Free Site Survey vs Paid Quote: What’s the Real Difference?

A free site survey gives you the same expert assessment as a paid one, without locking you in or charging you for the privilege. The real difference is the installer's business model: companies confident in their work offer surveys for free, while others charge $65–$150 to recover lead-acquisition costs. Below is what to actually look for in a good survey, the red flags to avoid, and why Cabling For U has always done them free.

Free site survey vs paid quote: what's the real difference?

The work done in a paid survey isn't usually any better, the difference is purely commercial. Some installers use the survey fee as a way to filter out non-serious enquiries; others pass on advertising costs. None of that helps you.

What should a good site survey actually cover?

• Walk-through of the property, every room or workstation that needs a data point.
• Cable path planning, figuring out the cleanest, least-disruptive route from each point back to the comms cupboard.
• Cable-type recommendation per run. Cat6 for desks, Cat6A for backbone, fibre where appropriate.
• Discussion of integrations. CCTV, alarms, Wi-Fi access points, smart-home pre-wiring.
• Identifying complications, concrete walls, multi-storey runs, insulated ceilings.
• Time and cost estimate, fixed-price written quote, with a clear scope of what's included.

What are the red flags of a paid site survey?

• Fee not credited if you proceed, you're paying twice for the same work.
• "Survey-only" technicians, separating sales from installers usually leads to inaccurate quotes.
• Vague scope, paying $65 for a "we'll let you know what we find" visit.
• Generic cable-type recommendation, every run quoted as Cat6A or fibre when most don't need it (this inflates the eventual install cost).
• No written quote, verbal estimates are not commitments.

Why does Cabling For U offer site surveys for free?

• We're confident in our quotes, most of our enquiries become customers because the price is fair and the workmanship is backed by a written guarantee.
• It's faster for you, no payment processing, no "deposit" friction, no risk if you decide to wait.
• It builds trust, we'd rather earn your business with a clear plan than charge for the chance to win it.
• It costs us less than paying for advertising, and it means our prices stay sharper.

How long does a free site survey take?

For a typical Auckland home or small office, the survey takes 30–60 minutes on site. You'll get a written quote back within 24–48 hours, with a fixed price and a clear scope. There's no obligation to proceed.

What should I have ready for the survey?

• A rough idea of where you want data points (we'll refine this on the day).
• Access to your comms cupboard or where you'd like the rack to live.
• Any plans for related work — CCTV, Wi-Fi access points, smart-home, TV wall mounting, so we can quote everything at once.
• A point of contact who can answer questions about the property or the install timeline.

That's it. The technician will do the rest, including measuring runs and identifying any complications.

What does skipping the site survey cost you?

Skipping the site survey because of a fee is how Auckland businesses end up with installs that miss desks, undercount switches, run cables across fire doors, or dead-end inside the wrong wall cavity. Every "we’ll figure it out on the day" is a reason for the install to slip an extra day, and slipped days are your days, not theirs.

Three things only a real site survey will catch:

• Hidden ceiling obstructions (sprinkler runs, fire-rated walls, asbestos panels in older Auckland buildings).
• Power placement, outlets often need to move, and that’s not a cabling-team job.
• Existing infrastructure you can re-use (cable trays, cabinets, ducts), saves real money on the quote.

That’s why we do it for free. We get a better, faster install. You get a better, fairer price. Nobody pays for a sales call.

Frequently asked questions

Reviewed by Namra Shah, Founder & Director of Cabling For U. Cabling For U has been delivering certified network cabling, fibre and CCTV installations across Auckland since 2018, installing to TIA/EIA and AS/NZS standards.