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Smart home technology is no longer a thing of the past. Today, most homeowners require a space with automated features, such as lighting control, motorized shades, smart security, and one-touch control of their home entertainment system. 

If you’re a luxury homeowner who wants an even better experience in your home, then now is the time to add smart home automation to your life. There are different home automation systems you can integrate, but Control4 is the top choice that we recommend. Its recent update with OS 3.3 and core processors offers a new level of speed, performance, and seamless smart home control. 

Read on to discover the top three reasons homeowners should add automated features to their Charlotte, NC, residence.

Seamlessly Merge Security with Automation for a Safer Home

With no shortage of home security options available today, you might be wondering what the best option is for your home and family. Both DIY and professionally installed solutions abound, but costs and capabilities can differ widely. What if a system offered professional installation and support along with supreme ease of use and compatibility with other smart home devices? Oh, and how about wireless installation to boot?

All those things and more are what the ClareOne Wireless system offers. Keep reading below to learn about the best features of ClareOne and how it brings a higher level of smart home security to your Charlotte, NC home. 

Give Homeowners What They Want & Make Smart Systems Easier to Install

For any new home build, smart technology is now an essential component to consider. But homeowners can be placed in a difficult situation if they move in without proper prewiring. If they would like to install multi-room audio and a security setup in the same system, it will be much more of a headache to open walls and run wires after-the-fact.

So if you’re an architect or builder working with clients who are interested in smart technology and luxury lifestyles, consider a home prewiring installation. Based in Charlotte, NC, we perform low-voltage wiring installations specifically for smart systems. But what is prewiring, and why could your project benefit?  

As a builder or architect, you have lots to consider before you start your next build.  From layouts, materials, and the budget – a lot goes into making your homeowners happy with their new smart home.

But one component to your process that you might not have considered is low-voltage wiring – especially before you put up drywall and finish construction.  Plenty of smart technologies rely on low-voltage wiring, so installing it earlier on is easier and less expensive than deciding to add it in down the road.

Working with a low voltage contractor like us can guarantee that you have the proper wiring put in place, so that your Charlotte, NC clients can add in a variety of smart solutions as the years go by without significant rework.

Want to learn more about why low-voltage wiring is essential for any project you work on?  Keep reading on below.

SEE ALSO: WHY YOU NEED A SMART HOME INSTALLER FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT

Smart home automation is not just a term for the future – it’s in the here and now. And often, homeowners like to add new innovations and technologies they hear about to their already-built houses.

But as a builder or architect, you know there is no doubt about it – it’s easier on everyone when a new home build has wired infrastructures and systems pre-installed during the construction process. And the same goes for a smart home automation system.

So why should you bring these smart systems to new Charlotte, NC constructions? In this blog, we’ll discuss why smart solutions can elevate a project in every way and how working with a professional smart home company can make all the difference. Keep reading below to learn more.

SEE ALSO: WHAT DESIGN-BUILD PROFESSIONALS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SMART HOME INSTALLATIONS

Get it Right the First Time

For everyone involved, making sure a home’s building process runs smoothly and ends with perfect results for the homebuyer is ideal. It’s more efficient to set up the proper wiring and cables at the beginning of a project, than deciding halfway through or at the end when the walls have all been put up.

It takes more time and costs more to tear down walls and install wiring in an existing home, so knowing ahead of a project and preparing the construction for a system means you won’t have to retrace your steps or have your homebuyers deal with expensive processes later down the road. Everyone saves money and preventable work.

Have you heard of Wi-Fi 6? It’s the next generation of Wi-Fi, which has faster speeds than ever. While the current Wi-Fi 5 runs on 3.5 Gbps (gigabits per second), Wi-Fi 6’s speeds reach 9.6 Gbps. But the new Wi-Fi offers much more than a speed boost. The way it’s programmed makes it possible to run more devices at once without slowing or crashing your network.

But how? We dive into the ins and outs of Wi-Fi 6 so you can understand all that’s to come in home networking. If your Charlotte, NC house currently includes multiple smart devices, the internet upgrade will be especially beneficial to you.

SEE ALSO: Smart Home System Trends to Watch Out for in 2020

Is It Really Faster?

Although Wi-Fi 6’s maximum speed is 9.6 Gbps, it’s unlikely you’d ever reach or need that speed in the real world. The standard download speed in the US is 72 Mbps—less than 1 percent of Wi-Fi 6’s maximum speeds! But that 9.6 Gbps is valuable because it can be split across a whole network of smart devices. Your router can only communicate with so many gadgets at once, often causing the system to overload. The more in-demand your network is, the more it is going to slow down.

For some, golf is more than just a sport – it’s a way of life.  And there’s not much a relaxing 9 or 18 holes can’t solve.  But sometimes the weather is less than ideal, so what’s better than having the ability to play it right in your own home?

A proper golf simulator installation by a team of professional integrators can bring you all the joys and advantages of the game to your Lake Norman, NC living space.  Practice your swing and share your love of the sport with others as well – it’s easy when you have a simulator.

Want to find out more about this amazing setup for your space?  Keep reading below!

SEE ALSO: GOLFZON: THE ULTIMATE SIMULATOR FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

1. Never Miss Out Due to the Weather

Unfortunately, even if everyone is ready and geared up to head out to the golf course, your plans are still dictated by the weather.  But if you have a convenient golf simulator right in your own home, it won’t matter what the temperature or storm conditions are like outside.

With 2018 coming to a close and the new year right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of the new smart technologies and features to bring into your home.

Upgrading your smart home system will not only make daily life easier in your Charlotte, NC living space but will enhance every component of your house from top to bottom.

Whether you are looking to upgrade your home security, your entertainment room, or even your full kitchen, the home automation upgrades we’ve listed in this blog will take your property to the next level in 2019.  Check out the smart solutions mentioned below to make the best decisions about which to bring into your space. This year make your resolution to create a unique, smart space for you and your family!

