CCTV Site Survey in Leicester
Every installation starts with a site survey. We walk the property, identify the approach routes that matter, check cable paths, assess lighting conditions, and design camera positions before any hardware is ordered. The survey is what stops you ending up with cameras pointing at the wrong thing or gaps in coverage you did not know about.
By the Doberman install team · CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester · Last reviewed February 2026
By the Doberman install team
CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester
Last reviewed February 2026
What you get
Approach route assessment
We identify every entry point and approach route to your property - front, side, rear, and any shared access. Camera positions are designed to cover the routes that matter most.
Cable path planning
We trace viable cable routes through lofts, cavities, and conduit runs before committing to any installation. No surprises on install day - every metre of cable is planned in advance.
Lighting and IR assessment
We check ambient lighting at the property and assess where IR cameras will perform well versus where supplementary lighting may be needed for clear night footage.
System design document
You receive a clear plan showing camera positions, fields of view, cable routes, recorder location, and equipment spec. This is what we install from - no guesswork.
How it works
Walk the property
We visit your property and walk every boundary, entry point, and approach route with you. We discuss what you want to capture and where existing coverage gaps exist.
Design the system
Camera positions, cable routes, recorder location, and equipment spec are planned based on the physical walkthrough. We factor in lighting, obstructions, and property layout.
Present the proposal
You receive a fixed-price quote with a clear system design. No ambiguity about what is included, where cameras go, or what the final setup will look like.
What a CCTV site survey actually involves
A proper site survey is not a quick look around followed by a quote on the back of an envelope. We typically spend 45 minutes to an hour on a residential property, and longer on commercial sites. The first thing we do is walk the full perimeter with you and talk about what you actually want to capture. Most people start with "I want cameras on the front and back" - but once we walk the side return, the shared alley, or the garage access, the picture usually changes. Approach routes are not always obvious, and the point of the survey is to identify every one of them before any equipment is ordered.
Cable routing is the part most installers skip during the survey stage, and it is the part that causes the most problems during installation. We check loft access, cavity wall options, existing conduit runs, and external routing possibilities for every camera position. On older Leicester properties - particularly Victorian terraces across Clarendon Park and Stoneygate - loft spaces can be awkward, party walls block obvious routes, and solid brick exteriors limit where surface-mounted cable can run neatly. We solve these problems during the survey, not on install day. For more detail on how cabling shapes the installation, see our CCTV cabling installation guide.
We also assess lighting conditions. A camera that produces perfect footage at 2pm can be completely useless at 2am if IR performance is compromised by nearby reflective surfaces, glass panels, or overhanging soffits that bounce IR light back into the lens. We note all of these factors during the survey and specify cameras with the right IR range and WDR capability for each position. If you want to understand what those specs mean in practical terms, our CCTV specs cheat sheet breaks it down.
Why the survey prevents expensive mistakes
We regularly attend properties in Leicester where cameras were installed without a proper survey. The most common problems are cameras aimed at boundary walls instead of approach routes, cameras blinded by a neighbour's security light, dome cameras mounted under soffits where spiders build webs across the dome within days, and cable routes that look terrible because the installer made it up as they went. These are not bad cameras - they are bad positions. And repositioning cameras after installation means new cable runs, new holes, and additional cost that should not have been necessary.
The survey is also where we catch regulatory issues before they become problems. Cameras that overlook a public footpath or a neighbour's garden need careful positioning and appropriate signage under CCTV regulations. Properties in Leicester conservation areas - around New Walk, the Castle area, or parts of Stoneygate - may have additional restrictions on visible external equipment. We factor all of this into the design during the survey rather than discovering it after cameras are already mounted. Our guide to CCTV regulations covers the legal side in detail.
Residential vs commercial surveys
Residential surveys in Leicester typically take 45-60 minutes and result in a 2-6 camera system design. The focus is on approach routes to the property, driveway coverage, garden perimeter, and any vulnerable entry points like side gates or rear extensions. We also discuss recorder placement - most homeowners want the NVR tucked away in a cupboard or loft space, and the survey confirms whether that location works for cable routing and ventilation.
Commercial surveys take longer and cover more ground. We assess staff and customer entry points, delivery areas, car parks, stock rooms, till areas, and any blind spots in the current setup. For shops on Belgrave Road, offices in the city centre, or warehouses around Meridian Business Park, the survey also covers integration with existing access control, alarm systems, and network infrastructure. Larger commercial sites may need a multi-visit survey to get the design right. The final commissioning stage for commercial systems is also more involved, and that is factored in at survey stage.
