What affects the cost of a smart home installation
Two homes with the same request can be very different jobs. Here's what actually drives the price of Wi-Fi, cameras, audio, automation, and home theater, so you know what to expect before you get an estimate.
Wi-Fi & networking
- Home size, number of floors, and outdoor areas you want covered
- Construction: stucco, plaster, brick, and concrete block absorb Wi-Fi and change how many access points you need
- Whether there's attic or crawlspace access for Cat6 runs
- Detached garages, guest houses, or ADUs that need a cable run or wireless bridge
- Existing wiring we can reuse versus new runs
Security cameras
- Number of cameras and how much of the property you want covered
- Camera type and resolution (for example 4K, wide-angle, or long-range for driveways)
- Recording time you want to keep, which sets the NVR hard drive size
- Cable routes to each camera, including second stories, eaves, and detached structures
- Add-ons like video doorbells, gate cameras, and intercoms
Whole-home audio & Sonos
- Number of zones (areas that play their own music)
- Speaker type: in-ceiling, in-wall, outdoor, landscape, or subwoofers
- Where the amplifiers live, and whether a rack or closet location is available
- Whether speaker wire can be pulled through the attic or needs another route
Home automation, Control4 & Lutron
- How many rooms and devices you want controlled: lights, shades, climate, locks, TVs, audio
- Touchscreens, keypads, and remotes
- Programming: scenes, schedules, and custom routines
- Integration with existing equipment
Home theater & TV mounting
- Wall type (drywall, brick, stone, or over a fireplace) and mount style, including pull-down mounts
- In-wall power and cable routing to hide every wire
- Sound: a soundbar, or a full surround and in-ceiling setup
- Equipment location and one-remote control
Ways to get more for your budget
- Pre-wire during construction or a remodel. Running cable before drywall costs far less than fishing it through finished walls later. See our pre-wire checklist.
- Start with the network. A solid wired network makes everything else (Sonos, cameras, streaming, automation) work better, and it's the foundation for every later phase.
- Do it in phases. Plan the whole home now, install what matters most first, and add the rest when you're ready.
- Reuse what works. We'll tell you honestly which existing equipment and wiring can stay.
Why the cheapest quote can cost more
Low bids usually come from consumer-grade equipment, wireless shortcuts instead of real cabling, exposed wires, and no plan for support after install day. Those systems tend to drop out, get replaced, or need a second installer to fix. Our estimates are itemized, so you can see exactly what you're paying for: professional equipment, clean hidden wiring, everything labeled and tested, and support afterward.
Common questions
No. Every home is built differently, and the same request can take an hour in one house and a full day in another. We'd rather give you an accurate, itemized estimate than a number that changes once we see the home.
Yes. Send us a few photos or your floor plan, or we'll walk the home with you, and you'll get a clear, itemized estimate with no obligation.
Not for the systems we install. Cameras record locally with a free app, and UniFi networking has no monthly fee for core features. Some optional services, like Control4's 4Sight subscription for remote access, are optional and explained up front.
Yes. Many clients start with the network or cameras and add audio or automation later. We plan the wiring so future phases are easy.
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