Most buyers compare installers by price and a few online reviews. A better filter is a list of specific questions asked the same way to every candidate. The answers reveal how the company works, what is and is not included, who is responsible when something goes wrong and whether the installer understands your property. This guide gives you fifteen questions, what a good answer sounds like and which answers should make you pause.
This is general information, not legal advice. Verify credentials, insurance and references directly with the issuing sources.
1. The Short Version
| Topic | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Credentials | Which license or registration applies, and can I verify it? |
| Insurance | Can I see a certificate of insurance? |
| Crew | Will your employees or subcontractors do the work? |
| Site visit | Will you walk the property before quoting? |
| Equipment | Which models, and why? |
| Footage | Where is it stored, for how long, and how do I export? |
| Warranty | What is covered and for how long? |
| Cost | What is not included in the price? |
2. Question 1: Will You Visit the Property Before Quoting?
Good answer: "Yes. We walk the exterior and interior, check wiring paths and lighting, and give a written plan." Worrying answer: "We can give you a price over the phone."
Cameras depend on angles, distances and wiring routes. A phone quote cannot account for them.
3. Question 2: Which License or Registration Applies to This Work?
Good answer: A specific answer naming the credential, who issues it and how to check it, or a clear statement of what is and is not required for your job. Worrying answer: "Don't worry about that." Or a vague claim of being "fully licensed" with no details.
Requirements vary by the kind of work and location. Do not assume. Ask and verify with the agency. See our guide on licensed installers.
4. Question 3: Can I See a Certificate of Insurance?
Good answer: "Yes, we will send one today." Worrying answer: Hesitation or "we're covered" with no document.
If a worker is hurt or a wall is damaged, insurance protects you.
5. Question 4: Will Your Employees Do the Work?
Good answer: A clear statement of who will be on site, whether they are employees or subcontractors and who supervises. Worrying answer: A different crew every day, with no accountability.
Consistency matters when you need warranty service later.
6. Question 5: Which Cameras and Recorder Do You Recommend, and Why?
Good answer: Specific models, resolution, lens and night performance, matched to each location, with reasons. Worrying answer: "A good camera" with no model numbers.
Ask for model numbers so you can compare quotes. See our guides on resolution and PTZ vs. fixed cameras.
7. Question 6: Where Is My Footage Stored, and for How Many Days?
Good answer: "On a local recorder with X terabytes, which holds about Y days at your settings. We can also add cloud backup if you want." They explain the math. Worrying answer: "Plenty." Or no explanation of storage.
See our guide on sizing storage.
8. Question 7: How Do I View and Export Footage?
Good answer: "We will set up the app and teach you to find and export a clip before we leave." Worrying answer: "Call us if you need something."
Exporting a clip quickly is critical after an incident. See our guide on giving footage to police.
9. Question 8: Are There Monthly Fees?
Good answer: A clear list of any subscription, what it covers and what happens if you stop paying. Worrying answer: Unclear terms, auto-renewals buried in the contract or features that stop working without payment.
See our guide on viewing cameras on your phone without a monthly fee.
10. Question 9: What Is the Warranty?
Good answer: A written warranty on equipment and a separate statement of workmanship coverage, with response times. Worrying answer: "It's under the manufacturer."
See our guide on warranties.
11. Question 10: Who Do I Call If Something Fails?
Good answer: A named contact, a phone number that is answered and a stated response time. Worrying answer: A general inbox or no support plan.
12. Question 11: How Will You Run the Wires, and Who Repairs the Walls?
Good answer: A description of the routes, the materials, the finishing and who patches any holes. Worrying answer: "We'll figure it out."
Old buildings with brick, plaster and shared walls are hard. See our guide on wiring.
13. Question 12: Will You Test the System at Night Before You Leave?
Good answer: "Yes. We check each camera at night, adjust angles and exposure, and show you the results." Worrying answer: "It's fine in the daytime."
Many problems appear only at night.
14. Question 13: How Do You Secure the System?
Good answer: They change default passwords, set up named accounts, update firmware, use secure remote access and explain how. See our guide on camera hacking risk. Worrying answer: Open ports, default passwords or reluctance to discuss it.
15. Question 14: What Privacy and Legal Limits Do You Follow?
Good answer: They avoid aiming at neighbors' windows, keep cameras out of bathrooms and changing areas and disable audio unless advised otherwise. Penal Law section 250.45 covers unlawful surveillance in New York; see nysenate.gov. Worrying answer: "Whatever you want."
16. Question 15: What Is Not Included?
Good answer: A short list: permits, extra runs, drywall painting, ongoing monitoring, whatever applies. Worrying answer: "Everything is included" with no written scope.
Hidden costs are the most common source of disputes. See our guide on hidden costs.
17. News Context: Why Details Matter
In Queens in July 2026, QNS reported on burglaries where footage showed a getaway vehicle but the plate was partly covered, and a $3,500 reward was offered. In September 2026, News 12 reported that NYPD sought two suspects in 19 commercial burglaries across 16 Brooklyn neighborhoods. When a crime occurs, the value of a camera system depends on details: angles, lighting, storage and quick access to clips. Those details are what your questions are designed to surface.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
18. Costs to Expect
Planning ranges in 2026: four-camera home system $1,600 to $3,600; eight-camera home or small business system $3,000 to $6,800; sixteen-camera commercial system $6,500 to $13,000. Prices depend on the property. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
19. Using the Answers
Write the answers down. Score each installer from 1 to 5 on each question. Pay attention to how they answer: patient and specific is a good sign; defensive or vague is not. Ask for the key answers in writing in the quote. If you notice that two installers give very different answers to the same question, ask each why. Often you will learn something about your property.
See our local pages for security camera installation in Staten Island, home camera installation in Queens, commercial installation in the Bronx and our services page.
Not sure which questions matter most for your property? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
20. A Printable Version
Copy the fifteen questions into a note and take it to every visit. Add your own: parking for the crew, schedule, cleanup, working around tenants, access to the roof or basement. Ask the same questions of each installer so the answers are comparable. A short list, used consistently, beats a long list used inconsistently.
21. How to Run the Conversation
Ask the questions in person during the site visit, when the installer can point at the actual doors, walls and ceilings. Let them finish an answer before you follow up. Take notes or ask to record answers only with their permission. If an answer sounds good but is vague, ask for an example: "Which model would go over my back door, and what will it see at night?" If you are not the decision maker, such as a property manager or a business partner, include that person in the visit so the plan reflects everyone's needs. Afterward, send a short email summarizing what you understood and ask the installer to correct anything that is wrong. That email becomes a record if there is a disagreement later, and it gives you a quick way to see who responds clearly and promptly.
More From Revolvis
Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:
- Keyless entry installation and smart lock installation
- Access control systems and commercial access control
- Video doorbells and intercoms
- Alarm system installation
- Complete unified security
Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.
Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.
- Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
- Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
- Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
- The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
- Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
- Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.
The full list is on the service areas page.
Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:
- The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
- Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
- Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
- How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
- Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I ask a security camera installer? Ask about the site visit, credentials, insurance, crew, equipment models, storage, export, fees, warranty, support, wiring, night testing, security, privacy and exclusions.
What is the most important question? Many buyers find that "what is not included" and "who do I call if it fails" prevent the most problems.
Should I ask for references? Yes. Call recent customers if you can.
How do I verify a license? Ask which license applies, then check with the issuing agency.
Should I get the answers in writing? Yes. Put key points in the quote or contract.
What if the installer avoids a question? Treat it as a warning sign and consider other installers.
Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.
Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.