Home Automation Maintenance: Keeping Your System Reliable
Short Answer What does home automation maintenance actually involve? Home automation maintenance is a short recurring routine rather than a repair job. Check the network first, keep controller and device firmware on versions that match, replace batteries in shades, locks and sensors on a schedule, and keep the equipment rack cool and on protected power. […]
How Much Value Does Home Automation Add to Your Home?
Short answer Home automation adds two kinds of value, and only one of them turns up at closing. Industry estimates from NAR and CEDIA put the resale premium on a well-integrated system somewhere around 3% to 5%, but appraisers rarely write automation in as its own line, so most of the return arrives through daily […]
Home Automation for New Construction vs. Retrofit
Short answer Prewire during new construction when the walls are already open. A data drop costs roughly $150 to $350 at rough-in and $400 to $1,200 once the plaster is closed, so the cable is never cheaper than it is right now. Choose a home automation retrofit when the home is finished and staying that […]
Voice Control Showdown: Alexa vs. Google vs. Josh.ai
Written by William Young: Lead AV Specialist at Nex AV — certified Control4 & Lutron installers designing smart homes and AV systems across NYC. Here’s how this usually goes wrong. A household buys three smart speakers, pairs them to a dozen app-controlled bulbs, and for about six weeks it feels great. Then the guest room […]
How to Choose a Home Automation Company: A Checklist
Written by William Young: Lead AV Specialist at Nex AV — certified Control4 & Lutron installers designing smart homes and AV systems across NYC.. Most people start this search assuming the hard part is picking the right brand. It isn’t. The brands are mostly fine, and the gap between a system you enjoy and a […]
How to Mount a TV on Metal Studs (Without It Falling)
Written by William Young: Lead AV Specialist at Nex AV — certified Control4 & Lutron installers mounting displays and AV systems across NYC.. Short answer: Yes, you can safely mount a TV on metal studs — but not with the lag bolts that came in the box. Metal studs are hollow, thin steel that screws […]
How to Convert Wired Speakers to Wireless (2026 Guide)
Written by William Young: Lead AV Specialist at Nex AV — certified Control4 & Lutron installers designing audio, home theater and smart home systems across NYC. How Do You Convert Wired Speakers to Wireless? To convert wired speakers to wireless, connect a wireless audio transmitter or streaming adapter to your audio source and a compatible […]
The First 10 Home Automation Devices to Install
Written by William Young: Lead AV Specialist at Nex AV — certified Control4 & Lutron installers designing smart homes and AV systems across NYC. Most people shop for home automation devices by the dozen and end up with a drawer full of half-connected gadgets. You don’t need 40 of them. The first ten cover most […]
Home Automation for NYC Apartments and Co-ops
Written by William Young: Lead AV Specialist at Nex AV — certified Control4 & Lutron installers designing smart homes and AV systems across NYC. Somewhere between four and twelve weeks. That’s the honest range for how long a home automation project in a Manhattan or Brooklyn co-op can take before a single device actually turns […]
Home Automation and Security: How They Work Together
Written by William Young: Lead AV Specialist at Nex AV — certified Control4 & Lutron installers designing smart homes and AV systems across NYC. How Do Home Automation and Security Work Together? Home automation and security work together by uniting isolated smart devices—such as alarms, door locks, surveillance cameras, lighting, and leak sensors—into a single integrated control […]