Free checklist
The access control buyer's checklist
Everything worth knowing before you take a single bid, on one page. Read it here or have us email you a copy.
Before you call anyone
- Count the doors you want controlled. A rough number is fine.
- Note what each door is made of: wood, hollow metal, or aluminum and glass. This drives cost more than anything else.
- Mark which doors are fire exits. Those carry code requirements and permits.
- Write down roughly how many people need access, and how often that list changes.
- Find out whether you own the building or lease it. Landlord rules can dictate who is allowed to do the work.
Ask every bidder these five questions
1
Is locking hardware included for every door? This is where quotes diverge by thousands. Get it per door, in writing.
2
Who pulls the permits? If the answer is vague, or "you probably don't need one," keep asking.
3
What is the monthly software cost in year three? Intro pricing and the tier you actually need are often different numbers.
4
Is the low-voltage wiring warrantied, and for how long? Most failures are wiring, not software.
5
Who owns the system if we part ways? Ask specifically whether you keep admin rights and your credential data.
Line items that quietly inflate a quote
- Readers on doors that carry no real risk. Interior offices and supply closets rarely need them.
- A feature tier bought for one feature. Ask which tier your must-have lives in before signing.
- Controllers sized with no spare door capacity, guaranteeing a second truck roll when you grow.
- Cameras bundled in because the platform prefers it, not because you needed cameras.
Red flags
- A per-door price quoted over the phone without anyone seeing the doors.
- No mention of fire code or egress on a job that touches exit doors.
- An unlicensed installer on a leased suite. Landlords often require licensed and insured work with drawings.
- A proposal with no line for programming, schedules, or training. Somebody still has to set it up.
Want the numbers behind this? Our 2026 Orange County cost guide breaks down real per-door pricing, and the platform comparison covers PDK, Brivo, and Verkada.
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If you already know what you need, we will walk the building and price it door by door, usually back to you within 48 hours.