It’s fairly common for people to purchase an electronic device, use it for a few months, and then realize it’s already outdated or needs an upgrade because a new model has already been launched. Most of us have experienced this with smartphones. There are now seven models of the iPhone, and companies often have to alert you to software updates, sometimes even every month.

It’s true that any piece of technology you purchase is a long-term investment- especially smart home automation. You have to regularly update and occasionally upgrade your device. But the truth is you don’t have to worry about losing out when you work with a professional like The Integrated Home. Not only will we service your smart home for life, but we’ll also make any needed smart home updates along the way so that it reaches optimal performance. Keep reading to see if your house in the Lake Norman, North Carolina area needs an upgrade.

SEE ALSO: Partner with a Control4 Dealer to Build or Renovate Your New Home

#1 Your Smart Home is Slow, and Can’t Connect with All Your Components

If your smart home system is slow, and often has problems connecting with your devices, this is likely a network issue. A smart home must have the proper network infrastructure to work properly. An average Internet provider just won’t cut it. You need a professional to install the network and analyze your home to make sure all the connections and routers are placed in the proper location. This is especially important if you want to be able to do things like arm your security system from another state. It’s also crucial when you regularly use streaming services like Netflix or Spotify. Establishing a proper network connection is the first upgrade you may need to make.

#2 Your Devices Are Outdated

If you are still using the older models of controls to use your smart home it’s definitely time for an update. A lot of the older universal remotes and controllers are heavy, bulky, and are limited. Since most people today use their mobile devices to control and manage their lives, most smart home companies have adapted and now offer smart home mobile apps that you can download onto your phone, tablet, or computer. They also have sleek, simple, and lightweight touch pads that are dedicated to controlling your home. They can sit on a table so you can move it throughout the house, or be installed inside the wall so it’s more stationary. Our partner Control4 even offers fun colors for these controllers, like fire red, and many of these in-wall touch screens have charging stations for your devices too. Upgrade your controllers, and you can enjoy a lot of new smart home features like streaming surveillance footage in HD, or creating custom scenes like “Wake up” and "Goodnight.”

Chances are you may have already seen school supplies in the aisles at the store. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy before the fall hits. And an added benefit of living in Charlotte, North Carolina is that the weather never gets too cold, and you can enjoy your backyard all-year round. In this blog, we have some tips on how to entertain friends and family outside with outdoor audio video. Keep reading to start getting ready for your next fun gathering. 

SEE ALSO: Prepare for Summer Fun with Outdoor Audio Video

Pool Controls

First off, there’s nothing more fun than jumping into a cool pool on a hot summer day. And taking a midnight swim is equally fun when you’re with friends. We can integrate your pool and hot tub controls into your smart home so that you can adjust the settings with a mobile device. Change the temperature of the pool to make it cooler when it’s sweltering outside, and give your guests a convenient remote to change the hot tub settings so they can enjoy the jets and soothing hot water. If you do decide to take a swim in the evening, automated lighting will brighten your activity. Turn on lights inside and outside the pool to stay safe and get those laps in. We can tie in sensors so your pool area automatically illuminates when someone walks up to it too. Easy and convenient controls will certainly enhance your summer plans and get-togethers.

Movie Nights Under the Stars

Take advantage of the summer nights by enjoying a movie under the stars. We can set up an outdoor projector and screen, or install a flat-screen TV on your patio so you can watch your favorite movies and gaze at the sky at the same time. Our outdoor TVs prevent glare with special technology, and also resist water and extreme temperatures. So you can rest knowing they won’t get damaged by the elements and your investment is protected. Whether you simply want to be able to watch a baseball game on the patio by the pool, or if you want a large screen for big events, we can install a solution that matches your unique needs.

Dance or Relax to Your Favorite Tunes

It definitely takes a professional AV installer and a high-quality audio system to truly make your backyard sound beautiful. We’ll create plans to lay out the speakers and subwoofers in exact locations so you can hear the sound full and loud no matter where you are standing outside – or swimming in the pool for that matter. Our team can even install speakers in the water so you can hear the music as you do the butterfly. We can also hide your speakers in the foliage and pick colors that blend in with the surroundings so you won’t even notice the equipment amidst your outdoor haven. Your music system will be integrated into your smart home so you have complete access to your entire music library, radio stations, and streaming platforms. Anyone will be able to easily change the tune, adjust the TV, or increase the jet power in the hot tub with the same app on a mobile device.

Some people believe that the best feature of a media room or custom home theater is the picture quality, or the audio.  While those are certainly the standard, and some of the most fun aspects, we’d like to inform you about the additional perks of having a whole house video system in your Charlotte, North Carolina home.  From simplifying controls, organizing all of your content, and streaming media to any location, The Integrated Home, as your local residential AV installer, knows exactly how to create the best home entertainment system.  

SEE ALSO: 3 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Audio Video Installer

#1 Reduce clutter.

When you work with our team, you have the advantage of getting rid of clutter and organizing all of your different media devices. We’ll place streaming players, cable boxes, Blu-ray players and more in a storage area so that it’s out of sight and won’t disrupt your beautiful home decor. Our crew installs professional equipment racks, which are efficient and neatly organized so your wires are never a mess. Instead of purchasing five Blu-ray players for all your spaces with TVs, you can just use one and distribute the same movie throughout your home. For example, you can play the same movie on all the screens, or play the basketball game on one, a movie on a second, and a TV show on another. It’s up to you to choose which sources you like, and it’s up to us to make it simple and effective.

#2 Pick up where you left off in any room.

