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.