How to Choose a Good Network Installation & Cabling Company

What this guide covers

How to evaluate and select a network cabling partner for homes and small offices. We outline a simple rubric you can reuse: scope clarity, code/safety, documentation, migration plan, and support. Use it to compare bids apples‑to‑apples and avoid surprises.

• Networking & Infrastructure services

Start with outcomes, not parts

Great installs are defined by reliability and clarity: smooth calls, consistent Wi‑Fi, tidy labeled racks, and documented ports. Parts matter, but process and workmanship matter more. Ask vendors to state outcomes and how they’ll validate them — not just a box list.

• Reliable roaming and even coverage
• Labeled patch panels and drops with a legend
• Backups of gateway/switch configs after handoff
• Clear support path and change control

The five‑part selection rubric

• Scope clarity: drawing with drop counts, rack location, AP positions
• Code and safety: jacket type (riser/plenum), fire‑stops, low‑voltage practice
• Documentation: labels, port legend, basic ‘as‑built’ diagram
• Migration plan: how they’ll cut over with minimal downtime
• Support & maintenance: updates, backups, and who to call

Questions to ask (and answers to look for)

• How will you plan AP placement? → Predictive + on‑site validation, not guesswork
• Will you label and provide a port legend? → Yes, including room names and positions
• How do you handle updates and backups? → Staged, with config snapshots and rollback
• How do you secure remote support? → No risky port forwards; use secure tunnels
• What’s your timeline and cut‑over plan? → Phased work, after hours if needed

What a good proposal includes

• Short description of goals and constraints
• Drawing or list: rooms, drops, APs, rack, conduit where useful
• Hardware model families (not brand‑locked upsells)
• Labor phases (pre‑wire, trim, validation)
• Deliverables: labels, legend, config backups, admin guide

Red flags to avoid

• Consumer routers ‘to save money’ for business needs
• No labels or legend — ‘we’ll figure it out later’
• Everything over Wi‑Fi when wiring is practical
• Open port forwards for remote access
• No mention of updates, backups or documentation

How we work (example baseline)

We start with a short discovery, create a simple drawing, and confirm run counts and AP locations. Install routes are planned with the right jacket type and fire‑stopping, and racks are dressed and labeled. We validate Wi‑Fi channels/power, test drops, provide a port legend and configuration backups, and enable secure remote support only when approved. Maintenance options keep systems predictable with staged updates and periodic health checks.

FAQs

• Request a walk‑through

Checklist

• Ask for a drawing with drop counts and AP placement
• Confirm jacket type, fire‑stops and low‑voltage practices
• Require labels, a port legend and config backups
• Get a simple cut‑over plan with timings
• Agree how updates and support will work after install

Example scoring matrix (simple and effective)

Use this table to compare proposals objectively. Fill each cell with 1–5 and multiply by weight. The winner should be clear — not just the lowest price, but the best fit for your outcomes.

Sample RFP language you can copy

We request a proposal for structured cabling and Wi‑Fi improvements covering: (1) a drawing with room names, drop counts and AP locations, (2) materials list including jacket types, (3) installation methods including fire‑stopping, (4) labeling standard and a port legend, (5) configuration backup and documentation deliverables, (6) a cut‑over plan including any downtime, and (7) a post‑install support plan. Please include optional pricing for Cat6A uplinks and certification testing.

Case study: office upgrade without downtime

A Westchester professional office needed 16 new drops, two ceiling APs and a tidy rack — but could not afford downtime. Our plan: pre‑wire after hours, dress and label the rack, configure a new gateway and PoE switch in parallel, then perform a one‑hour cut‑over early morning. We validated Wi‑Fi channels/power and left a port legend and config backups. Staff arrived to stable Wi‑Fi, mapped printers and a clean network diagram — no disruption, no guesswork.

Engagement models and pricing transparency

For predictable projects we prefer a fixed scope with crisp deliverables. Where conditions are unknown (older plaster/lathe walls, hidden chases), a small T&M discovery reduces risk before fixing scope. Phasing helps teams and budgets — you see value at each step and we de‑risk surprises.

• Fixed‑scope install with a clear deliverables list
• Time & materials for discovery/unknowns with caps
• Phased approach: pre‑wire, trim, validation and optional certification

Aftercare: what good maintenance looks like

• Periodic firmware updates (staged and verified)
• Config backups stored safely after every change
• Quarterly health checks for signal, errors and logs
• Clear change control so the network stays predictable

Why documentation pays for itself

Documentation is the cheapest performance upgrade you can buy. A labeled rack and a one‑page legend turn mysteries into five‑minute fixes and prevent vendor lock‑in. Any competent tech can see where a drop goes and what a port does — which means faster support and less downtime years from now.