One of the great features of using Control4 products is easily switching content between rooms. For example, you’ll be able to start a movie in the bedroom, pause it, and then pick up exactly where you left off in the living room. Control4 has different high-definition video distribution switches and controllers to fit the size of your property. So it doesn’t matter if you have 15 TV’s or three, we have the perfect equipment to meet your needs.

#3 Simplify your controls.

Do you like pressing buttons or swiping screens? Whether you prefer to select a show on a tablet, or choose a channel with buttons, we have plenty of options suited for your personal style.  For example, Control4 has a universal remote that not only displays your favorite channels on an HD display, but also includes back-lit buttons you can press. It also allows you to control your shades, climate, lights, and security system. Control coffee table clutter, and get rid of those extra apps too with the SR-260 handheld remotes.  Extremely light weight, these remotes have an incredibly fast response time. You’ll be able to set the thermostat, turn on CNN, and lower the shades with the same intuitive device.

With so many options for wireless music systems today, it’s pretty easy to get lost in a sea of audio brands and equipment. Which one is best and matches your needs and specific preferences? The Integrated Home is here to help you not only understand how wireless music works, but also pick the right solution just for you and your family. With our help, you’ll be rocking out to your favorite playlist in no time, and playing DJ entertaining friends and family like a pro at your next house party.

SEE ALSO: Transform the Soundscape of Your Home with Whole House Audio

“Wireless Music” Doesn’t Mean There are No Wires

So you may be surprised to find out that there are wires in a wireless music system – that is unless you purchase a Bluetooth speaker. Bluetooth speakers can be charged using a plug-in cord into the wall and then can be played anywhere without a power source until the battery dies. These are great for picnics, volleyball games, or any other fun outing where you want to bring music with you – but not transport heavy, expensive audio equipment. But these types aren’t what we are referring to when we talk about wireless music systems. It refers to connecting multiple speakers without wires so you can play the same song in multiple locations at once. For example, place a Sonos PLAY:1 speaker in each bedroom in your home, plug in the power source, and then connect all three using the app so you can play “Purple Rain” on all three simultaneously. You can play different songs on each one as well, but if you want all of them to sync, you need wireless speakers in order to do that.

You Can Use Accessories for Every Application

Our partner Sonos has a lot of different products to choose from – including soundbars, bookshelf speakers, and loudspeakers. But what if you want to install one on the wall? Or maybe you want to create a surround sound setup in the living room. This can be accomplished using audio accessories. Sonos speakers include screw ports for mounting hardware, but since they are uniquely shaped and somewhat heavy, they can be hard to mount. If you don’t have a shelf to put them on, then you need either speaker stands or wall mounts. We offer swivel wall mounts so you can reduce clutter in your room and stands to place your speakers on. If you want to match your soundbar to a flat-screen TV, we can help you mount that as well and fit it to size. Knowing that you have options when it comes to displaying your speakers is helpful when your rooms are different shapes and sizes.

You Can Integrate Them with Your Smart Home

Sonos systems and a lot of other wireless music systems can be integrated into your smart home – meaning you can sync them to other features like lights and shades. Not only can you enjoy the convenience of controlling your speakers with an iPhone or Android smartphone, but you can also play them, turn on your lights, and open your doors all at once. Sonos is compatible with Control4 and Savant smart home systems so you can incorporate music into a variety of scenes. For example, wake up to your favorite radio station and raise your shades at the same time. Play the news as you walk into the front door after work to catch up on what happened that day. You have many options with wireless devices.

Maybe you are adept enough to hang a flat-screen TV on the wall, or set up some speakers in your living room for surround sound, but did you know there are a lot of perks to working with a local professional to install your AV (other than not having to do the work yourself)? Not only do we have exclusive technologies and luxury brands that you can’t find in a local store, but we also have decades of experience creating the very best media rooms and home theaters – suited for your exact needs and desires. From organizing all your content, simplifying controls, and streaming and controlling media to or from any location, The Integrated Home is your local audio video installer in Charlotte, NC who knows exactly how to create the best home entertainment setup. 

SEE ALSO: The Best Home Theater Systems for Your Charlotte Living Room

1. Boost the Quality of Your AV

Here is a common occurrence: you buy a brand new flat-screen TV, you bring it home and discover the sound is never loud enough. The picture looks really nice, but you have to turn up the volume to the maximum level just to hear the movie. The truth is that the thinner TVs become, the worse the speakers perform. The average flat-screen TV has two speakers that are just barely larger than the size of a quarter. With speakers that size, you can't expect to hear anything at a proper level, not to mention you won’t feel immersed in the action like you want.

While adding a surround sound system is a great option, if you don't have the budget or space for a full 5.1.2 or 7.1.2 system, a high-quality soundbar will do the trick in the meantime. Add a soundbar by a quality manufacturer like Sonos and you can turn up the volume as loud as you like and will notice the difference in clarity. Give us a call and we can mount this beautiful soundbar in your living room. When you’re ready, we can add on to your system at any time – like upgrading your TV to 4K or installing a full Dolby Atmos surround sound system.

2. Easily Control Content in Every Room

One of the great features of having a smart AV system is easily switching content from room to room. For example, you’ll be able to start a movie in the living room, pause it, and then pick up exactly where you left off upstairs. Play a different channel in every room of your home – inside or outside – or the same program on all the screens. Control4 has various audio and high definition video distribution switches and controllers to scale to the size of your house. So it doesn’t matter if you have 15 TVs or three, we have the right equipment to meet your needs.