HOME AUTOMATION

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Expectations for our home to provide basic shelter and comfort may not be on the short list but our desire to express our personalities and define how we live and entertain have become just as important. Many choices are made during the planning of a new home - or remodel - from the design to selection of colors and materials to make our home our own unique environment. Now we expect our home to read our very thoughts...

With a home automation system, we can integrate lighting, audio/video, HVAC, security, appliances, door locks and shades by working with you to install and configure a system to meet your needs.

We can program your very wishes for special lighting scenes like a "party ambiance" setting where soft music and lighting flows through the house as the fireplace automatically lights up or a "goodnight" scene where the entire house goes to sleep by setting evening temps, arming the security system, locking the doors and turning off lighting with just one touch.

Audio and video can be as simple as a single source sent to several zones or several sources sent throughout several zones simultaneously. You could be watching a movie in the family room and - deciding to retire to bed - send the movie to watch in the comfort of your own bedroom. There are a lot of fun things to program such as when cueing a movie, the lights will dim and shades close for a true "movie scene."

On the other end of the spectrum, some home owners require more involved systems. Say the home owner works in Hong Kong and wants to know when the maid arrives, he can set it up so he receives an email or text as she arrives and departs. Or, the home owner can literally answer and unlock the door, turn off the security alarm, open the drapes and turn on lighting for the service technician from his iPhone or iPad.

Home automation can be simple or very intricate but still must be very intuitive for ease of use...otherwise, most of us won't use the system. If all of this seems complicated and expensive...it isn't! You can start out with a simple system to integrate primary lighting and audio/video by installing a basic platform. This allows for future-proofing of your home and - as your needs grow and budget allows - you can build onto the system.

Need more justification to add home automation to your wish list? Consider how energy savings are realized with simple automation solutions. Programming lighting to 80 percent may be hardly noticeable but you will definitely notice the difference when reading the utility bill. Adding thermostats to control energy consumption throughout the day can add up to additional big savings.

Soon most companies will be offering dash boards where you can see - in real time - where you stand on energy consumption dollars. Wouldn't it be nice to have the ability to adjust your habits before you get that large energy bill? Now, you have instantly become part of the Green Movement - saving green for the planet and your wallet!

There really are so many possibilities too long to list and the best way to get started is to have a consultation at your home or bring blueprints and a list of your wishes. Your family's real-life needs and budget will create a truly custom system where HomeWerks will make your home a truly unique environment!

Call for an appointment to reserve your special time with our consultants 210 499-5760.

As written in NHOME Texas Luxury Magazine