We will show you how to get the best smart home experience by giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the installation of a Bekins Smart Home condo in Grand Haven.
This is the first installment of many.
Once completed, the condo will be for sale.
Everyone relies on technology throughout their home each day, and it's frustrating when it doesn't improve your life.
When you think about setting scenes in your home with the simple touch of a button or connecting televisions, speakers, lights, and shades to the internet, you could argue the very first Bekins service performed on this condo impacts everyday life the most.
Our Smart Home Solutions team walked through the residence with the Project Manager to finalize the placement of all anticipated home electronics equipment.
Then, our team set up the low-voltage wires before insulation and drywall were added.
Our team often refers to this process as the "rough-in," and it leads to an important question.
When Should I Talk with A Smart Home Professional About My New Build?
If you would like a smart home that is thoughtfully designed, performs reliably, and supports the technology in your life, then get Bekins involved in the process as soon as possible.
Making a plan before installing the wires.
Why Should I Work with A Smart Home Installer Like Bekins for My New Build?
Simply put, the technology we install makes:
- Your life more enjoyable.
- Gives you more control of your home.
- You aware of things going on in your home.
- Your life simple.
Yet, homeowners seem to have a lot of questions that may cause anxiety about moving forward with a smart home.
- Custom Electronics Pro magazine cites a study in which 64% of homeowners would like every shade in their home to be motorized.
- A Lutron lighting survey indicates that 74% of surveyed homeowners say the ability to adjust lighting is one of the most important factors to creating ambiance within a home.
- Yet, the Home Technology Association (HTA) says 55% of homeowners are dissatisfied with their existing smart home technology.
The HTA contends homeowners are dissatisfied because of who they chose to install and service it. The HTA exists to assist homeowners in finding qualified professionals. For the record, Bekins earns their highest honors: HTA Certified Estate and Best in the U.S.
So Should I Hire Bekins Instead of an Electrician?
No. Bekins works with the electrician in your home. We design and engineer the low-voltage wiring for items such as TVs, speakers, wireless internet, motorized shades, and cameras. Electricians set up the high voltage wiring, such as the 110-volt power going into your home.
What If I Don't Use Any Low Voltage Company for My New Home?
Whether you love home technology or hate it, more and more items in your home are connected to your Wi-Fi.
- TVs
- Appliances
- Smart Thermostats
- Streaming Devices
- Gaming Systems
- Tablets
- Computers
- Laptops
- Smartphones
- And more….
Even if you are not looking for a fully automated house, the COVID pandemic made us realize how much we depend on our home internet. At minimum, we can help you enjoy strong and reliable internet coverage in your residence!
For example, our team set up a hard-wired connection directly into the TV of this Smart Home Condo. The direct connection provides a reliable, uninterrupted experience for watching your favorite episode on Netflix or Paramount+ even while the entire family is over for Thanksgiving using your internet!
Samsung's The Frame TV lets you watch television...
...and turn it into art when you are done.
In addition, this condo will feature a Samsung Frame TV connected to a high-quality sound system. The Samsung Frame TV has a proprietary box, which allows the TV to hang on the wall like a picture frame. The speaker system requires an amplifier. Our team installed the amplifier separate from the proprietary box behind the Frame TV for ease of use.
This is an example of why designing the system early in the home-building process will improve the reliability and performance of the TV and speakers throughout the home. The system will look and perform better because of the equipment installed before insulation and drywall were added.
If you don't use a low-voltage company like Bekins, then your home may have the bare minimum power and internet connections or visible cables and equipment showing because they did not plan for the electronics early enough.
Think about how many items in your home link to your Wi-Fi.
What Is Bekins Installing in This Smart Home?
In addition to the Frame TV and speakers, this condo is outfitted with a state-of-the-art lighting control system from Lutron.
Homeowners will control their lights with an easy-to-use app on their phone or tablet.
Certain windows and sliders will have a Lutron motorized window treatment on them. We'll be using the Palladiom Shading system, which redefines the beauty of daylight control. With groundbreaking technologies and whisper-quiet performance, Palladiom shades are created for the most sophisticated homes and technicians.
To sell, service, and install Palladiom shades, aspiring dealers must achieve and maintain strict qualifications with Lutron. Many styles of shades cover the roller with a decorative piece. Not Palladiom shades. Lutron designed and engineered Palladiom with elegant beauty and meticulously hand-finished hardware to be seen by everyone in the home.
The lights, shades, smart thermostats, cameras, security system, and Ring Doorbell in the condo can be controlled by a smartphone app or smart lighting control dimmers and keypads on the wall.
Imagine walking into your condo and pressing the "Home" button on a keypad. A pathway of lights softly illuminates in your Kitchen as lights in your Living Room rise to the correct level and your Master Bedroom turns on your bedside lamps for soft light. You'll never walk into a dark home again with Lutron lighting control.
Since we designed the home prior to insulation and drywall, we were able to engineer the wiring and location for necessary equipment. Most of the electronics will be installed in a rack designed for audio and video gear. Our technicians neatly wrap the wiring off the floor so critical infrastructure does not get damaged during construction.
Fascia, you would commonly see on shades.
Lutron Palladiom shades are designed to not require fascia.
Wiring is one of the most, if not the most, important elements of a smart home. If the wiring isn't installed properly during the rough-in stage, everything else will be a challenge. This is why we test, label, and verify each wire we pull prior to drywall being installed.
As you design your smart home, it is important to think ahead. We installed some wiring to the patio area just in case the homeowner chooses to add outdoor cameras, outdoor wireless internet, or outdoor speakers.
Once the drywall is complete, our Smart Home Technicians will come to the condo and verify the location of all our wires. Sometimes, after the drywall is complete, things get moved. If it does move, the best time to inform the builder is right after drywall and not when the home is already painted!
Thanks for coming on board our smart home journey, and we'll see you for the next update!