After the survey - what happens next
Within a few days of the site visit, you receive a written proposal covering camera positions, equipment specification, cable routing, recorder location, and a fixed-price quote. We specify every component - camera model, lens type, recorder capacity, hard drive size, PoE switch if applicable. There is no ambiguity about what you are getting. If you want to compare the spec we propose against the market, our technical specification guide explains what the numbers mean and what to look for.
Once you approve the design, we order equipment and schedule the installation. On install day, the surveyed cable routes and camera positions are already confirmed - the installation team is working from a plan, not making decisions on the fly. This is what keeps installations clean, fast, and on budget. The survey feeds directly into the cabling phase and ultimately the night commissioning where we verify that every camera performs as designed, including after dark. The survey is the foundation that everything else is built on.
What a site survey costs
For most residential properties in Leicester, the site survey is included in the installation price - there is no separate charge if you proceed with the work. If you want a standalone survey and system design without committing to an installation, we offer that as a paid service. This is common for landlords getting quotes from multiple installers, or for property managers who need a formal specification document. Either way, the survey is thorough and the output is the same: a documented system design you can hold us to. We provide a fixed quote with the system design so you know exactly what the installation costs before committing.
The site survey is the first stage of the full CCTV process - from initial assessment through cabling and configuration to final commissioning. For an overview of how each stage fits together and what to expect from a complete installation, see our CCTV installation overview.
Pricing
For residential properties, the site survey is included in the installation price at no extra cost. Standalone surveys without installation commitment are available as a paid service - contact us for details.
Why Doberman
Proper cable path planning
We trace every cable route during the survey. No guesswork on install day, no ugly surface runs because nobody checked the loft.
Lighting and IR assessment
We check lighting conditions and identify potential IR problems before cameras are specified. Night performance is designed in, not hoped for.
Documented system design
You receive a written proposal with camera positions, equipment spec, and cable routes. Every detail is documented before work starts.
Regulatory check included
We flag any CCTV regulation issues during the survey - overlooking public areas, neighbour sightlines, conservation area restrictions.
About Doberman
Doberman is a Leicester-based CCTV installer specialising in hardwired PoE camera systems for homes and businesses. Every installation is carried out by our own team - we do not subcontract any part of the work.
We focus on one thing: wired CCTV that works reliably. No alarm bundles, no smart home add-ons, no maintenance contracts you did not ask for. Clean installations, properly commissioned after dark, and handed over so you know exactly how to use the system.
If you want to understand how we work before getting in touch, our survey and planning guides cover everything from camera placement to system specs to what drives the cost of a CCTV installation in Leicester.
Areas we cover
We cover Leicester city and towns across Leicestershire, including Clarendon Park, Stoneygate, Oadby, Wigston, Braunstone, Hamilton, Thorpe Astley, Glenfield, Groby, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, and everywhere in between. If you are not sure whether we cover your area, just ask.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a site survey take?
- Residential surveys typically take 45-60 minutes. Commercial properties take longer depending on the size of the premises and the number of areas to cover. We do not rush it - the survey is what the entire installation is built on.
- Do I need to be home for the survey?
- Yes. The survey works best when we can walk the property with you and discuss what you want to capture. You know your property and your concerns better than anyone - that input shapes the camera design.
- Is the survey free?
- If you proceed with the installation, the survey cost is included in the project price. Standalone surveys without installation commitment are available as a paid service. We will confirm the arrangement before booking.
- Can you survey a property I have not moved into yet?
- Yes, as long as we can access the property. We regularly survey properties before completion for buyers who want CCTV installed during renovation or before moving in. This is actually ideal - cable routes are easier to plan before furniture and decoration are in place.
- What if I already know where I want the cameras?
- Good - that gives us a starting point. But we still walk the property because most people overlook at least one approach route or position problem that only becomes obvious on a physical walkthrough. The survey often refines the plan rather than replaces it.
- Do you survey for systems you did not install?
- Yes. If you have an existing system and want to add cameras, relocate cameras, or assess whether the current setup has gaps, we can survey the property and provide recommendations. We can also configure remote app access during the same visit if your existing system needs it.