If you’ve been browsing online forums or chatting in Facebook groups about home security, you’ve probably seen this advice: “Buy your own security cameras to save money, and then just get an electrician to install them.”
Sounds simple. But it rarely is.
Let’s break down why this approach often leads to headaches, hidden costs, and setups that don’t work as well as you’d hoped. Because while it seems like a good way to save a few bucks upfront, it can cost you a lot more in the long run.
1. Electricians Aren’t Always Legally Allowed to Install Cameras
Here’s something a lot of people don’t know: in Australia, it’s illegal for someone to install security cameras unless they hold a security license or registration (except Tasmania and NT). Being a licensed electrician is not enough.
Yet many electricians take on security camera work anyway. Some are correctly dual-licensed, but most aren’t. That means the work is technically illegal, and it can void your insurance, leave you exposed if something goes wrong, or even risk fines.
Pro-tip: If you’re curious, you can look up any installer to check if they have the proper security license for your state. We have an article with the appropriate government databases here.
2. Consumer Cameras Like Swann Have Their Place—But Not in Every Place
Budget-friendly DIY camera kits are tempting. They’re cheap, accessible, and easy to pick up from your local retailer or order online. But they’re designed for consumer-level use, not commercial or critical setups.
Support forums are full of stories about glitchy apps, missed recordings, buggy firmware, and warranty hassles. When reliability matters, these issues can be a dealbreaker.
Security installers prefer commercial-grade brands like Dahua, UNV (Uniview), and Hikvision because they work reliably. They want to install something and walk away knowing the customer won’t call them back with problems in a few weeks.
3. Grey Market Imports Can Leave You Stuck
When you buy cameras online or from overseas, it’s easy to end up with a grey market import. That’s when a product is meant for another country (often China) and has been modified to work in English.
These cameras can have:
- Limited or no firmware updates
- Dodgy support
- Compatibility issues
Worst of all, you’re usually out of luck if something goes wrong and needs a firmware update to fix it. It might not even be covered under Australian warranty law.
4. Installers Won’t Touch DIY Hardware for a Reason
Even if you do find someone to install your pre-bought cameras, they probably won’t want to take responsibility for warranty issues.
Let’s say a camera stops working. The installer has to:
- Come out and diagnose it.
- Remove it.
- Tell you to contact the manufacturer (good luck!).
- Then come back and reinstall a replacement—if you can get one.
That’s a nightmare for both of you. It’s one of the reasons many professionals simply won’t install customer-supplied gear. It’s not that they’re being difficult—they’re just avoiding a support rabbit hole.
5. It’s Not Just About Mounting Cameras
A surprising number of homeowners think a camera should go in the middle of the eave because, well, it seems neat and tidy. But eaves often block the camera’s view, especially when you want to see faces or capture detail.
Installers know how to:
- Maximise field of view
- Avoid blind spots
- Use WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) to balance tricky lighting
- Set up tripwires and intrusion detection properly
It’s not just about sticking them up and walking away. A good installer designs the system to avoid problems before they happen.
6. You’re Paying for More Than Just Labour
Could you install your own system? Maybe. Just like you might change your own oil or patch a wall.
But a trained installer will do it:
- Faster
- Cleaner
- With fewer problems
And more importantly, they bring experience that prevents issues most people never see coming.
You’re not just paying for someone to screw a bracket into a wall. You’re paying for someone who knows the tech, the rules, and what works in real homes.
Final Thoughts
Buying your own cameras and finding someone to install them might sound like a budget-friendly DIY win. But unless you’re 100% sure the gear is reliable, legal, and fit for the job—it’s often a shortcut to frustration.
If you want a system that just works, and you don’t have to stress over updates, warranties, or whether it was even installed legally in the first place, then talk to a licensed professional from the start.
Or better yet, get quotes from properly licensed security installers through ProtectFind. We make it easy to connect with the right experts, so you can get peace of mind, not problems.
