Questions to ask a TV installer

TV mounting has no licence of its own and a low barrier to entry, so quality varies. A few direct questions tell you most of what you need to know — and a good installer is glad to be asked. We've included our own answers so you can hold us to them.

1. What will it cost, in total?

Ask for the full figure before the visit: labor, bracket, wall surcharge, wire concealment, trip fee, tax. A vague "it depends, we'll see when we get there" is how bills grow.

Ours: you build the job on our site and see the exact total before booking. Labor runs $94–$184 by screen size, with every option priced on the page.

2. What happens if the wall is different from what we expected?

Metal studs, plaster, a pipe. The right answer: work stops, you're shown the issue, and you agree to any change in price before it continues.

3. Do you anchor into studs or masonry every time?

The answer should be yes, with specifics for metal studs. "Heavy-duty drywall anchors" for a large TV is a no.

4. How do you handle the wires?

Listen for the phrase in-wall power kit or a recessed outlet. If the plan is to push the TV's power cord through the wall, look elsewhere — it's against electrical code.

5. Are you insured?

Ask what covers damage to your wall, your TV or a pipe inside the wall. Ask the installer you're considering directly, and expect a straight answer.

6. Who supplies the bracket, and which one?

If they supply it: is it matched to your TV's weight and VESA pattern, and is it a rated product? If you supply it: will they check it and tell you if it's unsuitable?

7. Who is coming, and when?

A real arrival window, a name and a heads-up message beat "sometime Tuesday". For large TVs, ask whether two people are coming.

8. What do you guarantee?

There are two things to cover: the mounting work itself, and for how long. Get it in writing or on the site.

Ours: workmanship is guaranteed for a year — if something we installed loosens, we come back and fix it.

9. What's included at the end?

Connecting devices, testing inputs, tidying cables, cleaning up dust, taking the packaging. Small things that show how a business thinks.

10. When and how do I pay?

Paying after the job is done, by card, with a receipt, is the low-risk answer. Be careful with large deposits for a one-hour job.

Red flags

• No price until they arrive.
• Cash only, no receipt.
• No questions about your wall type or TV size before quoting.
• Dismissive about studs: "anchors are fine".
• Pressure to buy an expensive bracket on the spot.
• Can't explain how the power will be hidden legally.

Good signs

• They ask about your wall, TV size and where you sit.
• They talk you down in height when you suggest above the fireplace.
• They're willing to say "that wall won't work, here's a better one".
• Clear cancellation and rescheduling terms.

Check reviews, with judgment

Look for recent reviews that describe actual jobs — wall types, problems solved — rather than one-line praise.

Questions for yourself

Before calling anyone, know your TV size, wall type, whether you have a bracket, and how you want the wires to look. Our pre-appointment checklist covers the rest.