Smart Home Automation: Should You DIY?
Smart Home Technology May Seem Consumer Friendly, But It Can Get Complicated
Everyone knows about smart home devices, and you likely have at least a couple in your home, even if you don’t think your home is “smart.” If you have a Nest or similar thermostat, or a Ring video doorbell, those are smart devices. Moreover, they can work within the context of a smart home automation platform like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant.
So, with so many great smart devices and solutions to choose from, why not do it yourself? You certainly can, and maybe the DIY route might work for you for some relatively simple solutions. On the other hand, if you are looking for a reliable and seamless smart home experience in Las Vegas, NV, you might want to enlist the services of a smart home professional. Keep reading to learn more about going DIY or hiring a pro for your smart home.
SEE ALSO: How Control4 Lets You Manage Your Home Your Way
What To Know When Going DIY
Some start devices are relatively straightforward to configure and operate. But if you are looking at a total smart home environment, where everything works together, that's where things get more complicated. Here are a few questions to consider:
- Are all the features you want available within one system, like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit? Or will you have to use more than one?
- How many apps will you need to control your smart home? Could you use just one?
- Are there other ways to control your smart home aside from apps?
- Is your network robust enough for many smart devices?
- Do you realize that you are your own installer and support department?
The last question might be the most important. With consumer DIY solutions, you are the integrator. If your automated lights suddenly stop working, you need to figure out why. You might reasonably expect that a software update to a device might make your automations stop working or that your security camera app logged you out, and you missed an important notification. Just know that you'll need to deal with glitches, updates, and many details.
The Benefits of Working with a Professional
A professional integrator will design a system that is tailored to your desires and lifestyle, as well as one that can grow with you into the future. A pro will propose a solution that is scalable, so you can add other smart home features as they are introduced. Professional integrators also understand all the networking protocols and needs of a smart home so that the technology addresses your needs without limitations.
And very importantly, integrators are there for after-sales support, so you're not spending time debugging why your outside lights don’t turn on according to the automated schedule. Finally, professional integrators increasingly offer packaged or custom service and monitoring options to ensure your smart home continues to run smoothly.
Are you ready to step up to the next level of smart home automation? Get started by reaching out to the team at Fusion Home Systems today! We look forward to working with you.
