Your home is important, so choosing a company with an excellent reputation is essential
The home automation industry is booming at unprecedented levels. With millions of consumers deciding to invest in a smart home upgrade, new home automation businesses are springing up across the globe to meet demand. But does your home automation contractor have the right tools and experience for the job? Our list of questions helps you decide if your home automation contractor is worth working with.
1. Can you tell me more about your company?
How many employees work at the company, how many years have they been operating, and what level of experience do the employees have? Home automation is a young industry, so every year that the company you are considering has been in business should be seen as an advantage. It’s also worth knowing if key employees have relevant backgrounds and qualifications. If they have previous audio visual or design experience, as well as the latest training and licensing in smart home technology, then they are in an excellent position to deliver first class results.
2. Are you award winners? Are you BIID approved CPD providers?
When it comes to something as important as your home, you want to be working with winners. If the company you are thinking of working with can point to at least one recent award, it shows that they are at the cutting edge of home automation. The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) is the only professional organisation for interior designers worth considering in the UK. If the company that you are planning to work with is BIID approved, it means that they have attained rigorous entry requirements. If the company that you are considering are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) providers, you can be sure that there is an excellent level of employee training in place.
3. Which previous projects are good examples of your work?
It’s not rude to ask to see a company’s previous work, especially if you are considering investing in a larger project. A truly professional company takes great pride in delivering great results, and will be happy to talk about previous projects that they are particularly pleased with. You can also ask if they have photographs from an earlier project that is similar to the one you have in mind. Understandably, not all homeowners will give permission for photographs of their home to be shared, but there’s no harm in asking and if you are lucky, you might just find the evidence you need to help you reach a decision.
4. Can I see a demonstration of the equipment in action before I purchase?
Smart home technology is intuitive, but all people have different needs and preferences when it comes to user interface. Ask the company that you want to work with if you can see the control system that you are considering in action and make sure that you get a feel for the system yourself before signing off on a project. It doesn’t matter how excellent the technology is, if you feel uncomfortable using it, then you won’t be pleased with the results. That’s why you should get hands on before the installation is complete.
5. Can you put me in touch with your references?
People are usually very happy to recommend a great service and a company with a track record for excellence should have some glowing references to speak for their work. If you can’t find anyone with a nice word to say about the company you are considering, ask yourself why that might be the case.
At KAV London we’re happy to answer any and every question that you might have about home automation. Get in touch with us at 0207 376 5222. Our highly qualified project management team usually talk to our clients in their own language. We currently have English, Chinese, Russian, French, Hebrew, Portuguese and Spanish speakers on board.