Waiting until after drywall
Adding wiring to finished walls costs more and limits options. Planning during design gives you the most choices for the least cost.
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Free guide for homeownersPlan your smart home before the walls close.
The best time to plan home technology is while the plans are still on paper. Wiring goes in before drywall, and changes after that cost more. This guide walks through the decisions to make, room by room, so you move in with everything working the way you want.
Control4 Diamond DealerJosh.ai voice controlLicensed and insured
The checklist
Ten things to settle early.
Go through these before rough-in. Each one is easier and less expensive to plan on paper than to fix in a finished wall.
- Which rooms get music, and whether outdoor areas need speakers
- Where each TV goes, and whether any should be hidden
- Lighting control: one keypad per location instead of rows of switches
- Motorized shades, and which windows face the afternoon sun
- Wi-Fi coverage for every room, the pool and outdoor living areas
- Camera locations around the home, driveway and entry
- Door station, gate and garage access from your phone
- A battery backup for the network and equipment rack
- Voice control with Josh.ai, if you want it
- Who to call for service after you move in
Timing
When each decision needs to be made.
The five phases where technology decisions matter most.
STEP 01
Consultation
Walk the plans and talk through how you use each room.
STEP 02
Design and proposal
Review a room-by-room design and an itemized proposal.
STEP 03
Pre-wire
Wiring is installed during construction, before the walls close.
STEP 04
Installation
Equipment is installed and trimmed out after paint and finishes.
STEP 05
Programming and hand-off
Scenes are programmed, your family is trained and you receive your records.
Common problems
Four mistakes to avoid.
These are the issues that most often cause rework, delays or a finished room that does not look the way it was designed.
Weak Wi-Fi in part of the home
Large homes and outdoor areas need a planned network with access points wired in, not a single router.
Too many apps
Lights, shades, music, cameras and climate can each come with their own app. Control4 brings most of them into one app, one keypad or your voice.
No plan for storms and outages
A battery backup keeps the network and equipment running through short outages. Remote access from your phone depends on the internet service being up.
Questions
Common questions.
If your question is not here, call 786.266.7676 and we will answer it directly.
When should I contact a smart home company?
While the plans are being finalized and before drywall. The wiring has to go in before the walls close.
Can ITS work with my builder and interior designer?
Yes. ITS works directly with your builder, architect and designer so devices go where the design calls for them.
Can I control my home when I am away?
Yes, with the Control4 app, as long as the internet service at the home is up.
Which areas does ITS serve?
Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Florida Keys, from our office in Sweetwater.
Next step
Let's plan your home before the walls close.
Send your plans or tell us about your home, and we will walk through it with you, your builder or your designer.
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