SEE ALSO: UPDATE YOUR CHARLOTTE HOME WITH THESE THREE TRENDS

Security Features that Eliminate Any Worry

Integrating a smart security system as part of your home automation gives you peace of mind, whether you’re stepping out the door for your daily commute or heading off on a week-long winter skiing vacation.

We take wellness for granted until we aren’t feeling great: Sluggishness, fatigue, and migraines are all common ailments that affect most of us. According to a poll conducted by YouGov, only 1 in 7 Americans wakes up feeling well-rested every day of the week. We can try our best to get enough rest and relaxation, but oftentimes, life gets in the way. But what if we told you your home’s lighting could improve your wellbeing?

Smart lighting control systems have been known for use in commercial spaces and theaters, but they have gained prominence in homes for their tunable color and brightness features. To see how smart lighting can improve wellness in your Charlotte, NC home, learn more below!  

SEE ALSO: Why Motorized Shades Are an Essential Addition to Your Space  

How Human-Centric Lighting Works

Since the dawn of electric lighting, we no longer have to go to sleep when the sun goes down, and we can ‘see’ in the dark whenever we want. Although it’s a miraculous technological advancement, many studies observe the negative effects lightbulbs can have on our body’s circadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythm regulates the cyclical behavioral, mental, and physical changes we go through in a day. Without natural light, our system can be thrown off course.

Enter lighting control. Now, smart home systems connected to lighting fixtures can personalize the color temperatures, spectral power, color, and brightness of each bulb in your home. From a smartphone or tablet, you can set your lights to automatically adjust throughout the day, mimicking the sun’s journey in the sky. In the morning, your lights should be brighter with a white-blue tint. That kind of lighting doesn’t fare well in the evening, however. By afternoon, your bulbs should shift into a warmer, softer hue, like the golden hour before sunset.

What if you could tell your home to turn off the lights and it would do it for you? Writers and TV producers have always imagined a future where we could control our homes with just our voice. For example, Captain Kirk in Star Trek asked the Enterprise computer for data during space voyages, and Marty McFly heard a “Welcome Home” from his smart home in Back to the Future 2 as he walked through the front door. Today, these imaginations have come to life, and now you can enjoy them in your own Lake Norman, NC home.

Amazon released Alexa this year, the voice control system that runs on the smart devices, the Echo, Dot, and Tap. Not only can it give you the weather report, turn the lights off, and order a pizza for you, it also works with your Control4 system to perform the same scenes you use every day—like Good Morning, Movie, and Goodnight. Keep reading this blog to learn more!

SEE ALSO: Top Audio Video Products from CEDIA 2016

Amazon’s smart home director, Charlie Kindel, says the inspiration for Alexa came from Star Trek. They wanted to create a computer in the cloud that is controlled entirely by your voice. You could ask it things, ask it to do things for you, and find things for you. Alexa started out as a DIY-type automation product that could play music and connect with other wireless smart home devices – such as smart thermostats, smart lighting and more. However, our partner Control4 has developed drivers to integrate the Alexa voice control system into your smart home. They are one of the first home automation companies to combine smart home scenes with Alexa.

In a press release on Control4.com, Control4 CEO Martin Plaehn said, "On average, our customers have over 40 connected devices in their homes that are orchestrated by Control4. And now, voice interaction with Amazon Alexa offers another convenient way to control all of them. This integration combines Control4’s automation power and extensive support for connected devices with the intuitive voice control from Amazon Alexa, reinforcing our shared vision to make life in a connected home ever-more personalized, comfortable, and hassle-free.”

There are a lot of elements involved in interior design, such as wall color, furniture pieces, accent art, and layout. But have you ever considered how lighting plays a part in creating a beautiful home? Talk to any interior designer, and they'll tell you that lighting is a huge factor in planning out the right home design. The reasoning is that lighting affects our mood, the way we see things, and also affects how we function on a daily basis. Keep reading to discover our tips on how lighting can play a part in creating a beautiful ambiance in your Lake Norman residence, or anywhere in North Carolina.

SEE ALSO: The Integrated Home Takes Lighting to the Next Level With Automation

Include Decorative & Accent Lighting

When you hire The Integrated Home to integrate and coordinate your lighting, we go above and beyond to make your home look as beautiful as possible. We work with top-rated interior designers, electricians, and sub-contractors to create the perfect lighting scheme. Our team and partners can strategically place your lights in the right spots to not only illuminate your spaces but also highlight and complement décor. For example, a chandelier or intricate lighting fixture hanging above your dining room table is a decorative light that brings the theme of the room together while also providing a nice ambiance for a relaxing meal. Dimmers help you create the right ambiance by brightening the room for a fun game night, or lowering it for a romantic date night. We can also install special lighting around art work, like paintings and sculptures to bring attention to the detail in the artist's work. With a smart system, you can even hit a button on your mobile device to enact certain scenes when the time is right. Having cocktails with new friends? Hit "entertain" and all the lights highlight your beautiful art collection. We'll work with you to create the right lighting scheme that works best for every room.

Choose the Right Type of Light

If you own a home in the Charlotte, NC area, chances are you spend plenty every year heating and cooling your property.

Luckily, there’s a readily available solution that will help you save money and energy consumption each month: a smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats can automatically regulate the temperature in your home to create an eco-friendly home environment whether you’re at work, lounging in your great room or readying for sleep. They also can inform you of your energy consumption patterns so that you naturally can consume less.

Most importantly, though, climate control technologies such as smart thermostats shouldn’t be considered just a convenience. They can provide real, lasting benefits for your home and the environment.

Don’t believe us? Below are three startling facts you should know about home energy consumption and smart thermostats.