Find Home Automation Installation Companies Quotes Near Me
Get the latest smart home technology installed to control lights, locks, thermostats, and security systems. If you want to upgrade to a smart home, we can help with the financing. Get home automation contractors quotes near me specializing in smart home upgrades.
Our TGUC home improvement partners are vetted, background checked, and have years of experience. We match the best contractors for your project and budget. Here are some of the benefits of working with our our contractors.
- Years of experience, so you can count on quality work.
- Fair and market competitive pricing, so you can get value for your project.
- Solid, glowing references, and reviews, so you can benefit from their track record.
- Close in proximity to your project, so you will know they understand your market.
- Licensed in their industry, so you will know they are legitimate.
- Insured and bonded, so you can guarantee your project will be protected.
- Can offer TGUC Financial financing services, so you can receive the best rates in the market.
Find Home Automation Contractors Quotes Near Me
Licensing requirements for home automation installers vary from state to state. Check your state government’s website for more info. Some states require a contractor’s license while other states require only a business license. Specific jobs may require an electrician. This individual would be licensed by the state. Also check if a permit is required. This would be a city or county requirement.
All home automation installers should carry two types of insurance: general liability insurance to cover any damages to your property and worker’s compensation insurance to cover injuries to employees.
Home automation installers may also hold certifications from home construction associations. They may also have certifications from manufacturers of home automation materials.
Home Automation Cost and Finding Home Automation Contractors Quotes Near Me
Different households have different needs thus the price range for home automation varies from household to household depending on the level of tech they require. TGUC Financial can help with home improvement loans.
Devices
Buying devices for your home automation system usually requires specialized versions of your household appliance or device. If you want to personally customize your home automation system here are the different price ranges of what is commonly found in these systems. You should do some research first before you go off and buy your devices to make sure they are compatible with your hub or if it just connects directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth.
Central Hub
This is the device that holds everything together. This should be the first device you buy when planning to set up a home automation system. The brand of the devices you own or want to buy is usually the main point in deciding what hub to buy. Different smart home hubs have varying amounts of devices that are compatible with them so choose the one that is best for your home.
The price range of a smart home hub ranges from $60 to $200.
Lights and Light Switches
Some smart lights can change colors, decrease their intensity, or simply turn on or off during certain programmed times. Smart light switches can provide the same features a smart light bulb offers, but it is more limited and less expensive.
The price range for these varies from below $10 up to $200 depending on their features.
Cameras
Features that you need to look into when buying a camera for your home automation system are:
- Storage – Some cameras offer cloud storage, which usually needs an additional fee to use. If it is completely free it will delete the stored data after a limited amount of time. Others place all the data into a mounted microSD card or other storage device.
- Color – Cameras record in black and white or color.
- Infrared Function – Some cameras can function with little to no visible light.
- Video Resolution – The higher the resolution your camera records, the more expensive it will be.
- Vision Range – Most security cameras use wide-angle lenses, while some have a narrower vision.
- Other factors you have to consider are if it is for indoor or outdoor use and the area the camera needs to cover.
Camera prices range from $20 to $400 depending on their features.
Thermostats
The only thing you need to take into consideration when buying a thermostat for your home automation system is its compatibility with your other devices such as your HVAC systems or central hub
The price range for thermostats is usually $40 to $250.
Door locks
Smart locks usually come with the features of voice commands, push and email notifications, and tamper alarms. The price of a smart lock usually depends on its size, design, and features.
Price ranges from $100 to $300.
Setup
If you are trying to convert your home into a smart home then you have to take into consideration the cost you need to set everything up. Dismantling and refurbishing your home so that you can install devices for your home automation system has an average cost of $40 to $500 depending on the number and size of the devices you are trying to install.
Home automation services
If you don’t like the hassle of setting up your own home automation system, then an alternative is to hire a company that sets it up for you.
Some companies fully refurbish your home for a package deal, which usually costs between $500 to $3500 depending on the features and devices you need. Others provide a subscription service where you have to pay a set amount every month, between $35 to $70 a month. They may or may not include installation costs and activation costs, which usually cost $200 to $500.
So how much does home automation cost on average?
The average cost of setting up a home automation system is $1000 while high-end systems range up to $3500. Overall it can be quite expensive to set up, but the amount of money you save in the long run will cover those costs eventually.
Questions to Ask Home Automation Installers Before Hiring and How to Find Home Automation Quotes Near Me
1. Are you licensed for this type of work?
Ask your contractor for a copy of their license and contact its issuing authority to confirm whether it is in good standing or not.
