Tuesday, April 17, 2012
On Guard with Guardian
Just got back from my Guardian appointment. The only things I purchased were phone, cable and network jacks. They hit you real hard on these. This may vary by region but it cost me $125 per jack. Given this work is done with the walls open that is disappointingly expensive. Most people would want a cable jack in all the rooms. I ended up getting less than I really wanted because it was getting ridiculously expensive. I requested that we not even discuss any further options such as security or digital pre-wires, so we didn't. I'd like to see them offer things like "Buy a digital pre-wire package, get 3 free cable jacks....," just something to make it less painful than dumping so much money into wall jacks. I walked out for over $1,000 and I feel like I got nothing.
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Don't feel too bad... we spent about $4000 with Guardian. EEK! I wanted central vac too (about another $3000). Thank goodness they no longer offer it in our area cause I totally would have spent the money, lol.
ReplyDeleteI actually wanted to get the digial pre-wire for the master bedroom but I couldn't bring myself to spend any more.
ReplyDeleteWe bought the networking package and the wireless router in the ceiling. These came with so many cable drops that we were running out of places to put them!
DeleteOur meeting is next Monday, and I hate the thought of even going. I have heard they are WAY over priced and very intent on sales. The only thing we plan on getting is a few cable lines.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't feel pressured by them at all. He just told us what they had to offer and asked us what we were interested in. He seemed hesitant on giving us any prices until we had completed our "wish list". I think he did that because the total may seem like a lot, but when you split it up over 30 years with the mortgage, it doesn't seem so bad.
DeleteMy husband is a computer nerd. He had to have it all, lol. It's so much easier to do this stuff during the building process so you don't have to tear through any walls.
The only thing our rep went over, other than the things we asked about, was the home security system. He never pressured us. We spent just over 2k and got a digital pre-wire above our fireplace, pre-wire for rear speakers in the family room, home theater system speakers only in the basement, and an additional 6 jacks throughout the house. We purchased our own sub and receiver. You save a lot of money doing this.
DeleteI can tell you my Guardian rep gave no pressure at all. In fact I asked to not discuss any other options, he had no issue with that. Still I feel like spent $1200 on something intangible. At least with the RiteRug upgrades you can walk barefoot and feel your carpet upgrades :)
ReplyDeleteGuardian is good for the cable/phone jacks only. Everything else can be done without them...and likely cheaper.
ReplyDeleteCentral Vac? That can be added down the road with a higher quality system for less (I verified this)
Speaker Pre-wire? If access below is possible (NOT a finished basement), then adding in wall speakers can be done. IF you finish the basement, install PVC or smurf tube yourself pre-drywall and run the wire yourself after move in.
Most computer who-ha's run wireless, but if you need the fancy cables figure out where where and run the smurf tube yourself. Then after move in, you can do it yourself.
Security System? Every security company offers free hardware with a contract.
Can you tell I am not a fan of Guardian?
I am having Ryan put in a 2" tube based on what I saw from Sgt. Rich and others. Can run it yourself but they were willing to do it for a reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteWhen we sat down with our Guardian rep, he asked us what we were interested in. When we told him we only wanted to select our locations for our phone and cable jacks, he said ok and pulled out the floor plan. No pressure at all.
ReplyDeleteOur Guardian rep was great. No pressure at all.
ReplyDelete