In the past two installments of this blog, we've explored popular smart home features and their differences as implemented on the best professionally installed smart home platforms available today. As both a credentialed Control4 and Savant dealer, Total Home Technologies is qualified to compare and contrast these two excellent smart home platforms for you. While the platform and technology are important, we believe that the integrator ultimately makes more of a difference in your overall smart home experience.

In this third installment, we will compare the user control interface and remote access and control capabilities to critical aspects of interacting with a smart home system. We hope that at the end of this series, we've provided a little more insight into comparing systems that, from afar, might look more similar than different. Our goal is to better educate and guide you on your choice of smart home automation for your Bergen Country, NJ home. Please keep reading below!

The leading smart home automation systems are frankly more similar than different. Unlike what you might find with other products, there aren't 27 different systems from which to choose; there are a handful. Many integrators are Control4, Crestron, or Savant dealers, representing three of the most popular and ubiquitous platforms in high-end home automation. While these systems have important differences, we'd still argue that the integrator will make more of a difference to your smart home experience.

Last month, we kicked off this series by highlighting a couple of subtle but important feature differences between Savant and Control4. As an integrator authorized for both, we like to point out these differences and recommend which one might best fit your specific needs. However, you ultimately decide what’s best for your home in Morris County, NJ. In this blog, we’ll delve into a couple of other aspects of Savant versus Control4 smart home automation to better educate and guide you on your choice. The idea is to get you to think about what’s really important to you to make the right decisions. Ready? Please stay with us below.

What goes into making a great restaurant? It’s many things, of course, but the key to differentiated experience usually starts with the chef. Many restaurants have access to the same things – a good location, farm-to-table food sources, a designer that can create a welcoming atmosphere, good wait staff, and more. But the chef, his vision, and how he designs the overall dining experience often make the difference between merely good and must-go-there great. 

We like to think it’s the same with smart home automation. If you’re reading this, perhaps it is because you have heard of Savant home automation solutions and are looking for a local dealer close to your Essex County, NJ, home. Savant is a great solution, but the Savant dealer might be the “chef” that makes the difference in turning your home into a great smart home. 

Any good smart home integrator, however, will not just be pushing the product they have. Instead, they’ll recommend the right system that truly fits your needs. This is part one of a series where we discuss Savant automation and how it stacks up with some alternatives. Please keep reading and stay tuned to this space for more!!

Imagine a world where you can stream music, play vinyl records, listen to TV audio, and more over the same speakers. When you own a sophisticated smart home system like Control4, you’ll bring audio and entertainment to every corner of your house.

Rather than juggle between disjointed audio speakers, a smart home lets you connect to and control all your media from a single interface. Tap your smartphone app, tablet, or wall keypad, and you’re instantly connected to any media or speaker in the house.

Ready to see how it works? Read on to learn why multi-room audio is superior with a smart system in your Essex County, NJ home.

Time is our most valuable asset, and if you’re trying to find more time in your life, you’re not alone. In a survey by Pew Research, 52 percent of Americans say they often do two or more things at once, and 60 percent of U.S. adults sometimes feel too busy to enjoy life. 

Smart home technology promises to make our lives easier, but DIY gadgets and apps often create more confusion and issues than they solve. In actuality, the best way approach to home automation is through a sophisticated, high-end system like Control4. 

Control4 is a smart home control system that unifies all your home’s technologies into one interface. Read on to see how C4 can streamline your daily routine at home in Bergen County, NJ. 

We could all use more hours in the day. To see friends, pursue hobbies, or read that book we’ve been meaning to get around to—and the list goes on. 

When we consistently feel like our days are packed and busy, stress inevitably builds up. Managing a home, especially a large one, requires a lot of work. What if your house could proactively help you save time and manage itself? 

A Control4 smart home system is the tech-savvy solution many busy homeowners have been looking for. It can’t answer emails for you, but it can minimize small tasks throughout your day. And small tasks can certainly add up!

Control4 can’t be found at any-old store or ordered online; you need to work with a certified Control4 dealer to enjoy the benefits. By partnering with a professional like Total Home Technologies, we’ll design and install a smart home that’s customized to your needs. 

In this blog, we’ll share how C4 can alleviate stress and bring daily convenience to your Red Bank, NJ home. 

Whether you’re a Giants or Jets fan, Yankees or Mets, there’s one thing we can all agree on: when it’s game day, you’re clearing all other plans. Of course, it’s great to be there in the stands, but if you’re staying home, you can still create an experience that rivals a ticket to the game. 

How? With the best audio, visuals, and whole-home automation, you can make the entire house (and backyard) game-day ready. Don’t be surprised when your Red Bank, NJ home becomes everyone’s favorite spot for sports!

Get inspired by our AV solutions below if you're ready to upgrade your home entertainment. 

Gizmodo recently published an article by Andrew Liszewski titled ‘The Smart Home Isn’t Worth It.’ Liszewski writes that smart homes aren’t “worth all the effort” after making his house “barely smarter.” As a home automation company based in Red Bank, NJ, you’d think we’d strongly disagree with the article. But we actually see where Liszweski is coming from.

If you only use off-the-shelf DIY devices from Amazon and Best Buy, you’re not going to experience true home automation. The article complained about systems not cooperating with each other, but if you depend only on “smart” devices from Google, Amazon, Apple, and IKEA, you’re going to run into issues.   

Nowhere in the article did it mention tried-and-true smart home solutions like Control4 or Lutron. And nowhere did it suggest partnering with a smart home company that knows how to do the job right. We don’t blame anyone for regretting their DIY smart home, but we’ll explain below why a professional system is the way to go.   

If you’re moving into a new home with a built-in smart system, congrats! You’re setting off on a new life filled with comfort, convenience, and luxury.

Today, four in ten Americans say they’re interested in smart home living. And for a good reason! Automation systems like Control4 sync lighting, shading, entertainment, HVAC, and security into one easy-to-use platform.  

But smart homes also require a little extra knowledge and preparation. You’ll want to get the most out of your smart system and be aware of what may need maintenance or upgrading. So, ask yourself the following questions before moving into your new Bergen County, NJ, home.

In any interior, lighting is arguably one of the most important elements. If you’ve been in a basement apartment, you know how moody and stuffy it can feel in a dark space. But in an open, well-lit room, suddenly you feel ready to seize the day.

New York homes are not known for their abundant space, even if you live in a sizable penthouse or brownstone. You need to make the most of your Manhattan home with a lighting design that enhances both natural and artificial light.

How? With smart lighting control by Control4 and motorized shades that are synched to one smart system. If you’re curious about lighting control in Manhattan, learn how it works and discover your options below.