When people think about fully automating their home, one of the first things they research is the cost – it’s one of the first questions they ask when meeting with integrators. It’s a valid question but it’s a very difficult question to answer as there isn’t one single answer. There is no Best Professional Home Automation System, there is only the ideal system for each client.
Like a fingerprint, each house and its’ owners are unique in a myriad of ways. The house may be “cookie cutter”, as in it’s a generic model for neighborhoods being built, but even then, each personal touch of the family creates an entirely new outlook on the home. More TVs, less TVs but bigger, full house audio or one single room, total home control or a solution for just one media room; advanced intelligent lighting, outdoor solutions, the list of Home Automation Solutions goes on and each decision changes the cost.
Is Home Automation Worth the Money?
Before we talk more about cost, let’s explore if home automation is actually worth the money. Smart Home Cost is a variable along with everyone’s specific needs and wants, but one automation project will pay for itself, and then some, in a year or less. The best part? BTA systems last up to ten years or longer. A popular saying is “Time is Money”, imagine cutting minutes of menial tasks out of your day and gaining hours a week for more important things.
Set lighting and shading scenes that trigger automatically, set volumes and opening channels so you turn on your TV and it’s ready to watch, every movie and show becomes HD, complete surround audio, it’s a lot but for the initial Smart Home Cost compared to the long-term returns is huge.
How Much Does a Whole House Automation Cost?
The Cost of a Smart Home varies from home to home and family to family. Does the family have children that have friends over all the time, does the house need more entertainment? Are you outside more than you’re inside, do you need outdoor solutions and entertainment to enhance that experience, how much control over your system do you want or need.
When planning a new home build, it’s crucial to allocate 4-8% of your home’s value for technology systems. This excludes lighting control, motorized shades, networking, and a control system, which require separate budgets. For lighting control, expect to spend approximately $7 per square foot, with hardwired systems on the higher end due to their reliability. Home theater systems can range from a simple media setup at $10,000 to a full reference theater at over $1 million, depending on your desired performance level. Properly budgeting for these elements ensures your home technology enhances your lifestyle seamlessly.
I won’t lie to you and say there is a cheap solution unless you go the D.I.Y. route. This type of equipment is a quick and easy solution that isn’t made to last – they’re created to be useful fast and then be replaced, which makes you spend more money. Why go through the trouble when your system can do what you need and more for years at a time.
If you’re curious, check out the HTA Budget Calculator for a rough estimate. Again, it will vary from our actual proposal cost, but it is a number that you can work with if needed.
How Much Does a Home Automation Project Cost?
The Home Automation Installation Cost of a full system would be exponentially more expensive than, say, a single media room; even if you packed that media room full of the best we have to offer. It’s a matter of size, more room, more equipment, more people, more labor – it’s a cycle that isn’t for everyone, but BTA guarantees that a proper full home system will give you a feeling of luxury and seamless simplicity no matter how many zones you add.
Items like leak sensors, cameras, alarms, automated shading, voice control and AI integration, will obviously make the price increase so we recommend using the HTA calculator and talking to a professional about what you really need to fulfill your desires without breaking the bank.
Is Home Automation Cost Effective?
Smart Home Installation is more than a normal store-bought solution in a few areas. Other than reliability and life span there is also the money saving aspect of this technology. With intelligent power systems you can store clean, renewable, power by charging batteries through solar energy or other means and run your systems on a closed circuit able to protect your equipment from storm surges, power outages, as well as keeping important systems powered until the electricity returns.
There are also WiFi solutions we implement that offer seamless roaming throughout your home as well as distributing more internet where it’s needed and less where it isn’t. Your fridge and printer don’t need as much speed as your computer, phone, or TV so our system takes some of the internet flowing to the less important devices and sends it in a more important direction. Seamless roaming may not save you money directly, but it offers you the ability to walk through your home connecting to the next access point before disconnecting from the old one, so you never lose your stream or get cut off in a meeting, thus saving your time and increasing productivity.
It also increases property value if you ever decide to sell the home. With automated HVAC your home will change temperature without you knowing; due to occupancy, timed settings, or outside temperature it will adjust to create the most effective cooling range without wasting electricity.
Conclusion
All in all, we didn’t speak of actual pricing here but tried to prepare you to expect something more than an easy fix. Cost varies from project to project with ever-changing factors; designers wanting something new, color schemes changing, something forgotten or taken out for some reason, there is no way for us to accurately give a cost for a project, we can only give you a tool for a best guess until we actually build the package and send it to you for approval.
Is luxury home automation worth it? Absolutely yes, it will increase property value, save money on electricity, automated HVAC will help your AC last longer and help it work more efficiently. Powerful WiFi solutions, brighter light, better sound, clearer video, home automation checks every box you can think of as well as some you can’t. The biggest benefit of one of our systems, though, is the ability to simply live better. Our solutions help create safe, convenient, and fun environments that fill the needs of its individual family.
Want to learn about all our capabilities? Then check out the material and photos found here on our website or come into our Design Center for a look at our Simulator which showcases everything we can do in a small, easy to imagine, format.
