CCTV Camera Cost Survey

Hi Folks,
I hope you had a nice break over the Christmas and New Year. I thought it might be a good time to look at CCTV camera costs in case you want to protect all of those goodies that Santa brought!!:) This article is based on survey we did recently with some tradesmen on our website. The question we asked was as follows:- “How much would it cost excluding VAT to supply and fit a good quality CCTV camera system on an average house with 4 cameras and are there any tips that you would give for the best installation?”. Here is a handful of the replies we received below:-

Adrian from Wicklow : e2000 ex vat. 4 camera 1.3MP system. The recorder should kept in a secure location. Try to get at least one camera to capture ID quality images of a person approaching the front door.

Wayne from Dublin : A 3 megapixel 4 camera system which is super quality would be around e1000 [plus installation]

Declan from Meath : For CCTV camera cost would be about e1000 for a 4 camera system with dvr. You would need good lighting to achieve the best picture from the cameras. [plus installation]

Eamonn from Meath : 2800 don’t skimp on quality because when it comes down to looking back at it you need it to do the job. No good wishing u had a better system in make them out.

Enda from Cavan : e1,450 for analogue or e2,200 for HD, 4 camera system..thanks

Derek from Dublin : Our cctv contractor usually charges us 1200 for a pre wired system and 1500 if it wasn’t.

Martin C from Dublin : 4 camera system, I.P. , mega pixel cameras , H.D. Monitor,liinked to broadband for remote monitoring circa e1400 Cheaper analogue cameras linked to broadband circa e1000.00 Always use a P.S.A licensed installer and agree function of each camera (I.e general observation/ identity of caller etc) with installer beforehand. Make sure remote viewing has strong password protection

Joseph from Dublin : CCTV camera cost – e1350+vat

Paul from Meath : If possible have the cameras looking at the house rather than from the house (better coverage) not always possible in urban areas. 4 camera system analogue with Internet access installed 1100 + vat 4 camera ip with 1.4 MP cameras 2100 + vat

John from Dublin : The price of HD equipment and IP equipment is falling everyday. I would stay away from analogue now as these two are so much better. The price depends on the amount of cabling and difficulty of installation, starting at around e1200 for 4 cams

Ian from Dublin : It depends on house, to wire and fit 4 dome cameras on a bungalow About e1350 ex vat On a 2 storey e1850

Darren from Wicklow: You would need to spend around e1,600 to supply and fit a 4 camera system , Tip is the light at night around house and the IR lights on camera

So as you can see there is a good variation in prices but the variation can often be associated with the quality of the equipment that is used. The old analogue cameras can be from €400 to €1,000 cheaper than digital but most installers would recommend going for the digital cameras which have much better resolution. Prices for digital varied from €1,200+VAT to €2,800+VAT which at 13.5% would work out at €1,362-€3,178. The average price was about €1,640+VAT or €1860 including VAT at 13.5%.

The main tips that were given were as follows:-

The recorder should be kept in a secure location, i.e. where it can’t be nicked by the burglars.
Try to get at least one camera to capture ID quality images of a person approaching the front door.
Use as high a resolution as you can afford and try to get a digital system rather than analogue.
Install good lighting for nighttime video capture.
Always use a P.S.A licensed installer as required by law.
Agree function of each camera (I.e general observation/ identity of caller etc) with installer beforehand.
Make sure remote viewing has strong password protection

I hope this helps any of you who are planning to install a CCTV camera system around your home and if you want to get prices for a CCTV camera system be sure to log on to Tradesmen.ie and get up to 4 quotes from rated CCTV camera installers here

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to enter them in the comments box provided below.

Cheers
Oliver Dempsey
Tradesmen.ie
10th January 2015

Tips for hiring a tradesman

Here are some tips to consider when hiring a tradesman:-

1. Ask for phone numbers of references so that you can check them out

2. Check insurance of the tradesman where insurance is required

3. Hire a suitably qualified architect, building surveyor or building engineer if the job is anything to do with a new build, building renovation or extension

4. Agree on some sort of stage payments for the job. Remember that full payment should not be made until the job is complete and has been inspected by you, and if necessary by a certifier.