DIY vs. Professional Installation: An Honest Guide From Someone Who's Done Both 200+ Times

Before starting Modern Home Protection, I spent 8 years as a certified home security installer. I've drilled through walls, fished wires through attics in 110-degree heat, programmed hundreds of control panels, and dealt with every installation headache imaginable. Since then, I've also personally installed every major DIY system on our list - multiple times each, in different types of homes.

Here's the truth neither side wants to admit: both approaches are valid, and neither is universally better. The right choice depends entirely on your specific situation.

The Case for DIY Installation

It's genuinely easy now

When I started as a professional installer in 2014, DIY systems were terrible - unreliable sensors, clunky apps, constant false alarms. That is no longer the case. SimpliSafe sensors arrive pre-paired to your base station - just peel the adhesive and stick them on. Cove's equipment is pre-programmed before it ships. Ring walks you through placement with an app showing optimal sensor positions. I timed my last SimpliSafe installation: 22 minutes for a complete 5-sensor system including the base station, keypad, 2 entry sensors, and a motion detector.

The cost savings are real

You're saving $100-$200 in installation fees, plus avoiding the contract that's typically required to get "free" professional installation. With ADT, choosing self-setup over professional install drops your minimum commitment from 36 months to just 1 month. That alone could save you thousands if you decide to switch systems or move.

You maintain flexibility

Everything is adhesive-mounted, so you can reposition sensors after living with the system (you'll almost certainly want to adjust at least one). You can take the entire system when you move - it's your equipment. And if the system isn't right, returning during the trial period is as simple as peeling off the adhesive strips and boxing everything up.

The 4 most common DIY mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Motion sensors where pets trigger them. Mount at 4-5 feet (chest height on most adults) and angle away from areas where pets climb or jump. Most modern sensors have pet-immune settings that ignore movement up to 40-80 lbs - but you need to enable this in your app settings. Even with pet immunity, don't point motion sensors directly at cat trees or dog beds.

2. Door sensors with too wide a gap. The sensor and magnet need to be within 1/2 inch of each other when the door is closed. If your door frame has a wide gap, use the included spacers or mount on the interior molding instead of the frame edge. I see this issue in about 30% of DIY installs I review.

3. Forgetting the garage entry door. People religiously sensor front and back doors but forget the door from the garage into the house - which accounts for 9% of break-in entries. If a burglar gets into your garage (surprisingly easy with a $15 device that clones garage door signals), that interior door is their entry point.

4. Camera backlight and WiFi range. East-facing outdoor cameras get blinded by morning sun; west-facing cameras get afternoon glare. Mount under eaves pointing downward to avoid direct sunlight hitting the lens. Also, WiFi signal degrades significantly through exterior walls - test signal strength at each planned camera location before permanently mounting. If signal is weak, add a WiFi extender or choose a wired camera instead.

The Case for Professional Installation

Sensor placement expertise matters more than you'd think

A good installer knows things you don't - the optimal motion sensor height for maximum coverage with minimal false alarms in your specific room layout, which windows are most vulnerable based on your property's landscaping and sightlines, where to position glass-break sensors for acoustic coverage across an entire room (they need line-of-sight to windows), and how to route wires invisibly for hardwired cameras. For homes with complex layouts, split levels, or unusual architecture, this expertise is genuinely valuable.

Hardwired reliability

DIY systems are all wireless - which is fine for door/window sensors, but for cameras streaming HD video 24/7, a wired connection beats WiFi every time. Professional installers run ethernet to outdoor cameras for rock-solid connectivity, hardwire indoor cameras to eliminate battery charging anxiety, and install powered devices like floodlight cameras that need electrical connections. If you want cameras that never need charging, never drop offline during WiFi hiccups, and record continuously (not just on motion), professional installation with wired cameras is the path.

Complex automation setup

If you want smart home routines where your security system controls lights, locks, thermostat, and garage door based on triggers (leaving home, arriving, bedtime, sunrise/sunset), a professional can configure this correctly on day one. Vivint's installers particularly excel at creating seamless smart home ecosystems where everything works together automatically.

When professional installation is clearly the better choice

Homes over 3,000 sq ft where sensor placement strategy matters. Properties with 10+ entry points that need coordinated coverage. Multi-story homes where motion sensor angles and ranges are tricky. Homeowners wanting hardwired cameras for maximum reliability. Anyone with zero interest in or aptitude for technology setup. And critically: new construction or major renovation - it's dramatically easier and cheaper to wire during construction than to retrofit later.

Real Cost Comparison

Here's how the numbers shake out side by side. Installation fee: DIY is $0, professional runs $100-$200. Contract minimum: DIY is 0-1 month, professional is 36-60 months. Setup time: DIY takes 30-60 minutes of your time, professional is 2-4 hours with a technician. Repositioning sensors: DIY means anytime yourself, professional may require a service call. Camera options: DIY is wireless/battery only, professional includes wired options. Portability: DIY systems travel with you, professional systems often stay with the home. Early cancellation cost: DIY is $0 with most providers, professional can be $1,200-$3,000.

My Personal Recommendation

Start with DIY - even if you think you'll eventually want professional installation. Living with a basic DIY system for 3-6 months teaches you what you actually need: which doors you forget to lock, which yard areas have blind spots, whether you actually use automation features, how often you check cameras, and whether self-monitoring is sufficient or you want professional monitoring. After that real-world experience, you'll be infinitely better equipped to decide whether to upgrade - and exactly which features are worth paying for.

The one exception: If you're building or significantly renovating a home, plan for professional installation from the start. Running wires for cameras, sensors, and smart devices during construction costs a fraction of retrofitting later - and the reliability of hardwired systems is genuinely superior for permanent installations.