Well the realistic answer is that you don’t. You can continue to operate
traditional systems in the usual way and not take advantage of what these
systems can do. There really are a certain percentage of people that still
don’t use a computer or email. This may be a detriment to future growth
and business opportunity but the digital home is not for everybody.
The issue is do you want it? Do you have an active lifestyle that demands you stay in touch with friends and family and schedule activity? Do your business obligations dictate that you have access to all your files and digital information at a moments notice? Are your children already digital kids and have the iPods and gaming systems so popular in today’s society? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then you are a perfect candidate for Home Automation.
Just ten years ago we began to see the explosion in home computing. Some people were eager and some where scared of the technology. Home Automation can be seen the same way. Ten years from now more likely than not these systems will be commonplace and be a part of every new home. The added value to the homeowner can be seen as an increase of 3-5% to the value of the home at resale. This figure is documented by the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
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Customer Testimonials
February 22, 2008
"This letter shall serve as a customer testimonial and letter of endorsement for audio and visual services provided by Texas Digital Home in the Keller William's Heritage Realty office space.
Texas Digital Home's represented by Wade Brandt Gum provided the AV equipment throughout our new 23,000 square foot facility to include conference rooms, lobby area and multiple training rooms. Their employees spent an enormous amount of time planning and installing the correct equipment, but more importantly displayed a high level of quality and craftsmanship throughout the process. The agents and clients who have experienced our training rooms and conference rooms would agree to the exceptional video and audio equipment we have.
I would recommend Texas Digital Home to all residential and commercial businesses. They have proven to Keller Williams Heritage the importance of customer satisfaction before and after the sale."
Craig A. Owen - Vice President - Keller Williams Realty Heritage - San Antonio, TX
January 17, 2008
"I had the opportunity for Texas Digital Home to design and install advanced electronic services for residential home automation features involving lighting, audio-video, thermostatic control, and interface with various security systems throughout our house and grounds. The prewiring and installation performed by this firm was exceptional with logical and clean applications for ease of use and access. Customer service was also excellent with timely work performed within the schedule provided. Most importantly, their knowledge base for design, installation and functional application of home automation and smart home technology was found to be well beyond that which is generally available in the San Antonio marketplace.
The technological advances that have come on line for home automation features just over the last five years have been extensive and have greatly enhanced opportunities for true environmental control within our homes. While there may be many who claim to be able to design and install these wonderful features, my experience has shown that very few vendors truly have the knowledge base to do it right the first time.
If you want to save yourself a considerable amount of money, headache and “do-over” time, consult with a professional team like Texas Digital Home from the beginning to get the end product you expect and can enjoy for many years to come."
Dan M. Bagwell - Boerne, TX
Dan Bagwell's home and Texas Digital Home were featured in the San Antonio Express News on October 15, 2006.
San Antonio Express News Article - 'The Digital Home'
Automation Myths
1. Low voltage technology is changing so rapidly that a decent wiring package installed today will not be capable of changing with new technology.
“Future Proofing” is the term that really says it all. In any wiring package a tech savvy builder will need to include a minimum standard that will give the homeowner the ability to install today's systems and have upgrade capacity. Things to look for are CAT5e or CAT6 as a standard, solid copper core RG6 Quad Shield or COAX as a minimum, and multiple runs of both plus HDMI to audio/video centers of the home. This offers the homeowner many choices for connection of legacy appliances or new ones. The best method for “Future Proofing” would be the inclusion of conduit runs to the main areas of the home. This can be done inexpensively with the use of PVC or better yet “Smurf Tube”. Smurf tubing or Flex-Plus Blue EMT is a flexible electrical conduit that is perfect for this application. Have your installer include a nylon pull string and the homeowner can make any changes they would need. In higher end installations the use of a compound cable or combo cable will best solve any multi function drop. This cable includes two fiber optic, two RG6, and two CAT5e in one bundle.
2. By including home automation or an advanced wiring package in a spec home, you segment yourself into a small group of buyers.
We all remember the 1980's and the trusty intercom with radio. That was the latest and greatest and no quality custom or spec home would be sold without it. Several decades later we have remarkable systems that for the most part will have the same universal appeal if only the builders would specify the need and market the homes correctly. On average homes with an automation system installed will sell 50% faster and have a greater value of 3% to 5% of the selling price. This is according to CEA and research done by Home Automation Incorporated.
3. Home automation is confusing and unreliable.
Back in the early days X-10 was the first technology to take hold in the industry. It was exciting for the time but suffered from interference issues and was somewhat unreliable. X-10 is still being used but has gone through countless revisions and is much more stable. Newer technologies such as UPB or Universal Powerline Bus have the ability to transmit signal using a much larger percentage of the copper and are designed for commercial operations not just residential homes. Software and programming has taken a giant leap forward as well. Companies such as Crestron, AMX, and HAI have all made end user software that is easy to understand and user friendly without excluding the need for professional installation and continued integrator support.
