The real cost of Монтаж видеонаблюдения: hidden expenses revealed

My neighbor Pavel thought he was getting a steal on his security camera installation. The quote said $800 for four cameras and installation. Three months later, he'd spent $2,400 and was still dealing with blind spots in his coverage. Sound familiar?

The surveillance installation industry has a dirty little secret: the sticker price is just the beginning. What starts as a straightforward project to secure your property quickly snowballs into a budget-busting nightmare if you don't know what you're walking into.

Why That Low Quote Should Make You Nervous

Here's the thing about rock-bottom installation prices—they're usually missing critical components. Think of it like buying a car that doesn't include wheels or a steering wheel. Sure, the chassis is cheap, but good luck driving anywhere.

A typical bare-bones quote covers cameras and basic mounting. That's it. Everything else? That'll be extra, thank you very much.

The Hidden Expenses Nobody Mentions Upfront

Infrastructure Nightmares

Your building needs proper cabling infrastructure. Most installers discover this mid-project when they realize your walls are concrete, not drywall. Suddenly you're paying $150-300 per camera just for cable routing through existing structures. One commercial client I spoke with spent an additional $1,800 because their 1970s building required conduit installation—something the original quote conveniently omitted.

Power Supply Reality Check

Those cameras need electricity. PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches cost anywhere from $120 to $600 depending on how many cameras you're running. Traditional power supplies? You're looking at dedicated electrical work, which means hiring a licensed electrician. Add another $400-800 to your budget.

Storage: The Gift That Keeps on Taking

Four cameras recording 24/7 at 1080p resolution eat through approximately 2TB per month. A decent NVR (network video recorder) with adequate storage runs $500-1,500. Cloud storage sounds convenient until you realize you're paying $30-100 monthly forever. That's $360-1,200 annually, every single year.

The Internet Bandwidth Tax

Remote viewing requires upload bandwidth most residential connections don't have. One security consultant told me, "At least 40% of my clients need to upgrade their internet package after installation. Nobody thinks about this until they can't access their cameras from work."

Expect an extra $20-50 monthly if you want reliable remote access without constant buffering.

Ongoing Costs That Quietly Drain Your Wallet

Installation is one thing. Actually running the system? That's where the real bleeding happens.

Maintenance contracts typically run $200-500 annually. Skip them and you're on your own when a camera fails at 2 AM. Replacement cameras cost $100-400 each, and outdoor cameras exposed to weather last roughly 3-5 years before needing replacement.

Software updates and licensing fees are another sneaky expense. Many modern systems require annual licensing for advanced features like motion detection zones or AI-powered alerts. These subscriptions range from $50-200 per camera annually.

The Labor Multiplier

Installation labor varies wildly by region, but expect $75-150 per hour. A "simple" four-camera installation rarely takes less than 8-12 hours when you factor in configuration, testing, and troubleshooting. That's $600-1,800 in labor alone before anything goes wrong.

What Industry Veterans Actually Recommend

I talked to Dmitry, who's been installing surveillance systems for 15 years across residential and commercial properties. His advice? "Multiply any initial quote by 1.5 to 2.0. That's your real budget. Anyone promising a complete system for under $1,500 is either cutting corners or planning to hit you with change orders."

He also mentioned that 60-70% of his service calls come from DIY installations or cheap contractor work that didn't account for proper weatherproofing, cable management, or network security.

The Smart Money Approach

Start with a proper site survey—yes, pay the $150-300 for a professional assessment. You'll discover issues before they become expensive surprises. Get itemized quotes that specifically list cabling, power supplies, storage, configuration, and testing as separate line items.

Budget for network infrastructure upgrades. Your existing router probably can't handle multiple IP cameras plus your family's Netflix habit. A quality PoE switch and router upgrade costs $300-500 but prevents endless headaches.

The bottom line? That $800 camera installation realistically costs $2,000-3,000 when properly done with quality components and professional installation. Skip the hidden expenses now, and you'll pay double fixing problems later. Pavel learned that lesson the expensive way. You don't have to.