Smart Home Automation: What Builders and Architects Need to Know

A Guide to Incorporating Smart Technology in New Construction

Smart home automation is the new buzzword in the home construction industry, but the home technology is no passing trend. Smart homes are here to stay, and builders and architects in the Sandy Springs, Georgia area are quickly realizing that incorporating automation into their home designs is more than just a good idea—it’s essential for attracting new home buyers. Below, we cover the most common questions we come across as a smart home automation contractor who works with builders and architects on new construction.

 

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What is Smart Home Automation?

Smart home automation refers to the process of adding devices and technology to automate many of the previously manual home tasks, thus saving time and home costs while also increasing comfort for the homeowner. Smart home technology can take many forms, from motorized shades that react to sunlight levels to distributed audio/video that makes it easy to watch a movie from anywhere in the home.

Why Should I Get Involved?

New home construction growth is slowing on a national scale, prompting many construction companies to seek a competitive edge. At the same time, the popularity of smart home technology is on the rise. A study from Houzz showed that 45% of renovating homeowners incorporate smart technology, but there’s an even larger untapped market available: new home construction. When given a choice between an average home and one set up with smart technology, today’s tech-savvy home buyers are going to flock to smart homes.

How Do I Incorporate Automation into New Home Construction?

• Buyer Preference: When building custom homes, it’s always important to know the home buyer’s preferences and vision for each space, but that discovery conversation becomes even greater in scope when you bring smart home automation into the mix. Not only do you need to know the purpose of each room, but you also need to know the technology they plan to use in each area.

• Pre-Wiring: The most important part of smart home automation during new construction is pre-wiring. By working with a home pre-wiring contractor, you ensure that each room has the appropriate power, networking, and capabilities for the smart home devices. Conventional wiring simply cannot support the increased requirements for smart technology such as 4K Ultra HD streaming.

• Hidden Technology: The final smart home design plays just as big of a role as the pre-wiring foundation. Many homeowners don’t want to deal with cluttered cords or bulky devices. If hidden technology is important to the home buyer, the home automation contractor needs to be involved from the very beginning of the architectural planning to accommodate for placing devices in the walls, ceiling, etc.

The good news is that builders and architects don’t have to take on smart home projects alone. Southern Cinema is Georgia’s top contractor for smart home automation work on new construction. We collaborate directly with the builders, architects, interior designers, and other general contractors to create smart homes that are reliable both today and for the future. To learn more, give us a call at 770.888.8848 or fill out this quick form.