How to choose
a TV installer.
A good installation starts with clear answers. Use these ten questions to compare a local company, a retailer’s service, or an installer found through a marketplace.
By Screen & Living Editorial · Published and source-checked October 16, 2026. This is a research-based planning resource.
What a professional approach gives you.
A planned assessment helps connect the equipment to the actual room. A written scope makes quotes easier to compare. A documented handover gives you a way to check that the setup does what you agreed. These are useful things to request before choosing a provider.
The FTC advises consumers hiring home-improvement contractors to check insurance and applicable licensing, seek written estimates, and read agreements carefully. For a TV project, ask who is responsible for the specific work and confirm any specialist requirements locally.
Certification should come with a name.
Ask for the credential, issuer, person holding it, and relevant scope. CEDIA, for example, describes individual credentials covering defined areas of smart-home knowledge and skills. That does not establish that a particular company or visiting technician holds one. A certificate also does not replace checking the actual project plan, insurance, or warranty.
A marketplace is a way to book.
A marketplace listing or the term “gig worker” does not establish someone’s training or workmanship. An independent installer may be experienced and insured; a service company may use employees or subcontractors. Ask who will attend, what can be verified, and who stands behind the work.
Compare the answers, side by side.
Use this blank worksheet for any providers you are considering. It is a checklist, not a score or an independent ranking.
| Check | Provider A | Provider B |
|---|---|---|
| Named service business and contact | ________________ | ________________ |
| Relevant training and experience | ________________ | ________________ |
| Insurance information | ________________ | ________________ |
| Wall and equipment assessment | ________________ | ________________ |
| Written scope and total | ________________ | ________________ |
| Power and cable plan | ________________ | ________________ |
| Installation warranty and return visits | ________________ | ________________ |
| Picture, sound, and controls demonstrated | ________________ | ________________ |
Turn the choice into a clear brief.
Gather your model numbers, wall photos, proposed screen position, cable goals, and access details. The installation-day checklist keeps the equipment and room plan together.
Ready to check local availability? Explore QuickMountTV, our preferred provider. Screen & Living and QuickMountTV share ownership. Ask the same questions and confirm the applicable scope and warranty before booking.
Sources & further reading
Official sources checked October 16, 2026. Service details and retailer terms can change.
FTC: choosing a home-improvement contractor CEDIA: individual smart-home certificationsChecks stay in this open page and are not sent to us. Print or save a copy to keep your notes. Our editorial standards.
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