5 Considerations When Deciding on Home Automation.
1. “Home automation” is not as threatening as it sounds…
The term “home automation” may conjure images of The Jetson’s or Bugs Bunny’s “Home of the Future” where hologram telephones are possible and meals are as simple as zapping a small pill. Poof, instant turkey. While many of these futuristic experiences actually do happen today, the solutions are more realistic than instant pill-food. Automated lighting, a secure house at the push of a button, touch screens that control the whole house. It’s possible right now and it’s not as scary as you may think. Believe it or not, you are already proficient with the concept of “home automation”. Consider this the next time you drive your car, complete with: antilock-breaks, automatic transmission, cruise control, folding side-lights, etc. Move this same concept out of your car, into your home, and start dreaming.
2. Identify your frustrations first.
Electronic systems can be a joy to operate or they can be a royal pain. Consider all of the knobs, handles and switches that you already control throughout the day. There’s a good chance they can be streamlined into one system, saving a lot of multiple steps in your life. Start where you are frustrated: lights ALWAYS on, the pile of remotes, sense of security, or lack thereof. This prepares you to spell out your goals so the companies you call have a general scope of work and can create a preliminary plan to help you meet your objectives.
3. Look at your options and choose a qualified contractor.
Unless you have a design everyone will bid against, your stack of proposals may be complete apples and oranges. Providing a good list of goals (above) and a budget (below) will help, but if your project is large or intricate, you may want to consider hiring someone to design the system first and then embark on search for the right company. Look for CEDIA certification (www.cedia.org), review references, and check the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). Websites and social media sites (such as Facebook or Twitter) are great windows into one’s style of business or services offered. You may even find project galleries, technical tidbits, or other insights that make you lean toward one company or another. Go with whom you feel the project is right and if things change, consider calling the other guys.
4. There must be value in the solution for it to benefit your life.
If something is bugging you about the way you interact with the electronics in your home, what is it worth to you to fix it? If it is worth $5/day to eliminate the nightly light shut-down-route for five years, that’s $9,125, a realistic starting point for lighting control in the most-often used rooms of your house. For new builds, it’s not unheard of to spend 10-15% of the home’s value on a home’s electronic systems. Divide it out to the per-day cost and ask yourself if it’s worth it to you. Use these numbers as your budget, and consider sharing this information with the companies you call. The one with the best solution, given the budget, might be up for hire.
5. Prioritize, but do not forget about planning for the future.
For various reasons, experiences you may ultimately want for your home may not be available currently. Perhaps it’s the budget, the project timeline, the special order, the technology, who knows. Consider your solution like an a la carte menu and pick what’s important for you now. Create a growth plan with your contractor to identify certain future needs: cameras in the nursery, media room in the basement, etc. This way, you get to enjoy what matters most currently ñ while planning for the future so that your system will be enjoyed for years to come.
