Building a custom home is a dream come true. Making that beautiful place a smart space is the icing on the cake and happens to be our forte. With this in mind, we wanted to highlight some of the most common mistakes people make in the planning phases of building a custom smart home. We talked to our design & engineering team to determine what those mistakes are and how to avoid them.

1. Don't Skimp on the Wiring.

The first step to designing your smart space is to understand what you want it to do for you and what you may want it to do in the future. Pre-wiring is planning the groundwork for where technology is going to go in the coming years. Running wire to one or two extra zones in the house is a great way to prepare for the future. You may think that wireless technologies are the way to go and that wiring is an unnecessary expense, but the truth is that wireless technologies still require power. A home with a good pre-wire infrastructure typically leads to savings in the future.

2. Don't "piecemeal" your system.

A mix of custom technology and DIY products is very common and is a great way to keep your budget where you want it. Still, a common mistake is leaving those plans out of the conversation when working with your technology designer. Common DIY technology like door stations, cameras, doorbells, and others work well, but some may not play nice with the system specified and can create headaches in the future. Make sure you communicate with your team what DIY technology you plan on using. We can make sure we include systems that integrate with the technology you'd like to install independently and make adjustments if needed.

3. Don’t neglect the infrastructure.

Your power structure and your network are the backbones of any smart home. Proper surge protection is a must to safeguard the technology installed in your home. Power control and power conditioning ensure that BRAVAS support staff can remotely service any issues that arise, saving you money over time. The network is the thing you interact with every day. Not only interacting with your control system but also when you're working from home, streaming movies, listening to music, or anything else that relies on a strong and reliable Wi-Fi signal. 

4. Don't pick the wrong partner.

If you don't trust the person you're talking to, you won't be confident that your new home will work for you in the end. It's important to be honest about what your vision is during these initial discussions. There are many options out there and it can get somewhat confusing, so the conversations about how you intend to use each space in your home are essential. One of the benefits of BRAVAS is that we complete many more projects than the average AV company. With our design and engineering team receiving feedback from our service teams around the country, we understand what it takes to do these jobs well and are able to learn more, improve our designs faster, and adapt to evolving technologies much easier than the average custom installer. 

5. Don't wait too long

Due to COVID, shipping delays have been a big issue recently, especially when it comes to electronics. Some small parts and pieces that go into these components are manufactured outside of the US and are more susceptible to longer lead times. One more reason not to wait too long is the complexity of the solutions you choose. For example, a hidden television or projector takes much more planning with your design team. Your builder will need to know specifications on those systems so they can plan ahead to make any adjustments to framing, wiring, etc. The earlier you have conversations on what technology you'd like to include in your home, the better prepared your integrator and other trade partners will be to make sure your project is completed on time and on budget. 

We are here to help! If you are planning a new home, or upgrading your current one, let BRAVAS Philadelphia help you make your home a better place to live, work and play.