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.

Your smart home runs on advanced technologies. Each one is seamlessly integrated into your home automation system – from your computers and smartphone to the smart lighting, home security system, and the main interface that controls them all. But who watches the watchmen!? Behind every smart home system is the home network. If your home network isn’t completely secure, then your entire system could suffer.

Total Home Technologies employs a user-level management system from Cisco that safeguards your home’s network from hacks, data theft, and any other network security threat. Keep reading to see why user-level management is the right solution for your network installation in Manhattan, NY.

What does smart-home living look like? It means having complete one-touch command of your lighting, motorized shades, audio-video systems, home security, and much more. Forget about manual control! Instead, all your smart home technologies are seamlessly integrated with a robust home automation system like Control4 – giving you convenient remote access to everything in your home.

Still, it gets even better! Smart home automation has improved dramatically over the years with the expansion of Wi-Fi. Now, you aren’t limited only to a wall touchpad. Today’s systems can be controlled via a wireless smart home tablet, a smartphone app, or voice command. Keep reading to discover the benefits of using all three at your home in Red Bank, NJ.

The reason some folks let dust collect in their home theaters isn’t that they don’t love the room. It’s that their home theater wasn’t designed as an easy-to-use system. When you’re in the mood for a movie, it can be a hassle to turn on the projector, figure out how to connect to cable or streaming, then adjust the volume, lights, and room temperature.

That can take a lot of preparation. And when you’re feeling lazy, you might rather turn on the living room TV or pull up Netflix on the laptop (the horror!).

But with a system-based home theater, you’ll activate the entire room with one tap of a button or voice command. Below, we explain why it’s important to focus on the system rather than the individual parts of your home theater design. Read on to learn more for your New York, NY home.

Voice control is one of the most convenient ways to use a smart home system like Control4. As you walk around the house or settle in to watch a movie, you can adjust the lights, lower the shades, and turn on speakers—all hands-free.

But if you’ve ever tried using Alexa or Siri voice assistants, you know they’re far from perfect. Many of us have listened, exasperated, when the voice replies, “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that.”

And with a smart system, you need your voice assistant to understand you. After all, if you’re heading out the door and trying to turn off the lights, you don’t have time to play guessing games. That’s why we suggest Josh.ai.

Josh.ai is the latest voice-controlled system that understands natural speech patterns better than any other. It’s built specifically for home control, unlike other programs. Read on to see how Josh.ai works and how it will assist your Morris County, NJ, household.  

Many Monmouth County residents love the idea of home automation but don’t want to bother with the potentially hassle-filled world of professional installers. In fact, many believe they can install a professional quality system by themselves. And we think you can, too.

“Well, a professional system could be better,” says Keith Harrison of Total Home Technologies. “But only if you have a good professional." He explains that designing and installing a home automation system by yourself can be fulfilling but that DIY-ers will want to watch out for some of the potential challenges they may face down the line. “These things are challenging on a do-it-yourselfer without professional tools. Not impossible, but challenging,” he says.

To help you on your DIY journey, we've put together this blog with some helpful tips on what you need to know before you start. And don't forget to check out the video below for even more useful information!

Ready to get started? Keep reading after the jump!

Game of Thrones may be long gone, but winter is still coming. And if it’s anything like last year, there will be plenty of packages hitting doorsteps this holiday season. In 2019, the USPS alone delivered around 750 million packages -- and that doesn’t even include carriers like FedEx and UPS!

But there’s a dark side to all of those deliveries. According to C + R Research, 36 percent of Americans are victims of "porch pirates," opportunistic package thieves that can strike at any time. Porch pirates are a big problem, but they're easy to defeat. You just need to follow a few simple steps. And sporting the right smart home security tech won’t hurt, either.

If you’re looking for a few easy ways to keep your packages safe this year, keep reading.

Home theaters are not just for film enthusiasts. Having one in your Monmouth County home can mean that every show, movie, documentary, and sports game you watch has elevated audio and video — home theaters take entertainment to the next level. Even video game and YouTube sessions can feel fun and epic in a home theater.

A home theater is a great hangout spot to enjoy with friends and family. When designing and building a home theater, there are certain features you should consider. Here’s a checklist for your New Jersey home theater installation.

Are you a parent who wants to better protect your children and family from harm? Or someone who travels frequently and wants to keep tabs on your home when you’re away? Even if you are neither of the above and just want to ensure your Monmouth County home is secure, you should invest in a home security system with up-to-date technology that is tailored to your needs. Today’s top home security features are more sophisticated than ever, yet easy to use.

This blog will walk you through what you can incorporate into your New Jersey home’s home security system.