Hi guys, just bought a house off a developer but it doesnt come with an alarm!!! Ive had too much of a discount off the house in the first place so they aint throwing anything else into the house. :)

I have asked the site manager to do a few alterations to the design of the house but when it comes to the house alarm he is going to put me in touch with the electrician and give me a quote on what he recomends for the house.

First of all can a general electrician fit the alarm, should i expect a certificate?

As you can see im a total newbie to this, ive read the main website but it just seems a minefield.

The house im buying is a detatched 4 bedroom house. (house will have fire alarm wired in)

I was thinking about maybe 1/2 panic buttons upstairs.

And downstairs a PIR in the;

Living room, hallway, 2x kitchen/dinning room, and enterance to utility room.

And the CPU keypad controller in the hall way.

And also 2 alarms front and back of the house.

Considering the house is not completed and is on its first fix which means the electrician could wire this up easily in a day what sort of quote am i looking at.

Also what sort of questions do i ask the electrician about the alarm?

Anything else i could add that you would recommend?

Thanks guys

Dean

Edited March 2, 200917 yr by deanham

You really need a Risk Assessment done by an approved company if you will require police response.

This site has links to your local approved companies.

Can an electrician fit an alarm? Yes

Can he provide a Certificate issued through a UKAS Accredited Inspectorate? No

Will he carry out a risk assessment to ensure that the system is designed to your needs? Unlikely he will be qualified to do so.

Will you get a budget system or a pro system? Guess

If your insurers decide they want a monitored and maintained system where will you be? Looking to have it done again

Want some electrical work done .... get an electrician

Want an alarm installing .... get an alarm company

Want some electrical work done .... get an electrician

Want an alarm installing .... get an alarm company

totally agree, but there again i would. seriously most electrians can and will fit you an alarm, but many of them may not want to know if anything goes wrong. if i want electrical work done myself, i call in an electrian, but would never dream of getting one in to do my alarm.....

many companies will give free quotes, get three round at least and listen to what they have to say. price should not be the only factor.........

as above from ag, i was gonna post the same myself.

Had a spark ring me up once asking me how to stop one of his alarms going off when the lights where turned on. I asked why he could not fix it, as he fitted it.

LOL,

He said, I only know how to fit alarms i have no idea how to fix them.

Just about sums it up realy.

I do believe there is a certain member based in the Manchester area would beg to differ with the gist of comments posted here.

having said all that there are things that electricians are trained for. Just because i am a qualified spark it doesnt automatically make me a good spark. Thats not to say im not of course

having said all that there are things that electricians are trained for. Just because i am a qualified spark it doesnt automatically make me a good spark. Thats not to say im not of course.

Glad your not an English Language teacher either...................