Q: What are the most important pieces of information homeowners can share with their home systems installer?

Your Expectations

We need to know a client's expectations before we can proceed with a solution. Just as no two clients are the same, no two home control systems are alike. If a client wants everything in the house automated or to have only a few devices, we need to know that.

What, If Anything, Do You Currently Own?

If a client currently has electronic systems in his or her home, what he likes or dislikes about it? What would he have done differently?

Your Family

A home systems installer needs to know who will be using the system. In many cases, our company primarily deals with the "lady of the house" when designing a system. The first time her husband touches the system he has no preconceptions about how it should work. This is both good and bad. We program our systems to be intuitive so that even those who weren't involved in the design and installation process can easily operate them. However, there have been circumstances where the husband asks for additions or changes to the system. For example, he might ask to have his iPod integrated into the whole-house music system after the system has already been set up. We certainly can add his iPod, but it will require additional design and programming time. Sometimes we may ask what seem like silly questions, but they all have merit.

Your Budget

The awful "b" word! Most installers do not openly ask what your budget is, just so they can max you out. Knowing your budget is critical so that we can tell you early on if the system you and your family expect is within your reach. If your budget is too small to meet your expectations, your home systems installer can help you prioritize your needs. One thing homeowners should remember when talking budget is that asking how much a home control system costs is like asking how much a kitchen costs. It varies dramatically, based on the products, materials and finishes that are incorporated.

—John Stumpf, sales manager, Station Earth, Ontario, Canada