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How to Choose a Low-Voltage Contractor
How to Choose a Low-Voltage Contractor
Key Questions to Consider When Choosing Your Smart Home Partner
People usually associate low-voltage contractors with large industrial projects. However, luxury smart homes also involve installing, integrating, and maintaining low-voltage systems. Low-voltage wiring is used for networking, security, AV, lighting, motorized shades, and other smart home devices.
By working with a professional contractor instead of going the DIY route with your technology, you’ll avoid costly (and time-consuming) reworks and get reliable performance for years. Plus, expert contractors will combine all your smart home components into one cohesive platform for greater ease of use. Choosing a low-voltage contractor can be intimidating, so we’ve answered some common questions to help you as you begin your search in the Minneapolis, MN, area.
SEE MORE: Work with a Low-Voltage Contractor for Every Installation
How can you gauge the qualifications of a low-voltage contractor?
When looking for qualified candidates, we recommend looking at a company’s certifications, experience, and customer reviews.
Certifications could come from manufacturers (for example, we’re Control4 and Lutron certified) or industry groups (like our HTA, HTSA, or CEDIA memberships). We also bring 15 years of experience in residential, commercial, and lighting solutions. Check out our Houzz profile to see project photos and read reviews from our past clients.
What services do low-voltage contractors offer?
While some low-voltage contractors focus exclusively on networking or lighting, others offer a full suite of smart home services. Based on the project you have in mind, check the company’s website to make sure they cover all the services you need. You don’t want to be stuck hiring multiple teams if one can do it. We can help with lighting, AV, networking, security, climate control, and motorized shades on residential and commercial projects. If you need help with something and aren’t sure if we have experience, reach out to find out!
Can low-voltage contractors integrate systems from different brands?
Do you like smart home devices from companies like Ring, Nest, or Sonos? It’s important to check in with your low-voltage contractor to ensure they know the requirements for seamlessly integrating these with the rest of your smart home. We use Control4 for most of our installations, in part because it is compatible with over 30,000 brands.
What is the typical cost of hiring a low-voltage contractor?
The cost of a low-voltage contractor will depend entirely on the project. Costs may vary based on lower labor rates or the manufacturers they work with. As we mentioned, we’re members of the Home Technology Association, which certifies only 10-15% of the top integrators based on their reputation, the type of projects they complete, their customer support, and their experience. They offer a budget calculator that could give you a general benchmark of typical project costs.
What maintenance and support services do low-voltage contractors provide?
As we mentioned, support is a key factor in becoming HTA certified. Technology requires regular upkeep to perform at its best, so we offer service plans for our low-voltage installations that include remote monitoring and troubleshooting, annual maintenance checks, and 24/7 support.
If you are looking for a qualified and experienced low-voltage contractor in the Minneapolis, MN, area, we encourage you to contact us today. Please call or fill out our contact form to learn more about our services or schedule a free consultation.