Ask any camera installer nine things before you book: do they see the property first, who runs the cables, where video is stored, who owns the login, what is included, what is quoted separately, how long it takes, what backs the work and when you pay. A clear answer to each matters more than the lowest price.
PCBy the Pixl Canada install team. Updated .
- WiFi camera installation from $200 for 1 or 2 cameras, before tax
- Wired CCTV is a free custom quote, started from a photo
- Pay after the system works on your phone
- Compare answers, not only prices: a quote without the recorder or the cable work is not a lower price.
- You should own the camera account and password, and leave the visit with every login written down.
- For wired CCTV, a visit or photos of the property come first, because cable routes decide the price.
- A large deposit with no written scope is a warning sign with any installer.
You want cameras installed by someone else and you are comparing installers.
You want to install the cameras yourself. Read how to install security cameras yourself instead.
What are the nine questions to ask a camera installer?
The nine questions cover the visit, the cable work, the video, the login, the scope, the extras, the time, the warranty and the payment. Each answer below shows how Pixl answers it, so you can hold any installer, including us, to the same list.
1. Will you see the property first?
For wired CCTV, a visit or at least photos of the property helps, because cable routes decide the price. For one or two WiFi cameras, photos are often enough. Our quote for wired CCTV is free, and we start from a photo.
2. Who runs the cables, and where?
Ask which route the cable takes: attic, basement, exterior wall or surface raceway. Ask who seals any hole through an outside wall. A route that is not discussed before the visit is a cost that appears on the day.
3. Where is the video stored?
Video can be stored on a recorder in your home or in the cloud. A local recorder has an upfront cost and no plan to record, while a cloud plan adds a recurring fee that the camera provider sets. Ask how many days of video the system keeps.
4. Who owns the login?
You should. We set up the app on your phone with your own email, and you should leave the visit with every login written down. Ask for this before you book, and change the passwords if anyone else has had them.
5. What is included?
A complete install covers mounting and aiming each camera, connecting it, setting up the recorder on wired systems, setting up the phone app and testing live view and playback. Ask for each item to be written in the quote.
6. What is quoted separately?
Extras often include more cameras, a larger hard drive and difficult cable routes. Equipment we supply is listed on its own lines, so you can compare it with a quote that bundles everything. Read what camera installation costs for the lines to look for.
7. How long will it take?
The time depends on the number of cameras, the cable routes and the building. Ask for an estimate in writing, and ask what could make it longer. For larger systems we include a time estimate with the written quote.
8. What backs the work?
Ask for the warranty in writing. Our Legal page lists wired camera installation at 1 year on wiring and 1 year on parts, at no charge, and cameras we supply carry the manufacturer’s warranty. See the full warranty periods by service.
9. When do I pay?
With us, you pay after the system works on your phone, by card, e-transfer or cash. Other installers differ, so ask. A large deposit with no written scope is a warning sign.
The nine questions at a glance
Use this table as a checklist when you call each installer. A good answer is specific and written down; a weak answer is vague or “it depends” with no range.
| Question | A good answer | The Pixl answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. See the property first? | A visit or photos before a wired quote | Wired CCTV quote is free and starts from a photo |
| 2. Who runs the cables? | A named route and who seals the holes | We plan the route in the quote |
| 3. Where is the video stored? | Recorder or cloud, and how many days | Recorder sized to the days you want |
| 4. Who owns the login? | You do, written down at handover | We set it up on your phone with your email |
| 5. What is included? | Mounting, connecting, recorder, app, test | All five, listed in the quote |
| 6. What is separate? | Extras on their own lines | Equipment we supply is listed separately |
| 7. How long? | An estimate in writing | A time estimate with larger quotes |
| 8. What backs the work? | Written warranty terms | 1 year on wiring and 1 year on parts, per the Legal page |
| 9. When do I pay? | After the system works, with a written scope | After the system works on your phone |
What are the warning signs in a camera quote?
