Planning your project
How much does a smart home system cost?
The honest answer is: it depends on what you want to do. Like most custom work in a home, a smart-home system can be a focused upgrade that addresses your top priorities, or a comprehensive whole-home integration that touches every room. We’ve designed both, and we work with budgets across that whole spectrum.
The size of the budget matters less than making wise decisions with it. Our job as your integrator is to match the need to the right system, and the system to what you actually want to spend. We’re here to guide, not upsell. What we can promise is a free consultation, a written proposal, and full transparency on every line item before you commit to anything.
Can I reuse my existing devices? Will I be able to select the new ones I want, or do you only work with certain brands?
Yes — if there’s an integration path for what you already have, we’ll find it and use it. We’ve connected everything from coffee makers to space heaters to HVAC booster fans. If your equipment is still serviceable, our first choice is always to work with it.
That said, part of our job is being honest when something has run its course or simply isn’t reliable enough to build on. Those Nest cameras you grabbed on a Black Friday deal ten years ago? Probably time to move on. That vintage turntable and stereo system you kept because the sound is unmatched? Let’s figure out how to bring it forward.
As for new gear — yes, you have a say. We’ll tell you what we recommend and why, but we’re not locked into a single brand catalog. The goal is the right device for your home, not the one that’s easiest for us.
What’s included in a smart home system?
Every system starts with a reliable brain — something that ties all your devices together and keeps them talking — and controls that are actually pleasant to use. A keypad by the door. An app on your phone. A touchscreen in the kitchen. The right interface for the right moment.
From there, the pieces vary by home: lighting, thermostats, motorized shades, cameras, locks, audio, climate sensors. But what separates a real system from a pile of gadgets is that everything speaks the same language. One app. Scenes like “movie night” and “good morning” that actually work. Not a collection of fifteen apps you have to hunt through to find “the one that does the thing.”
How long does an installation take?
It depends on scope. A TV mount and clean wiring: a few hours. A home control system — running wire for components, programming scenes and keypads, and dialing in every room — runs two to three weeks. A full smart home with automation, audio, shades, and custom scene programming across the entire house: plan on a few visits spread over three to four weeks. New construction can run longer depending on site availability and where the other trades are in the schedule.
We’ll sketch the timeline during the consultation so you’re never surprised by trucks in the driveway.
Do I need to run new wires through my walls?
In many cases, yes — if the wires aren’t already there, we’ll run them. Almost everything in the smart home world is going wireless, but that creates its own problem. Neighborhoods and condos already have overlapping WiFi networks fighting for the same airspace. Every new wireless device you add puts more strain on that environment, and eventually you start to feel it: you’re on the patio enjoying music and the stream drops out — and now you’re the one troubleshooting it.
Our general rule is wire everything that doesn’t move and go wireless for the rest. It’s not always practical in a finished home, but we do our best to land every device on a stable, wired connection. The goal is a system you never have to think about.
What if my house isn’t finished yet?
That’s actually ideal. If you’re building or doing a major remodel, we coordinate with your builder and electrician during framing. Low-voltage runs go in cleanly, cable routes are planned, and finishes are coordinated. Everything integrates from day one — and it looks better than any retrofit.
Bring us in early; we work well alongside designers and builders.
The process and the people
Why shouldn’t I just buy gear from Amazon and install it myself?
You can — lots of homeowners try, and then they call us. The pattern is familiar: six different apps, automations that work 80% of the time, WiFi that buckles under the load, and no one to call when the system breaks at 9 p.m.
Our job is to design systems that feel inevitable — that your family actually uses, that still work three years from now, and that disappear into your home rather than demand attention.
What makes you different from a national chain?
You talk to Greg — the person who’s going to design and install your system. He walks your home, understands your family, coordinates with your architect or builder, and stands behind every decision.
We specify gear we’d put in our own homes (Lutron, Sonance, James, Focal, Alta Labs), and we stay with you after the install. We’re not optimizing for next quarter’s numbers — we’re optimizing for your home to work beautifully for the next ten years.
How do you design a system for my home?
We start with a conversation. What does your day actually look like? Where do you entertain? Do you work from home? Kids? A pool? Then we walk through the spaces in person, look at the architecture and the light, and review your finish plans if there’s a remodel or new build.
Only after that do we talk about gear. The point is to design systems that disappear into your home — that you don’t think about, you just live with.
Do you service your own installations?
Yes. We set up every system, program it, walk your family through how to use it, and we’re here when something needs attention or you want to add a room. You don’t get handed to a 1-800 number. You call Greg.
Service and support
What happens if a device stops working?
Call or text us. We’ll troubleshoot, and if it’s a device failure, the manufacturer warranty usually covers replacement. We handle the logistics — source the part, swap it in, reprogram it. If you have an ongoing service agreement, labor is covered too.
Can I add more devices to my system later?
Yes — that’s one of the advantages of designing a system properly the first time. Want to add lighting in the garage, a camera at the back gate, audio in the new patio? We come back, integrate the new gear, and update the programming.
Your system is meant to grow with you.
Let’s talk about your home
Free consultations — in-home or virtual. Serving Chicago and the western suburbs.