The Beginner’s Guide on How to Make a Smart Home
At a Glance:
What to Consider Before Building Your Smart Home
Find a Certified Smart Home Installer Near You
Our Smart Home Experts-Meet Paul
What is a Smart Home?
Smart homes, in general, refer to any space where a series of different electronic devices and sensors installed are controlled over an internet connection with a phone, computer, tablet, or other device. A smart home device will also often have a dedicated app that can be used to control all of the smart tech within a home’s ecosystem of devices to make things more simple. Examples of smart home devices include lighting systems, WiFi-connected thermostats, smart fridges, and so much more to make your life as relaxing and convenient as possible.
What to Consider Before Building Your Smart Home
Internet & Network Quality
When it comes to internet quality, your smart home features will only be as good as their network. In which case, having a strong home internet network keeps day-to-day life running smoothly and provides the ultimate efficiency for all of your devices. It’s not just TVs, smartphones, or tablets that connect to a home network; it can be lights, audio systems, surveillance systems, outdoor speakers, and even appliances. An efficient home network should be secure, fast, and reliable, and will help you familiarize yourself with the components of your connected home system will allow you to use all its features to their highest level.
Your Budget
Before you really dive into how to setup a smart home, consider how much you’re willing to spend. Do you want a smart home that just has automated lighting and smart locks, or do you want an entire smart home system with the works, including climate control and motorized shades? You can maximize your living experience if you spend a little or a lot — it all just depends on your personal preference.
How You’ll Control Your Smart Home
In order to operate an efficient smart home to the best of its ability, you’re going to need a smart remote. Say goodbye to the days of sitting down on the couch and fumbling between 10 different remotes to try to find which one controls Netflix and which one turns on the soundbar. With one remote managing your whole smart home automation system, you can easily control your lighting, security, climate, and media sources all at once from the palm of your hand. Whether you want to set up a shortcut button to turn the AC on, have your favorite apps easily accessible, or are just looking for a one-button command that turns off all the lights at the end of the day, you can personalize your smart home remote to work exactly the way you want it to.
Making Your Home Smart
In order to make your home as intelligent as can be, there are several smart features that we highly recommend implementing into your space that are guaranteed to help you live your best life.
Smart Home Audio & Video
If you’ve ever wanted to hit pause on your favorite song or TV show without grabbing the remote or getting out your phone, smart home and audio features are just what you’re looking for. You’ll be able to play music, audiobooks, podcasts, movies, and so much more throughout your home, all by using your voice alone. Plus, smart speakers will let you control other connected devices in your smart home network hands-free and can even double as a timer or clock.
Smart Home Security
If there’s one thing that we know you take seriously, it’s your home’s security. When it comes to your personal safety, there’s no compromise and with a smart home security system, you’ll get enhanced functionality and complete transparency of your home. Modern day home security systems have come a long way and now include the functionality to mix with your current smart home integration such as lighting control, thermostats, smart door locks, and other smart devices, to work together to enhance your home’s security and overall convenience.
With smart home video surveillance technology, situations like motion from an unknown person walking to your door or on your property can trigger automatic actions to happen like locking your doors or alerting you over text to ensure your safety. Wherever you are in the world, you’ll be able to view the video cameras directly from your smart home app in your smart phone and have complete awareness of your home.
Smart Home Lighting
Smart home lighting automation systems allow you to manage any interior and exterior light in your home from the palm of your hand or from a single keypad ― as opposed to a bunch of light switches. Having an intelligent lighting control system can instantly set the mood for any occasion around the home, whether it’s indoors or even outside. It also provides the ultimate convenience, allowing you to push a single button to turn everything on or off at the end of the night. You can set different lighting levels for different situations like cooking, reading, watching TV, or entertaining some friends and family.
Smart Home Climate Control
Can you actually envision living in a home where you hardly have to touch the thermostat because it’s always set at the ideal temperature? With automated climate control as a part of your smart home, this can be easily achieved. Automated climate control allows you to harness your inner Goldilocks to create a comfortable environment that’s just right ― with minimal effort. Your smart home climate control systems can be operated remotely from your smart home control panel and ensures your favorite climate throughout the day, no matter the time or season.
Motorized Shades
To round out our list of smart home ideas, we couldn’t fail to mention what adding motorized shades can do to your smart home’s integrity. With motorized shades, you can control the natural light coming in that protects valuable furnishings from damaging sunlight, ensure your privacy, and reduce energy usage while bringing a unique elegance to your décor when you integrate them into your smart home automation system. Motorized shades come in thousands of fabrics, styles, and other materials, making them one of the most flexible and design-friendly additions. Even better, motorized smart shades can be integrated with your existing smart home lighting, climate, audio or video, and can be controlled from the convenience of your smartphone, keypad, or even by simply using your voice.
Smart Home Installation
Smart home setups should be professionally installed and personalized through a custom program, which will allow you to adjust preferences directly to your wants and needs. Let us break down the process for you:
Phase 1: Consultation
We have consultants readily available to visit your home and evaluate your proposed systems and make recommendations on home automation products or custom installation solutions. We’ll also work with you to come up with a date and time that works with your individual schedule.
Phase 2: System Design and Engineering
After meeting with one of our consultants, we’ll go to work designing your smart home ideas to address your needs. During this step, we create a comprehensive design that includes a scope of work, detailed proposal, rough-in plan, and other schematics needed to complete the job.
Phase 3: Project Management
Once we’ve determined a realistic scope of work and created the design documentation that will support the installation, our project management team will coordinate with your build team and various trades working in your home to understand everyone's preferences. They'll communicate with our internal teams and vendor partners to facilitate the completion of the work done on time and to make sure everything is on budget.
Phase 4: Installation and Programming
Making sophisticated technology easy and simple to use for any user requires advanced work on the back end. Putting all the parts and pieces together for smart technology and integrated systems need to be executed with skill, precision, and some finesse. Each system speaks a different language, but our programmers translate everything together so it speaks one language and can be controlled easily. Our programmers balance the technical know-how with the human element, so it's easy to use ― no matter who has the remote.
Phase 5: Service and Support
With today’s technology changing so rapidly, it’s important to not just choose a provider that can help you effectively identify your needs today, but a provider that will be there to offer the best service and support for the life of your home lighting system. Our team values your business and will be here to help answer any questions you may have about your new setup along the way or to possibly recommend upgrades as they become available to your existing arrangement.
Find a Certified Smart Home Installer Near You
Working seamlessly so that you don’t have to, smart home technology presents countless benefits and can add the ultimate convenience to any sized home. Whether you’re a smart home beginner or want to upgrade your current smart home tech setup, AV Design Consultants is the #1 trusted smart home installation service in the Springdale, AR area. Give us a call today at 479-365-2201 or visit us in person to learn more about our products and services.
No matter the distance, there’s always a trusted automated smart home expert near you when you search for a CEDIA-certified technology integrator. The Custom Electronics Design and Installation (CEDIA) group is the official certifying organization for residential automation and smart technology integrators.
Our Smart Home Experts- Meet the Author
Meet Paul Crawford − Owner
- 34 Years of Smart Home Experience
Paul Crawford has 34 years total working in the Smart Home industry. Paul’s passion for the design aspect combined with his extensive experience gives AV Design an edge above and beyond other competitors. He believes in a well-thought-out design matched with quality products to ensure customers have the most reliable systems in our area.
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