As a home automation installer, we work with many architects and builders throughout the Southlake, Texas area, and it’s kind of funny how often the same questions come up. Especially for construction firms just dipping into the smart home automation market, it can seem daunting.

If you’re in that boat, we hope this article will be useful to you. Below, we answer the most common questions about smart home technology we hear during the home planning and construction process.

See also: Make Homes Smart from the Start

What exactly is home automation?

Smart home automation is technology that allows the homeowner to simplify and customize the way they interact with their home. This means everything from motorized window shades, smart lighting and audio/video, temperature control and more.

Homeowners can control these systems via a single remote or device such as an iPad or another touchscreen device. Home automation carries many benefits like saving energy, increasing convenience and simplifying tasks for the homeowner, ultimately providing a luxurious living experience.

If you follow our blog, you know that we love to talk about smart home automation and all the different ways you can put technology to good use. As great as it is to learn about these smart systems, it’s also helpful to get an in-depth look at exactly what DB Media Solutions is able to do. That’s why we’ve put together this overview of one of our favorite recent projects: the 2016 Home of Dreams. To learn how our team collaborated with builders, interior designers, and other trades to transform this Keller property into a dream home, read on.

What is the Home of Dreams?

In 2016, the Fort Worth Texas magazine started their inaugural Home of Dreams editorial, which oversees the construction of a gorgeous, high-end home in the greater Dallas area. The Home of Dreams is exactly what you’d expect: a property with the highest quality building materials and technologies designed by professionals to fit perfectly into the space.

About the 2016 Home of Dreams

The Texas hill country got a French infusion with this sprawling property. The French country estate spans 7,169 square feet. The open-concept layout includes a Great Room that connects a kitchen, wine room, bar, dining room, and patio. Visitors to the home might wonder why the sleek and spacious kitchen is missing an oven—it’s because most of the cooking happens in the second prep kitchen tucked away further in the home. Listed at $2.39 million, this property has been designed for ultimate luxury in every area—from the custom-built pergola in the private courtyard to the coffee bar in the master suite.

DB Media Solutions’ Contribution

DB Media Solutions handled all of the Home of Dream’s low voltage wiring, media installation, and smart home automation installation. We worked with the builders and architects from the beginning of the project to ensure that the home had the right wiring and design for reliable technology performance. As the construction progressed, we were there to oversee the installation, and we also worked alongside interior designers to ensure that the technology blended seamlessly into the home.

SEE ALSO: Make Homes Smart from the Start

Building a new home requires a lot of decisions—building materials, home layout, wiring, and more all have to be carefully considered so that the homeowner is happy with the final product. More and more often, homeowners decide after the residence is built that they want their home to be “smart.” While this is definitely possible, nothing beats the seamless design and reliability of a smart home automation solution that is built from the ground up. Below, we’ve covered how builders in the Colleyville, Texas area can benefit from installing smart home automation technology during construction of new homes.

SEE MORE: What Are Some Perks of Living in a Smart Home?

Boost Home Value

Smart homes are worth significantly more than traditional residences, and even some basic home pre-wiring for future automation can go a long way toward upping the purchase price. Smart home automation is in demand for high-end home buyers, and that demand is rapidly growing over time. By investing in smart home automation during new home construction, you can reach far more buyers in the luxury home market.

Increase Buyer Satisfaction

The goal with any luxury home construction is for the homeowner to be completely happy with their purchase. Nothing beats the “Wow” factor of showing buyers their new home and demonstrating how their smart home automation system can control the lights, shades, HVAC, security, and more—all with a single touch on a screen integrated directly into the wall. You can also work with your home buyer from the start to tailor each room to fit their needs, with different technology and wiring going into each area.

Create a Clean Look

A common mistake that occurs when implementing smart home technology during construction is that the integrator is brought into the process at the very end of construction. As a result, many issues that arise during the installation process, which would have been easy to avoid with planning, end up affecting the design of the home. Closed walls have to be opened up again for wiring, or worse: wires have to be run outside of the walls where they are visible to the homeowner. By partnering with a smart home automation integrator at the start of construction, you can create a plan for a sleek and clean design right from the beginning.