Are you finally ready to build a new home, remodel or simply make a few upgrades? If so, you are probably in a state of not knowing where to begin. Never fear, we’re here to help you get on the road to planning your high-tech project. Whether it’s a new media room or a whole house music system, the rules are pretty much the same. Print out this checklist and have it ready and have answers to some of these questions at the ready when it’s time to chat with the professionals.
1. Consider your objectives.
Before you put the cart before the horse, it’s a very good idea to sit down with your family or significant others to determine the goals of your system. Do you want music in every room? How important is security to you? Is lighting control something you are willing to spend money on for the sake of ambience and convenience? Do you entertain a lot? Do you have children who will be using the system? And if so, what are their specific needs? Karaoke? Gaming? Sharing music?
2. Consider the room you have to accomplish your goal.
If you want to build a dedicated home theater in your garage, what dimensions are you working with? Where will the equipment for your whole house music system be located? Do you have a utility closet or spare closet where a rack can be centralized? If so, again, note dimensions before you speak with your integrator.
3. Determine your ballpark budget.
This will make a difference in not only the type of gear you buy, but the scale of the system depending on what is important to you. For example, if you have a smaller budget but want a high-performance system, you might consider doing one subsystem at a time. For example, start with lighting and HVAC and upgrade to whole house music in stage two. Preparing a ballpark budget will help your integrator guide you in the right direction.
4. Schedule a home visit.
Most integrators will want to check out your abode personally to take measurements and get an idea of the types of surfaces and constraints they will be working within. For example, a home with a lot of concrete floors might have problems with Wi-Fi transmission, and therefore require a more robust network infrastructure.
5. Take an inventory of your current equipment.
Now, make a list of all the equipment that you already have, whether it’s a gaming console, Blu-ray player, a turntable or a pair of speakers. All will help your integrator get a better understanding of any existing equipment that you want to add to the mix.
6. Relax, you’re in good hands.
You’ve done your homework, you know what you want, you know your budget, and you know your goals. Now it’s time to let the pros take over and build you the system of your dreams. Don’t be afraid to ask questions along the way. When we are all done, we’ll set up a quick session to show you how to use your system and provide ongoing customer care should you need any troubleshooting down the line.
What are you waiting for? Call or come into today and we promise we will do everything we can to make your home tech renovation so nonintrusive and easy, you’ll hardly notice we’re there.