CEDIA, the annual home technology conference, just announced CePro’s winners for Best Products 2017. With the holiday season right around the corner, we’ve selected some of our favorites for the home theater. If you need to upgrade your Indianapolis-area home with an audio video installation keep reading. Some of these products may be the perfect fit for you.
SEE ALSO: An Audio/Video Installer’s Guide to New Construction
You may think that upgrading your audio and video is as simple as changing your monthly subscriptions or switching out some of your devices, but you also need to consider the quality of your Wi-Fi. If you go from watching your movies in HD to UHD, and change from listening to mp3s to high-resolution there may be some hiccups. There are multiple factors that affect how reliable your Internet is, but we can assure you that upgrading your sources is definitely one of them. Read this blog to find out if you need a home network installation.
For many, fall is their favorite season. Who doesn’t love a pumpkin spice latte’? But there is an adjustment period when the cold fronts come in and the winds pick up. The same goes for your Indianapolis, IN smart home. You may have a specific routine already in place for keeping your house a particular temperature. Did you know that your motorized shades can contribute to your home’s climate? Read this guide to discover how automating your shades will make managing the changing seasons easier and your home more cozy as the leaves change color.
Keep the System on Manual
One downside to the summer leaving us is that the sunshine also goes away. Instead of keeping the shades closed to block the sun’s rays, you can keep them open and enjoy watching the leaves change color. Of course you can keep them closed if you want more privacy or just feel the darkening sky is getting too gloomy.
The weather can be temperamental this time of year so you can keep the system on manual too. Wireless technology makes it easy to change the shades’ position at any moment. Use a remote control, your phone, or your voice with voice control. With Amazon Alexa you can say, “Alexa, close the shades” and your smart home will do it for you. Or, pick up a handy wireless remote and press a button to open them as you bake a pie for Thanksgiving.
SEE ALSO: Experience the Benefits of an Automated Shade Installation
Halloween can be a fun holiday, but it can also be one of the scariest days of the year. The night can bring pranksters and other odd characters out, threatening the safety of your home. While there’s probably not a masked murderer on your doorstep, you need to be prepared for every situation. And if you’re watching a scary movie in your home theater, you’ll most likely want to at least feel safe. Here are some tips on how to be prepared for All Hallows Eve with security and surveillance in your Zionsville, IN home.
SEE ALSO: Which Security Camera Should I Choose?
You may still be enjoying that summer vacation or parties at the pool, but school is right around the corner. Before you know it, it will be time to get supplies and get back into a routine. A home automation system installed in your Carmel, IN home can help by guiding your schedule every day using lights, audio/video and more. Here are some great ideas on how to go back to school organized.
SEE ALSO: How to Entertain Guests with Home Automation
Use Your Smart Home to Wake Up
There’s nothing harder than having to wake up super early—unless you’re a morning person. To start getting used to hearing that alarm go off at 5 a.m. after sleeping in all summer, create a wake up scene using a Control4 system. Create a playlist of some fun songs and schedule them to come on at 5 a.m. You can even make the volume start off soft and gradually get louder to not startle you out of a heavy sleep. At the same time, your lights will turn on at 50%, the shades will open, and the TV in your bedroom will turn on the morning news.
You can do the same thing for your children too. Ask them which songs they would like to hear in the morning while they get ready, and program their lights and shades to activate at 6 a.m. after you’ve had your coffee or got in a morning workout.
We have a lot of summer blockbusters to look forward to, but the truth is it’s never fun to fight the crowds at the box office. With so many fun flicks to watch over the next few months, why not bring the big movie experience home? Installing a home theater system in your Indianapolis, IN house is essential, but there are multiple ways to do it—including outfitting your backyard. Yes, it is possible to put your home theater outside. Here are some tips on how to work with us to do it right.
SEE ALSO: Theme Ideas for Your Dedicated Home Theater
The Outdoor Theater Basics
Currently, you need to purchase an outdoor TV to enjoy watching movies, sports, and more outside. But if you want a big screen, the reality is you will need to use it primarily at night. Outdoor TVs have special anti-glare technology that can display high-contrast images in even the brightest sunlight. However, there currently aren’t professional-grade projectors that can handle bright sunlight. Here’s what you are going to need to make watching movies outside possible.
The Projector
Every surveillance camera has a specific purpose, but do you know what each one is used for? We don’t recommend you use the same type of security camera in each area of your Indianapolis, IN property. In this blog, we will cover the different types of cameras and where you should use them. Only a security and surveillance professional will be able to install these cameras properly and tie them to an integrated system for quick and easy access. Keep reading to learn more.
Lighting is essential in every home, but did you know that how you install your lighting will largely impact how your home feels and looks? Lighting control isn’t just about functionality or convenience; it’s also about beauty. The décor in your Zionsville, IN home will look better in the right light. So how do you highlight your artwork and other furnishings with light control? Read this blog to find out.
SEE ALSO: 7 Ways to Improve the Lighting in Your Indiana Home
When updating or renovating your Zionsville, IN home, you may want to consider how you are going to host guests. You need to have a room ready for relatives and friends who want or need to stay with you. Providing a comfortable bed and clean bathroom are musts, but what about making their stay extra special with home automation? Add a 4K TV, invisible speakers, and custom controls and your visitor will be in awe of your smart home. Not only will they feel welcome, but they will also have a story to talk about! Read this blog to discover some ideas on how to be the perfect host with technology.
SEE ALSO: An Audio/Video Installer’s Guide to New Construction
According to a survey done by Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Americans are starting to think differently about homes that are “move-in-ready.” Last year, the survey which included 1,250 adults, showed 71 percent of Americans not only want move-in ready homes instead of fixer-uppers, but they also want them to be “smart-ready.” Forty-four percent of people said that smart-home technology should already be installed and another 57 percent would consider an older, renovated home if it had smart home technology. If you are a builder, architect, or designer, these findings are clear—new homes need to have new technology, and a professional audio video installer with home automation and home networking expertise should be the one to manage the project. Here are our top three reasons why.
With the Internet of Things and automation on the rise, more families are interested in upgrading to a smart home—whether it be by building a new house or renovating a current property. If you add smart technology to your new home now, it will be well worth the investment down the road. Your home will have a higher resale value and be enticing to buyers if you sell in the future. From the perspective of a builder or real estate agent, the home will surely sell faster with a whole house audio system, smart thermostat, or whole home controls. Families want safe and stylish homes, but they also want the luxury of using today’s most current tech too.
SEE ALSO: 5 Smart Home Features to Attract Buyers
Of course, it’s essential to know a new house has the proper structural foundations, but does it have the right audio, video, and network foundations to support the current technology as well as the gadgets of the future? We live in a super-connected society—one that is online all the time. By installing the proper wiring, you’ll support all of the devices in your home—from distributed audio and video to lighting controls and surveillance systems. Installing the most up-to-date infrastructure in your new home will make it reliable and relevant for future generations. Even if the technology does change years down the road, you will be able to easily update your system in a connected home.
We’ve talked about the benefits of luring homebuyers and prepping your home for future generations, but what about your own personal rewards? Smart home technology is convenient and can greatly enhance your lifestyle. You’ll be able to control every room and every feature easily on a smartphone or tablet, as well as prepare your spaces for any occasion with one simple press. Customize your settings with the swipe of your finger and save them for future use. You’ll find that a smart home will make your hectic schedule easier to manage and will simplify a lot of your activities. Who wouldn’t want that in their new dream home?
