How to move your alarm system to a new house

Setting up a security system is a smart way to protect your home, your family, and your belongings. And since your alarm system is specifically designed to fit your needs, it makes sense that you will want to take it with you when moving to a new house.

In most cases you will be able to do so – nearly all home security companies will allow you to bring your equipment with you and will transfer your alarm system and monitoring services to your new place. Some companies, however, may charge moving fees or have certain contract stipulations – and some companies’ equipment cannot be moved at all.

So, if you’re moving house and considering taking your security system with you, you need to get some more detailed information, research your options, and find the best choice for you.

Here is everything you need to know about moving an alarm system to a new home:

What to do with your alarm system when you move

First things first – when it comes time to move house, you will have to decide what to do with your home security system.

You have two options – leave it behind or take it with you. Which one will be better in your case will depend on several factors – the kind of alarm system you have, the moving policies of your security provider, the security needs of your new home, etc.:

• If you have a wired system, it will be very difficult to uninstall the equipment and reinstall it at your new home. A wireless system, however, will be quite easy to relocate;
• Some security companies make it very easy to move an alarm system to a new place, while others have specific conditions and charge extra fees;
• Depending on the specifics of your new area and your new house, you may need a different kind of security system after the relocation.

You need to take all these considerations into account so you can make an informed decision about whether to move your alarm system or not. And you need to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of both options in order to determine if relocating your security system is worth it.

Pros and cons of leaving your home security system behind:

• PRO: You won’t need to deal with the hassle of relocating your alarm system;
• PRO: Having a security system in place will make your old home more attractive to potential buyers;
• PRO: If you’re not happy with your current security provider, you will be able to choose a different one;
• PRO: You will get a brand new security system – one that is better suited to your new home;
• CON: It will cost you more to get a new alarm system than to move your existing equipment.

Pros and cons of taking your home security system with you:

• PRO: You will keep your security system that is built to meet your needs;
• PRO: You will feel safe in your new home from day one;
• PRO: Moving your existing alarm system will be cheaper than getting a new one;
• CON: If your security system has parts that are screwed into the walls, removing them will take a lot of time and effort – and will leave holes in the walls. You will need to dismount the equipment and pack it safely for moving, fix the holes in the walls, and reinstall the alarm system at your new home – or pay someone to get the work done for you. You may not want to deal with all that – and you may not want to incur extra expenses – while you’re moving house (a rather stressful, exhausting, and expensive process);
• CON: Your existing alarm system may not be appropriate for your new home and may not keep it secure enough.

If you decide that the pros of moving your alarm system outweigh the cons, you can begin planning its relocation – but not before you make sure that you can indeed take your security system with you.

Can you take your security system with you when you move?

Most likely, yes – most home security companies will want to keep your business, so they will allow you – and will make it as easy as possible – to take your alarm system with you. Yet, it will depend on the type of the system and the moving policies of the company:

1) If you’ve built your security system yourself and it’s not professionally monitored, then there will be nothing stopping you from taking it to your new home.

2) If you have a professionally monitored security system, you will have to notify the security company of your move (inform them of your move date and give them your new address), so they can transfer the monitoring services and, when necessary, send emergency responders to the correct house.

Most security providers won’t charge you any extra fees and will let you continue your current monitoring contract. Some companies, however, may charge reinstallation or reactivation fees or may require you to start a new contract at your new location.

3) If you have a professionally installed security system, you may not always be able to take it with you.

Some companies will let you relocate the security equipment to your new home, while others won’t. In some cases, you may need to meet certain requirements (most often, to have been a customer of the company for a certain period of time) and/or to sign a new contract. And you’ll most likely need to have the equipment professionally removed and reinstalled – which will cost you.

Sometimes, the company may not want to remove the equipment installed in your old home (if they believe that the new homeowners will sign up for their services), but may offer to install a new security system at your new house – in such cases, you will likely get discounts and exclusive deals.

So, when you want to relocate a professionally monitored, a professionally installed, or a contracted home security system, you need to check the company’s moving policies first – see whether there are any special requirements or stipulations, ask about moving fees, and discuss your options.

Good to know: If you choose to cancel your contract and not use the services of your current security provider after the relocation, you may be required to pay some percentage – or the entire amount – of the monthly fees remaining until the end of the contract term.

How to move your alarm system to a new house

Once you’ve confirmed that you can take your alarm system with you and familiarized yourself with your security provider’s moving policy, it’s time to plan your new home’s security and the actual relocation of your existing equipment.

Consider your new home’ security:

• Find out if your new home has any security equipment – if there is a home security control panel or some cameras or sensors installed in your new house, you may be able to integrate the existing equipment with your security system. (And if your new home has a full security system in place, you won’t need to move your alarm system at all – you can simply have the existing system activated and transfer the service (provided that the system in your new home is compatible with your security company – if it’s not, you’ll have to sign up for another provider or remove the system and install your own));
• Think about any upgrades or additional equipment you may need – If you’re moving into a larger house, your current equipment might not be enough anymore – you may want to add more security cameras and/or motion sensors, to get a Wi-Fi repeater to expand your network throughout the area, etc. Or you may just want to upgrade your alarm system after the move, so you can protect your new home better. In such cases, you need to inform your security provider in advance, talk about your options, and ask for discounts and special deals.

Relocate your alarm system:

• If you’re moving a wired security system yourself, be sure to take several photos of the wiring before removing the equipment. It will be easier to reinstall the system at your new house when you have pictures to refer to;
• Be very careful when uninstalling mounted equipment and removing sensors. Put small hardware parts in sealable plastic bags, so they don’t get lost during the move;
• Pack all parts of the security equipment in their original boxes (if you keep them) or in strong moving boxes of appropriate sizes. Provide a lot of padding inside the boxes (use bubble wrap and foam padding), seal them tightly, and label them with their contents;
• Fill any holes and repair any drywall damage left behind by the control panel, keypads, and sensors;
• Think about where to put the cameras and sensors in your new home so that the security system is most effective in protecting your property and most convenient to use;
• Install the security system without delay – you want to be protected from day one in your new home (See also: How to secure your new home after moving);
• Test the newly installed system to make sure everything is connected and working properly.

Plan your move well, so you can have a safe and smooth relocation – and be sure to install your alarm system as soon as possible after arriving in your house. It will keep you safe and will help you settle into your new home more quickly and more easily.