4. The average consumer doesn't want automation.
The average consumer doesn't know what home automation is nor can they tell you what it does. Only when they have the opportunity to see it in action and play with the controls will they realize just how functional and necessary it can be. With today's busy lifestyles everyone in the home can communicate and be a part of how the home functions. The home becomes part of the network and will respond at the touch of a button or remote. Safety is the number one request in any automation scenario. The ability of the home to react to intrusion, fire, smoke, and humidity is directly related to how the home is wired and what type of controller is selected. Automated lighting can turn every light on in the home in the event of a break in. Mom can hit a single button on a key fob as she drives up to the home and activate a sequence of commands that ensure a safe arrival every time. The greatest beauty of a home automation system is that over time the system can pay for itself through energy savings and resale value of the home.
5. The relationship between the builder and a qualified integrator is hard to maintain.
One of the biggest changes in the industry is that manufacturers have made it increasingly easier for integrators to stay on the cutting edge of technology through better support from their distributors and training via the World Wide Web. Forward thinking low voltage contractors will have a sales support staff that will work closely with the home builder to meet with the client to discuss the automation features that best fit the lifestyle of the homebuyer. Package systems like a good, better, best scenario can be developed and offered to the client as an add up or change order to increase margins for both the builder and integrator. If the integrator approaches the homebuyer correctly a long term relationship can be established and every technology choice the homebuyer makes can be an opportunity for a sale. This would include displays, audio systems, computers, telephone systems, and many more. The integrator becomes the source for technology and not just the repair company like the plumber or electrician.
6. Home automation is too expensive.
In some cases it can be, but the real truth is that there are systems in the industry that are incredibly cost effective. Costs will vary based upon the control surface that is selected, the complexity of the control interface such as touch screens and remotes, and the number of rooms that will be controlled. A basic system can cost as little as $1 to $2 a square foot. When compared to other home systems such as windows, flooring, or roofing, the cost of automation is minimal. The reality is that low voltage control will offer the homeowner the most lifestyle bang for the buck of any home system. These systems will be used every day and allow the client the ability to contact the home from anywhere in the world where a broadband connection exists. The cell phone becomes a devise to change the temperature of the home or turn on the spa on the way home from work. Mom and Dad can monitor the kids in the pool while watching their favorite programs on the HDTV. The opportunity for control is almost unlimited as new products are launched with an Ethernet port included.
7. Automation is just a fad or trendy offering.
Nothing can be farther from the truth. One of the biggest concerns as we all know is the environment and energy conservation. What if we could program the home to give the homeowner a monthly report on ways to save energy based on a event log the home would keep in its data base. Sounds like science fiction but you can do it today. What if you made smart choices for lighting and HVAC that included low voltage fixtures and zone control for heating and air conditioning. All programmable to maximize energy savings and operate to create scenes just like a lighting designer would do for a Broadway Show. The showplace is now in the home and creative uses of automation can cut costs as well as provide decades of comfort and functionality.
8. The builder doesn't need to know how it all works just that they go with the lowest bid.
Here is a biggie. Not all integrators are the same. This is one of the reasons CEDIA exists. Minimum standards must be put in place and the builder in my opinion needs to have at least a working knowledge of the systems the integrator is proposing. A good integration company will tell you what type of cabling they use at pre-wire and the type of hardware that will be used during trim out. What are the warranties and what kind of turn around or response to a problem can the homebuyer expect. Home automation can be enjoyed by almost everyone these days and is not just the realm of the wealthy home buyer. It is vital that a symbiotic relationship be created with all parties to make sure expectations are met, deadlines are kept, and the end user be given the opportunity to be fully trained in all that an automated home can do.
9. The automated home has little consequence in the overall value of the home.
When you look at all the working systems in a home, home automation on the surface doesn't necessarily have the appeal right now that other systems or appliances might have because automation is just not topical yet. A stainless steel kitchen and a whirlpool roman tub may get the ooh's and aah's from the guests but just as soon as the home owner hits one button to call up a lighting scene or fill the room with music from well placed ceiling speakers the response will change. The value of a home is certainly not just the wood and the masonry that make up the foundation of the home. Connectivity and control ability to the internal systems make the home a centerpiece to their lifestyle and the way they choose to experience all that a home can do.
10. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
The market in most situations for a custom home is a more mature customer. Appealing to their needs is paramount and introducing them to the latest in home technology can be a slippery slope. Some homebuyers will be content to have the systems they grew up with but I feel the majority of affluent home buyers have followed the technology curve and will be curious to see what is out there. By offering basic to advanced packages you give them a lifestyle choice and you simplify the selection process. When you specify minimum standards you set the framework for add ins or upgrades. Did you want just a regular TV drop or are you putting a HDTV here? Would you like to check on the stock market while you are shaving in the morning and possibly check on the news while you are in the shower? Would your wife like to surf the internet to look for recipes from her computer mounted under the kitchen cabinet? And if that doesn't spark their curiosity, let them know with an automated home, you can age gracefully in your home because the home will be ready for monitoring devises that will make sure that an assisted living facility will not be in their future.
