First, let’s take a look at the breakdown of the Security hardware bill:
- Touchscreen hub: $374
- Cell backup: $75
- Door/window sensors (x3) and motion sensor bundle: $150
- Touchscreen control tablet: $200
- Key fob: $50
- Indoor siren: $90
- Outdoor siren:
- Smoke detector: $100
- Smoke/CO detector: $180
- CO detector: $100
- Glass break detector: $100
- Flood sensor: $100
- Thermostat (Z-Wave): $150
- Z-Wave smart lights: $60 for a two-pack
- Indoor smart plug: $70
- Outdoor smart plug: $70
- Smart thermostat: $160
- Z-Wave deadbolt: $250
- Video doorbell: $200
- Door Station for video Doorbell Camera’s/all camera. touch screen $250
- Indoor camera: $150
- Outdoor camera: $290
- NVR Network Video Recorder 4 channel:
My installation came to a grand total of $*,*** — though that number won’t be representative of most people’s setups. First off, I didn’t fully cover all the entrances on the first floor of my house with door/window sensors, which would’ve added as much as $450 to my overall bill. Second, I made sure to get at least one of all the major device types — which means smart plugs and multiple types of smoke or carbon monoxide detectors — which probably isn’t what the average user would do. That said, the $3,000-to-$4,000 range seems in line with some competing systems.
The basics
If you’re getting a Honeywell security system, you’re probably not angling for a bare-bones setup; one of the biggest appeals of professional systems is their scale compared with DIY alternatives. That said, it’s still helpful to compare the base price of the core devices — a touchscreen hub with cell backup, three door/window sensors, and a motion detector — to competitors’ systems. For ADT, those devices cost about $600, give or take a little.
IF you do this it is best to be ready to give some price ranges and educate them on what drives cost. As a buyer, there is nothing more frustrating than being asked what my budget is, and my counter-question, “what should I expect to pay?”. I have been on both sides of the table and as a professional, it is better for you to show your cards first so the buyer doesn’t feel like you are trying to “get what you can” out of them.