5 Tips for Collaborating With a Home Automation Dealer

Choosing a home automation installer

Investing in a smart home offers many benefits, from improved comfort and convenience to energy efficiency and greater security. If you’re considering enhancing your home with an automation system, it’s crucial to employ a professional. Smart home experts will ensure you choose the best products for your needs, carry out a safe and efficient installation, and provide support should any issues arise.

When you have selected a suitable smart home installer and arranged a consultation, you’ll need to prepare a brief. This enables your provider to understand the scope of the project and deliver exactly what you need. Here, we outline five tips for achieving a successful collaboration with your home automation specialist.

1. Discuss your existing setup

When meeting your dealer, you’ll need to have a good understanding of what your home currently has. Make a list of any existing smart technologies you have, such as a smart meter for gas and electricity, a smart thermostat or smart TVs. It’s also worth knowing who your broadband provider is and what type of connection, bandwidth and speeds it provides.

You should tell your home automation installer if you are planning any remodelling work, and how many rooms you need your automation system to cover. Your dealer may ask to visit your home to look at its size and layout, and determine the complexity of the job.

2. Share specifics

If you’ve thought about your home automation needs, you’ll likely have a list of essentials and some nice-to-haves should your budget allow. For some, convenience is the priority and being able to complete multiple tasks with the press of a button is the main concern. Others want their smart homes to reduce energy wastage and lower their bills. Increasingly, customers are asking for setups that will enable them to live more sustainably. Whatever your priorities, ensure you outline them clearly to your dealer.

3. Set a budget

Only a handful of us are lucky enough that money is no object. Most homeowners investing in smart technology will have a budget in mind, and this should be communicated to your home automation installer. This enables them to determine what can be achieved and helps them to make product recommendations.

4. Understand the need for prep work

When your home automation dealer visits your home, they will assess the ability of your Wi-Fi to cope with the demands of a smart home. They will also advise on whether you will need electrical work or other work before you can achieve your goals. The need for additional prep will be a factor in the timeline and cost of your project.

5. Discuss technology

As you get a feel for the types of devices you’ll need in your home, you will be able to discuss specific technologies with your provider. Smart lighting and heating systems, for example, may be the most important – if not the most exciting – technologies that you need to budget for. Your dealer will recommend products that fit your requirements. You may also want a demonstration of the operating system your installer will use so that you can understand the possibilities available to you. Many home automation specialists in Kent use Control4 due to its flexibility, ease of use and robust security.