialler) – £149.00
• Wireless Door Contact Installation (including all of the above plus wireless door contact and updated PIR motion sensor) – £199.00

Of course, if you feel comfortable and confident enough you can always opt to take up a bit of DIY and install your new burglar alarm yourself – just make sure you read all the instructions carefully and more than once before getting started. Clear the work area to help you figure out how the equipment all pieces together too, and make sure you won’t be disturbed during the project, as this can interrupt your flow and is likely to increase the chance of you making a mistake. DIY is a cheaper option than standard installation, but although you’re likely to save time and money on your burglar alarm cost it should only be attempted if you are 100% certain that you know what you’re doing – otherwise you will probably end up calling for an external contractor anyway, and they’ll have to rectify your mistakes before they can get on with the job in hand.

House Alarms Prices

The final cost of your new burglar alarm will nevertheless depend on a number of different factors, including where in the country you live, the kind of property you have, the number of different zones (rooms or areas in the home) you want linked up to the alarm system, and what kind of burglar alarm you have installed. To help you budget and keep track of your expenses, we have also sourced the following burglar alarm prices (including alarm monitoring costs) according to the kind of system that is available:

• Key-Holder Monitoring – £69 – £175
• Speech Dialler – £99 – £150
• Bells-only Audible Alarm – £300 – £600
• Annual Maintenance – £99 – £150 a year
• Automatic Police Response – £200+ a year

Get more information on house alarm prices.

Remember, although these figures can act as a useful starting point in the planning stages of your new home burglar alarm installation, they are just estimates based on standardised online quotes; to get the best deal possible you should compare a number of different houses alarm prices from a variety of local and national security companies, retailers and manufacturers – only then can you be sure to get the best value for money with your new burglar alarm!