Installing an Alarm System – DIY or Professional Installation?

November 21, 2025 4 min read

Alarmsysteem installeren — zelf doen of laten installeren?

An alarm system is one of the most important parts of any security setup. But as soon as you start choosing one, the next question comes up: do you install it yourself, or bring in a professional? The right answer depends on the type of building, how complex the system is, your technical skills and what the security is meant to achieve. In this article we explain when DIY is perfectly fine, when an installer is the better choice, what costs to expect and what to watch out for with either option. We're big fans of DIY ourselves, and we installed the alarm system in our own premises too. Admittedly, that's a bit unfair: a professional telling you that you can do it yourself. But you really can. Whether you should depends on a few factors.

Installing an alarm system yourself – when does it make sense?

Many modern alarm systems are designed for DIY installation. Think of wireless systems such as Ajax, Eufy, Yale or Ring. These systems use battery-powered sensors, automatic pairing and apps that guide you through the installation step by step.

Advantages of DIY installation

✔ Lower costs – no installation fees or labour hours
✔ Quick to get up and running – you can start straight away
✔ Easy to expand – add extra sensors or sirens yourself later on
✔ You know the system inside out – handy when troubleshooting or expanding

When is DIY installation a good fit?

Houses and apartments
Small shops or offices
Sites without complex cabling
No integration needed with fire detection, home automation or access control

DIY installation is ideal if you're technically minded, the system is wireless and the installation is not critical (e.g. not required for insurance or certification).

Disadvantages of installing it yourself

Although it saves money, a DIY installation does come with risks.

✘ Sensors can end up in the wrong place – blind spots or false detections
✘ No certification for insurers
✘ Less suitable for large buildings or multiple zones
✘ Hard to integrate with existing infrastructure

Alarm systems are all about reliability. A single badly placed PIR can be enough for an intruder to get in unnoticed.

Professional installation – when is it worth it?

A professional installer adds the most value when a system needs to be complex, critical or certified. Think of businesses, storage facilities, restaurants and bars, office buildings and high-risk sites such as jewellers or construction sites.

Advantages of professional installation

✔ Correct sensor placement
✔ Tailored advice on risk assessment and zoning
✔ Seamless integration with IP cameras, access control and fire detection
✔ Maintenance contract or call-out service available
✔ Certification (BORG, VEB, NEN standards) available from some providers

For businesses, certification is especially important: insurers often require security systems to be professionally installed, maintained and certified.

When is an installer recommended?

Large commercial buildings or storage
Buildings with multiple floors or zones
Integration with access control (Akuvox, Anviz, Dahua)
Integration with IP cameras (Dahua, Uniview, Ajax)
Your insurance or risk class requires certification

Professional installation is about certainty and scalability – not just mounting hardware.

Disadvantages of professional installation

✘ Higher costs (labour + service contracts)
✘ Waiting times / scheduling required
✘ Less freedom to make changes yourself later
✘ Some installers require a subscription

So always choose a provider that doesn't lock you in to a single vendor, especially when it comes to monitoring.

Cost comparison: what will it cost you?

Type of installation	Indicative cost
DIY installation	€0 – €250 extra (materials only)
Basic residential installation	€250 – €750
Commercial installation, medium-sized building	€750 – €3,500
Certified installation with alarm receiving centre (ARC)	€1,500 – €10,000+

Costs depend heavily on the number of zones, the type of sensors, the cabling and the brand.

Certified vs non-certified alarm systems

Many consumers don't realise that certification isn't about the brand, but about the installation + documentation + risk assessment.

An Ajax system, for example, can be:

Installed without certification (DIY)
Handed over with certification by an accredited installer

This is crucial for business insurance and risk class 2 and above. Insurers often want to see a wired system before a certificate is issued. Ajax offers a good range of wired products alongside its wireless Jeweller protocol, but as you'd expect, this comes with higher installation costs.

Checklist: DIY or hire an installer?

Answer the following questions:

1. Is the building large or commercial?
→ Yes? → Installer

2. Do you need certification or have to meet insurance requirements?
→ Yes? → Installer

3. Wireless system for your home?
→ Do it yourself

4. Integration with cameras or access control?
→ Installer, unless you're genuinely handy.

5. Do you have the time and technical knowledge?
→ If not, outsource it

6. Do you expect to expand a lot in future?
→ Installer or hybrid approach

Hybrid approach: the best solution for many businesses

Increasingly popular: a mix of DIY and outsourcing.

For example:

You mount the sensors and run the cables
The installer configures the zones, ARC connection and certification
You add extra modules yourself later on

This combines flexibility with expertise. Before you start, though, make sure you've found an installer who is willing to take over from you. Many installers want full control so they can deliver a sound system.