What is “Custom Installation” and how do we decide who to work with?
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!