Watch for a price with no list of cameras, a quote that leaves out the recorder or the cable work, a large deposit with no written scope, and a login the installer keeps. Any of these can turn a low price into a higher bill.
| Warning sign | What to ask |
|---|---|
| A single price with no list of cameras, recorder and storage | “Please list every item and the days of storage.” |
| Cable work not mentioned for a wired system | “Which route will the cable take, and what does it cost?” |
| A large deposit with no written scope | “What does the deposit cover, and is it refundable?” |
| The installer holds the account and password | “Please set the account up under my email.” |
How do I compare two camera installation quotes?
Line them up by number of cameras, camera type, recorder and storage days, cable work, app setup and warranty. A lower price that leaves out the recorder or the cabling is not a lower price. Ask each installer to write down what is included.
| Line | What to look for | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameras | Number and type, or the minimum specification | ||
| Recorder and storage | Hard drive size and days of video stored | ||
| Cable work | Length, route and concealment | ||
| App setup | Live view and playback tested | ||
| Login | Who owns the account | ||
| Price lines | Labour, parts and tax on separate lines | ||
| Warranty | Labour and equipment, in writing | ||
| Monthly fees | Which apply, and who sets them |
Fill in the two columns as you read each quote. A blank cell is a question to ask.
Is choosing an installer different for a home and a business?
The nine questions are the same, but a business adds a walkthrough, more cameras and longer cable runs. For a home, photos often start the quote; for a shop or office, a free walkthrough comes first. For a shop or office, use our camera quote and handover checklist.
| Home | Business | |
|---|---|---|
| How the quote starts | A photo of the property | A free walkthrough |
| Price shown | WiFi from $200 for 1 or 2 cameras; wired is a free custom quote | A free written quote; no package price |
| What grows the job | Cable routes, wall construction, storage days | More entrances, longer runs, storage days, more than one site |
| Learn more | PoE camera system for a house | Commercial CCTV installation |
How to choose a camera installer: questions
What should I ask a security camera installer?
Ask whether they see the property first, who runs the cables, where video is stored, who owns the login, what is included and what costs extra, how long it takes, what backs the work and when you pay. Compare answers, not only prices.
How do I compare two camera installation quotes?
Line them up by number of cameras, camera type, recorder and storage days, cable work, app setup and warranty. A lower price that leaves out the recorder or the cabling is not a lower price. Ask each installer to write down what is included.
Should I let the installer choose the cameras?
It is fine to ask for a recommendation, but you should know the brand, the model and where the video is stored. We install the brand you choose, including Reolink, Lorex and Google Nest.
Do I need a site visit before a quote?
For wired CCTV, a visit or at least photos of the property helps, because cable routes decide the price. For a WiFi camera, photos are often enough. Our quote for wired CCTV is free, and we start from a photo.
Who should own the camera account and password?
You should. The installer sets it up on your phone with your email, and you should leave the visit with every login written down. Ask for this before you book, and change the passwords if anyone else has had them.
When do I pay a camera installer?
With us, you pay after the system works on your phone. Other installers differ, so ask. A large deposit with no written scope is a warning sign. Our warranty table on the Legal page lists wired camera installation at one year on wiring and one year on parts.
Get a free quote for your property
WiFi camera installation starts at $200 for one or two cameras, before tax. Wired CCTV is a free custom quote. Same-day service is available when we have an opening, so call or text to check today.
Keep reading
PoE camera system for a house
Cameras without internet or WiFi
NVR vs DVR
Lorex installation
Reolink installation
How Pixl works as a camera installation company
What a professional CCTV visit includes
Sources and method. Warranty periods come from the Warranty table on the Pixl Canada Legal page, read October 24, 2026. Pixl prices are in Canadian dollars before tax. The nine questions are general advice for comparing installers and apply to any provider.
About Pixl Canada. Pixl Canada is an installation company based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving cities across Canada with TV mounting, security cameras, appliance installation and smart home setup. Call or text (587) 899-7495. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 7pm.