Where To Begin
When Automating Your House
There is an amazing array of electronic devices that can be incorporated into an automated home: entertainment systems, dimmable lighting, smart thermostats, electronic door locks, motorized window shades, and the list goes on. Having so many options is great, but it can also feel overwhelming. What pieces and parts should you include in your home? How much should you spend? Where should you start? A good understanding of your needs, along with the right components and a realistic budget are all important parts of a solid home technology game plan, so start building yours today with some guidance from Control4.
Request a Phone ConsultationIdentify Your Hot Buttons
There was probably a specific feature that stimulated your interest in a home automation system from the start. Maybe it was the ability to monitor your house remotely via a surveillance camera while on vacation. Or perhaps you liked the idea of being able to adjust the lights, thermostats and AV equipment by pressing one button on a smartphone. The ability to save energy and money on your utility bills might have been another reason for exploring automation. By identifying your “hot buttons”—be it convenience, comfort, entertainment, safety or efficiency—you’ll be better prepared to choose a system that meets your needs.
Prioritize Your Needs
Now that your needs have been identified, you’ll want to prioritize them. The more a system can do, typically, the more it’s going to cost. So if your budget is tight, concentrate on the areas you deem most important. For example, if security is crucial, then apply most of your budget to components that can protect your house and family. You can always add whole-house entertainment, lighting control and other elements to the system later.
Establish a Budget
Control4 makes budgeting for home automation simple. Instead of taking out a huge loan to cover your costs, you can pay for your system in manageable chunks. For about the cost of a fully-loaded iPad, you can start with full control of a single room. And when you’re ready to expand into other areas, the system can be easily added on to.
Connect with an Integrator
Before a professional will install a single piece of equipment, he’ll spend time learning all he can about you, your family and your house. If you’ve done your homework prior to the initial meeting with a Control4 integrator, like identifying and prioritizing your needs and setting a budget, you’ll breeze through this step. Armed with this useful information, your pro will be able to design and install a system that suits your lifestyle perfectly. During your conversations, you will likely learn about new possibilities for your home. Jot them down ... you never know when you might want to implement some of these suggestions.
Installation Involvement
A Control4 integrator is educated and skilled at the practice of designing and installing reliable, robust electronic systems into homes. He knows exactly how to create a system that’ll do everything you want it to do, and that is customized precisely to your needs and personal preferences. It’s completely fine to take a hands-off approach during this step, but if you’d like to take a more active role, the software that runs a Control4 system can be set up partially by a homeowner. This feature is particularly helpful after your system has been installed. You’ll be able to make minor changes to your system’s automation routines on a whim, ensuring that it’s always working the way you want it to.
Contact a Control4 Dealer