Custom Installation
is a term referred to in the audio/video world as a group of professionals
that provide custom sales, installation and support of a variety of
home audio/video systems. A custom installation company picks up where
the big-box retail stores leave off in terms of after sale support
and installation of today’s increasingly complex residential
electronic systems.
Custom installation can be broken down into four main components,
although you will find that these components blend and interact with
each other in a variety of ways resulting in your own custom installation
solution: Audio, Visual, Networking and Automation.
Audio
The heart to most homes is the sound system, even if your main activity
is just watching the TV. Try watching your favorite film with no picture
and you will appreciate how important good quality sound really is.
Choosing and installing a good quality sound system is the firm foundation
for any custom installation. A custom installer is going to have a
strong familiarity with the installation of in-wall and in-ceiling
speakers and fishing wires behind the walls of your home.
Visual
With the advent of high-quality recording in the form of DVD and high-definition
sources, choosing the right display for your needs is very important.
The past few years have seen the prices of plasma screens drop, the
size of LCD screens increase, and the development of high-definition
projectors. With these higher resolution products, it is becoming
even easier to recreate the cinema experience in your own home.
Networking
The wired, and more commonly, the wireless world, now feature prominently
in home appliances. Your PC is no longer the only piece of hardware
capable of accessing the Internet. Your hard disk recorder, games
console, microwave and even your fridge can connect to the web to
give you the latest television listings, game updates, recipes and
food ordering services. Choosing whether to cable your house or install
wireless access points means that you can keep control of your technology
from whichever room you wish, or indeed, from anywhere in the world.
Check on the status of your home with networked video surveillance
cameras or listen to the music from your computer while on your deck
with a networked whole-house music system.
Automation
Imagine coming home to a warm house with the food in the oven, hot
and ready-to-eat; the lights from your front door leading to the lounge
are already switched on, and the security system knows that you're
home. Home automation is the utopia that filled the minds of science
fiction writers of the 1960s, and it looks like the future has arrived.
Home automation is only a button-push away, with simple systems available
for very little money. It easy to get started with touch screen control
of your lights, blinds, heating and cooling system, security system
and every other imaginable device that has wires.
Determining who to use for your
own custom audio/video system is the biggest decision and most important
factor for those having a goal of a high-quality system that is easy
to use and one that continues to work long after the bill has been
paid. Here are some critical things to consider when you are ready
to call in a professional to make your entertainment dreams come true…
• Determine your needs –
Most installations come in two flavors – New Construction
and Retrofits (Remodels). With new construction, you’re only
limited by the size of your wallet. With retrofits, how your house
is built might place limitations on what you (and your installer)
can do. This is the stage to start thinking about having some sense
of a budget, even if it is just a starting point. Keep in mind with
electronics and installation, you typically get what you pay for.
Locate an installer – The best sources to locate a custom
installer is a recommendation from one of their (hopefully happy)
previous clients. Builders are also a strong resource to talk to
when considering a custom audio/video system. Any installer your
builder recommends should be on your short list. Since builders
refer numerous clients to their custom installer, the installer
will likely move heaven and earth to keep the builder and the builder’s
clients happy. The web is also another great resource to get a sense
of the capabilities of the local custom installation companies in
your area.
• Qualify your installer –
Visit their websites. Visit their showrooms or offices. No office?
No showroom? No deal. Watch out for the installer who has nothing
more than the back of a cluttered van and a cell phone. These folks
come and go…and when they go, they leave you and your “custom
complex” system in the dust. An installation company that
is invested in a showroom certainly has more stability and enthusiasm
for their industry. Ask to see portfolios of their work and request
references. Also, make sure your installer has $1 million or more
in liability coverage. Always keep in mind: DO NOT HIRE ANYONE WITHOUT
INSURANCE, AN OFFICE, A WORKING DEMO AND A VERIFIABLE LIST OF REFERENCES.
• Now is the time for a specialist
– What is the primary business of your “short list”
of custom installers? Are they local electricians performing side
work as home theater installers? Does the primary owner of the company
work full time at running their custom installation business or
is this just a side job? If you are talking to the same companies
that are trying to sell you a mattress and a washer and dryer, is
this really the best you can do? What about the big-box/chain stores?
You already know how poor their in-store service is, do you really
think that is going to improve when they come in your home and install
a complete system? Their installation expertise is limited to strapping
a TV in the back of your minivan. And please tell me you didn’t
hire the company that just installed your heating and air conditioning
system. There is an old saying that goes…”If you want
to bake a cake, do you call a chef or a baker?” In the complex
and ever-changing world of custom home electronics, you need to
call the baker. They have all of the ingredients and are fully focused
on working solely within the custom electronics industry and staying
up to speed with current trends.
• At your service? Will the company
be available when you call with a problem late at night or on weekends?
Check their service policy and how quickly they can respond. You’ll
be working with a custom install firm before, during and after the
project – often for years. So choose someone you’ll
feel comfortable with over the long haul. When it’s the big
game and you have house full of friends, you need someone who will
be available to help you through a possible embarrassing and frustrating
situation. What about the sales rep that sold you on this wonderful
system…will you ever see them again, let alone get to speak
with them again? What about the person that trained you on your
system, are they available after they walk out your door? These
are all very real questions to ask yourself because things happen
with electronics. It is not a matter of IF, but WHEN…
• Too good to be true? If one estimate
is far less than the others, investigate. There is often a reason.
Maybe they forgot something and will have to come back to you to
request more money. In the custom installation business, the company
with the cheapest estimate is usually the first to be out of business.
There are several parts and pieces in delivering a first class system.
Going cheap on any of the pieces that make up your system could
compromise everything. If you decide to go with the cheapest proposal,
it might save you a few bucks now, but will wind up costing you
much more down the road. Your goal is to seek out the best value
for the scope of work being proposed.
• Go with your gut – Which
company impressed you the most? Were they professional, on-time,
easy to speak with and understanding of your needs? Which one really
listened to you and didn’t speak over your head? Did they
ask you questions that allowed them to customize a system to your
individual needs? Whom do you feel the most comfortable with letting
into your home on numerous occasions? In the end, it all comes down
to: Do you believe that this company will do a phenomenal
job for you and be there for you down the road? If you
feel any nagging doubts, maybe this installation company isn’t
right for you. But once you find the right match, it will be smooth
sailing, because you’ll be in the hands of a pro.
We hope that you found this information helpful and that it guides
you through the important process of finding the right custom audio/video
installer for your residential electronics project. We hope that you’ll
consider Impressive Home Theaters as your local custom installation
specialist for Central Illinois as we believe that we offer a combination
of service, product, expertise and value not found in our area.
However, whatever you decide, we encourage everyone to get out and
enjoy today’s numerous home entertainment technologies!