2. Which types of insurance do you carry?
There are a few specific answers you would prefer to hear in response to this question. First, the contractor must have general liability insurance that will come in handy in case of an accident during the project or construction. An example scenario would be where they accidentally hit a water line which flooded your house. You want to know that they’ll be the one to take responsibility for the costs of the damage. Second, the contractor should also carry workers’ compensation insurance. This will protect you from liability if someone got hurt while working on your property.
3. How many permits have you obtained in my area over the last two years?
Make sure your general contractor is familiar with your local building code requirements and the permitting process in your community. It’s important to find a contractor who is credible and has recently worked within your area.
Confirm that your contractor is familiar with the permitting process in your community and local building code requirements. It’s best to find a contractor that has worked before in your area.
Basically you wouldn’t want to hire a contractor who is new and unfamiliar with the regulations of your town.
4. Can you provide a list of references?
Talk to former clients who have hired the general contractor you’re considering. Ask them about the process, as well as the final product. Discuss budgeting, timeliness, and professionalism.
Contact some former clients who have hired the general contractor you’re considering. Ask them about the process, budgeting, timeliness, professionalism, and of course, the final product.
Finally, ask them “would you hire this contractor again?”.
5. What is an expected timeline for this project?
It is essential for you to know when the contractor will begin and end the project, especially if you have an ideal deadline. Ask about any circumstances that may push back your deadline. Ask how many projects they’re currently handling. Also, make sure the timeline is realistic.
6. Will you hire sub-contractors for the job?
General contractors often need to subcontract work out. Check references for every person they will hire, know their names and what type of work they do. Verify their credentials and make sure that they also have the necessary insurance requirements. Also establish how communications will work with you. Will everything go through the general contractor or will they be coming to you?
7. What kind of written warranty do you have?
All credible contractors will guarantee their work and will have a written warranty agreement. This should clearly disclose what is covered in the build, what is not, and for how long. A one-year warranty is good, but two years would be better. A separate warranty will come from the manufacturer of the deck materials.
8. What’s your typical payment schedule?
Don’t pay the entire price upfront, even if they offer a discount for doing so. Discuss the budget and payment terms before the work begins. It should include payment amounts, due dates, and key deliverables.
9. Will you obtain all of the required building permits?
Permits and inspection requirements vary depending on the location. This may include a county, city, or even HOA approvals. A reputable general contractor should know the required permits which they should handle directly for your project.
10. Will you provide a written lien waiver at the end of the project?
A lien waiver is a legal document that confirms you have paid the general contractor and all sub-contractors for all the work that was done in the project. It waives the signer’s right to file a lien on your property. Basically, it is the construction industry’s version of a receipt.
11. What is the total cost? Find Home Automation Contractors Quotes Near Me
Make sure you have three bids for this one. That way you can see if one of your contractors is overbidding or underbidding. You don’t want unpleasant surprises like the use of inferior materials or shortcuts taken. You also don’t want to overpay.
12. What should be in the contract? How to Find Home Automation Contractors Quotes Near Me
- Final Cost – this should include a breakdown of materials and labor costs. Also ask them to itemize any part of the project that is optional (you might want to eliminate it during your review of the bids). Breaking the whole project down into separate costs helps when comparing the bids.
- Permits – the cost of permits should be included in your contract.
- Sketches – don’t depend on the vision in your mind being the same as the vision in your contractor’s mind. Get it all drawn out including locations of all components
- Timeline – the contract should include estimating starting time and estimated duration. You don’t want to schedule that vacation and have the house automation not finished!
How to Choose Your Contractors and Get Home Automation Contractors Quotes Near Me
- If you are planning on being your own general contractor, it is really important to choose each contractor carefully.
- Get referrals. Contractors who have already worked in your area will not only know the local code but will have an established reputation.
- Check for manufacturer certifications. Some material companies will certify contractors who have been properly trained to use their materials.
- Check them out ahead of time. They must be insured and licensed and able to produce the paperwork proving it. Also check out their Better Business Bureau rating. Also look at the ratings on Yelp and Google. Read the one and two star reviews (some of them are not really legitimate complaints – look for the ones with real issues) and look at the overall rating.
- Don’t just pick the lowest bid. You won’t be planning to redo this remodel while you own the home. Your guarantee will only extend to materials that have been properly installed so you want quality workmanship. Find out what kind of warranty is on your materials. There should be a workmanship warranty as well as material warranties from the manufacturers.
- Good communication is necessary. Choose a contractor that will return calls and talk with you about issues before and during the process.
- Get it in writing. Your written bid should have a clear scope of work and a tight price range. Read the small print and ask about the process for out of scope costs and price overruns.
- Don’t put up with a high pressure sales pitch. Professional contractors should give you the opportunity to look at their bid, compare it with others, and do your own research. Be wary of anyone who offers a “today only” special or requires that your spouse be present for the sales pitch (they don’t want you to be able to say, “I have to discuss this with…”).