Once you experience a fully decked-out smart home, it's hard to forget the experience. You may want to hire a smart home installation company to upgrade your home as soon as possible after you do.
But with so many different products and installation methods available, it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start looking for a smart home installer. How do you know if the company can pull off your vision perfectly while maintaining professionalism and staying within your budget?
If you're considering hiring someone to install smart home technology in your home, here are 11 questions to ask to ensure that you're hiring the right company for the job:
When it comes to installing smart home technology, experience matters. You want to hire someone with a proven track record of successfully installing the types of devices you want in your home. For instance, you wouldn't want a company that primarily focuses on smart lighting to do your security system.
Ask potential installers how long they've been working in the industry and if they have experience installing the specific products you're interested in.
Your company's installers being employees or subcontractors might not seem like a big deal, but it is. If the company uses its own employees, they'll have worker's compensation in case they're injured on the job.
If they're subcontractors, they might not have it. And that means if they get injured while working on your home, you'll be liable for the situation.
Similar to whether your installer uses employees or subcontractors, ensuring that they're licensed and insured protects you in case of any accidents or damage during the installation process.
Ask potential installers for proof of their license and insurance, and make sure they are up-to-date.
Not all companies work with all brands, and working with a company that doesn't stock quality products you're interested in will leave you with a subpar smart home.
You'll also want to consider what price range you'd like to stay within when it comes to your smart home devices. If your budget doesn't allow for the cost of labor and high-end devices, consider going with a company offering mid-level options.
If a company is an authorized dealer of a brand, they can offer more products, warranties, and services than a company that only buys them through distribution. In some instances, companies that only buy through distribution can't get certain products at all.
Since installing smart home technology is a big investment, you want to ensure that you get the highest quality product with the best warranty possible.
Just as some companies don't stock certain brands, some companies don't work with certain brands. This can be for several reasons, but one major one is that they only work with products that integrate with each other to keep smart homes simple.
If you have existing equipment from several different brands, ask if a prospective smart home installer whether they can work with what you already have. If not, purchasing upgrades may open up your options for smart house providers.
It's a good idea to talk to a company's past clients. Ask for references and follow up with them to ask about their experience working with the installer. Did they arrive on time? Did they communicate clearly? Did they clean up after themselves?
Companies may also have testimonials on their site that go further into depth about the customer experience. Checking a company's reviews on Google, Houzz, or Thumbtack is always a good idea as well.
Ask about warranties or guarantees before hiring an installer, including ones for both the devices being installed and the labor involved. This ensures that you're covered in the event that something goes wrong with your smart home technology after installation.
For instance, a measurement guarantee on smart shades would make the company liable if the measurement for the shades was off. Without this warranty, you would have to pay for the same shades twice and wait for them to be cut again.
Get a clear understanding of how a company prices its services. Is the labor based on an hourly rate? Is there a charge for overages, and if so, what is it? Ask for a detailed breakdown of their fees, and make sure you understand what is included.
Making sure you have a clear understanding of what you'll be paying for before agreeing to hire an installer will help you avoid getting an unpleasant surprise when the bill arrives.
You wouldn't get your landscaping done and expect it to be perfect from that point forward. The same goes with your smart home. A Smart Home Installation Company with service plans will allow you to keep your smart home in top condition. Ask potential installers what kind of ongoing support they offer, and whether they offer any maintenance or repair services.
Installing smart home technology is a project with numerous moving parts, so knowing the potential timeline of your project is very important. Some companies have busy seasons at different times of year, and some products may take a while to come in. Most companies have a lead time before they can begin work.
Hiring a professional smart home installation company to install smart home technology in your home can be a great way to ensure that your devices are installed correctly and working properly.
By asking these important questions before hiring an installer, you can make sure that you're hiring someone who is experienced, licensed, and insured, and who will provide you with the support you need to get the most out of your smart home technology.
Finding your pro shouldn’t be a rush job. But understandably, you probably want to get the process going As you search for your ideal installer, you can continue to prepare by:
If you'd like to get in touch with Hive to discuss whether we're a good fit for you, contact us at (813) 575-HIVE or fill out our contact form here.
