Make Sure You’re Getting the Reliability and Performance You Need

On our blog, we’ve talked a lot about the many benefits of smart home automation – energy efficiency, convenience, comfort, property value, etc. But deciding that you want the benefits of a smart home is the easy part. The struggle for many homeowners is finding a smart home company that will do the job right. With so many contractors in the Honolulu, HI area, how can you know for sure which one is the right fit for your needs? There are a lot of factors to consider, but here are three key characteristics you should look for.

1.   Appropriate Licensing

Effective July 1^st, a new ordinance in Hawaii requires all AV contractors in the state to have an electrical journeyman’s license. This licensing helps to ensure that the person working on your smart home project has the skill and knowledge to do the job right.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a good process in place to track down and stop smart home installers who are operating without a license. The good news is that all licenses are kept on record, and you can easily check to see if the company you’re considering has the appropriate licensure by visiting Hawaii’s Professional & Vocational Licensing website.

2.   Experience

If you’re relying on a contractor who has never done AV or automation work before, you’re simply not going to get high-quality work. A smart home automation system needs to be installed seamlessly into your home and work great both now and in the future. Here are some ways to assess experience level:

• Find out how long they’ve been in business
  • A company that has been around for more than a decade likely knows what they’re doing
• Ask to see work samples
  • A picture is worth a thousand words. If they can’t provide you with examples of previous work, it might be because they don’t have any. Of course, you can also assess the quality of the installation from the imagery.
• Ask for references
  • If previous customers are happy with the smart home company’s work, they’ll have no problem putting in a good word.

3.   Insurance

Just like with an electrician, roofer, or plumber, it’s not a good idea to hire a smart home company that is not insured. Your smart home installer will be working with electrical wiring and components, and in the unlikely event that there is an accident or injury, it’s not worth the risk of having to pay for it yourself. Instead, choose a company with appropriate insurance, and you can rest easy knowing that everything is covered.

SEE ALSO: Why Building a Strong Infrastructure for Your Smart Home Pays Off
When you find a quality company for smart home automation, you’ll have the assurance that your home will be taken care of for years to come. At Pacific Audio & Communications, we do every smart home installation to the best of our abilities. Our low voltage contractors are licensed, insured, and experienced. We also provide 24x7x365 tech support for all of our clients.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact us today by calling 808-386-5963 or filling out this quick form.

 

For Immediate Release

Continuing Education Courses Available for Design and Build Professionals in Maui, Kauai and Big Island

Local electronic systems professionals deliver training; members of participating organizations earn continuing education units

 
Kihei, Hawaii (10/21/2015) — Educating architects, building designers, builders, interior designers, and remodelers on ways to increase their business through home technology is top priority for Pacific Audio & Communications Hawaii. Recently, Patrick Mulligan, of Pacific Audio & Communications Hawaii, received the CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) designation from the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) enabling him to deliver multiple courses approved for continuing education credit by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC)-governed interior designer associations (ASID, IIDA, and IDC), and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

 
These COI courses are part of CEDIA’s industry outreach efforts, designed to strengthen collaboration between home technology professionals and the design and build industry. As technology continues to grow and change at a rapid pace, the courses that Patrick Mulligan offers help design and build professionals better understand the capabilities of residential electronic systems. The courses are provided at no charge by Pacific Audio & Communications.
 
“We work in unison with builders, architects, interior designers, and related professionals to combine grace and elegance with high-tech wizardry” Patrick Mulligan COI
 
Local chapters of industry partner associations, such as AIA, AIBD, NARI, and ASID are encouraged to contact Pacific Audio & Communications to take advantage of this free education.  Courses cover such topics as hiding technology, planning for residential electronics systems, and home theater design.

 
About Pacific Audio & Communications Hawaii.
Pacific Audio & Communications (PAC) is one of the nation's premier Electronic Systems Integration Company specializing in design, integration, and installation of electronic systems in residential environments. Since 1991, we have completed over a thousand quality installations in Hawaii, California, and Nevada. Our installations have received national attention in several consumer and trade publications. More info can be found on our website www.pachawaii.com

• Increase Resale Value for Your Kauai, Hawaii Property • Let Your Smart Home Automation System Get the Most out of Energy-Saving Technology• Enable mobile control, monitoring with better system integration • Save money, time, and grief when it comes to upgrades, maintenance or additions.
   

Who’s Wiring Your Home and Do They Know What They’re Doing?

Check out some frequently asked questions about smart home automation and home technology integration and find out why you should work with Pacific Audio and Communications Inc.

• Do I need a lot of wiring in my home? Couldn’t I just go with wireless solutions?
  • You don’t need a lot of wiring, but you need to ensure what you install is the right kind of wire and is installed correctly. Using the right kind of wire makes a huge difference in performance and future upgrades. A smart installer primes your system for growth by installing conduit points in specific locations to create access for future wiring. Just one conduit install can save you thousands in future upgrades and avoids having to cut into walls, ceilings or floors if you want to incorporate new components, services or upgrades in your smart home automation system.
  • A wireless network relies on strategically placed Access Points which have to be wired to your home network. Cable, phone, alarm and security locations will also need a wiring foundation. The best quality when it comes to internet speed and audio video signals comes from wired systems. By relying on wireless solutions, you also risk interference from neighbors. Wireless is good and will get better, but in some areas wiring will always be the better option. And that wiring needs to be of the best quality and properly installed.
• What are some considerations when preparing a smart home’s infrastructure?
  • Work with your contractor when finding a low-voltage subcontractor for your project and make sure to ask the following questions:
    
    • Can they install the systems you want to incorporate in your smart home automation system?
    • Can they provide service and maintenance afterwards? Many low-voltage subcontracts will only take part in the installation and leave users stranded when they face problems.
    • Do they have a reputation for reliable work and systems?
    • Are they licensed?
  • Once you have found the low-voltage contractor you want to work with, make sure you discuss which systems you want to include in your home. When discussing this take both aesthetics and functionality into account:
    
    • Where do you want to place your main system control panels and equipment?
    • How do you want to interact with your system?
      
      • Control it from your smartphone with mobile control and monitoring.
      • Find the right user interface for ease-of-use of the system.
      • Will the access be designed for a rental market with multiple users?
    • Don’t fast track through this initial process. Taking the time to communicate with your low voltage contractor will result in a spectacular end product that operates just the way you want and expect it to.
• Why Should I Trust Pacific Audio & Communications Inc. With my Home Technology Needs?
• We have over 25 years of experience in the industry and we just keep getting better. Through our experience we know the best products in the market and when to use them. All our smart home automation solutions are tried and true—fully tested for optimal results.
• Something that makes us stand out is our commitment to customer support. Our past customers love us because we service everything we install with labor and equipment warranties included.
• We do it all to offer comprehensive smart services including home theaters, whole house audio, wired and wireless networking, lighting systems, security and surveillance, motorized shades, power protection systems and smart home control integration.

Looking for a low-voltage contractor to take care of your home technology needs? We specialize in the outer island market (Maui, Kauai, Big Island) and we’re here to take care of you. Contact us to set up a consultation!