A practical alarm-system checklist
Use this checklist before you speak to a provider. It helps turn a vague security enquiry into a clear request that can be quoted and compared.
- Map the likely entry points: front door, sliding doors, garage, windows, roof access and boundary gates.
- Decide whether pets need pet-friendly sensors or beams that avoid common movement areas.
- Ask about backup battery life during load-shedding and whether the communicator has GSM or radio backup.
- Confirm who monitors the alarm and whether armed response is included or optional.
- Ask for a written list of included sensors, remotes, panic buttons, keypad positions and app features.
Options to compare
| Wired alarm | Often stable for established homes, but installation can be more disruptive if wiring is not already in place. |
| Wireless alarm | Faster to install and useful for rentals or finished homes, but battery maintenance and signal reliability matter. |
| Monitored alarm | The better choice if the alarm must trigger a call-centre process and possible armed response. |