When contractors are building a home, their job is to make sure everything is connected the way it should be. For example, they check to see that the plumbing and HVAC ductwork are done right so that the new owners are satisfied.

One thing that is often overlooked, though, is the audio and video system options as the house is being built. If seamless sound and video are important to you, the best time to incorporate those things into your home is when it’s being built or renovated.

Let’s face it, though, most of us live in a house that’s already built and aren’t planning to do a major gutting any time soon. So what type of whole-house AV system is right for you? Let’s look at some options.

Whole house audio solutions are becoming increasingly popular as technology is advancing and becoming more affordable. Designing one, however, can be quite a challenge.

If you sit down and plan out what you want and how you want to accomplish it, you’ll be much happier with the finished product. Here are four main factors to consider when designing your whole house audio system.

The days of installing a complete home audio system and having it cost as much as your home are a thing of the past. Home audio systems have become much more affordable as technology has improved, allowing for people with various budgets to find a system that works for them.

With the price issue out of the way, there are a lot of other considerations: What equipment do you need? What makes one speaker better than another? Where do you install the speakers for optimal sound? We’ve put together some steps to help you understand the answers to these questions.

Last year’s Masters Tournament officially launched the first-ever live broadcast in the very new 4K UHD (ultra-high definition) technology.

If you, like most Americans, had not upgraded to a 4K TV yet...you’re in luck! 4K is officially returning for the 2017 Masters beginning on Thursday, April 6th.

As technology continues to improve, work-from-home jobs are becoming much more prevalent and popular. It sounds fun and easy when you’re stuck in a corporate office all day, but working from home can bring it’s own set of challenges.

Here are five tips for creating the perfect home office:

A Home Automation System Calms the Chaos of Your Daily Routine

We all know how stressful the typical weekday can be. Getting kids ready for school, locking up the home, and making it all work on time certainly has its challenges. And that’s just the beginning of the day.

As your life continues to get busier, relieve some of your stress with a home automation system that streamlines and significantly simplifies your family’s daily routine. From morning to night, your Highland Park, TX smart home can manage a wide variety of duties for you so you can create a smoother, calmer, and happier day for your family.

So, how exactly can smart home technology ease your family’s daily routine? Follow along below to explore the powers of automation.

Automation used to be something that only businesses could benefit from, but now it’s become attainable for homeowners too. It has also expanded from merely controlling lights and air conditioning remotely to accessing anything electronic in your home. (Even your electrical outlets can be “smart”!)

You’ve read the reviews, selected a dealer, and spent good money to have a great system installed in your home.

You’re excited to finally be able to open your driveway gate or unlock your door for visitors from miles away.

Playing music? As simple as pushing a button on the wall.

And if you have kids at home, the idea of getting an alert when they get home from school is the extra piece of mind you wonder how you ever lived without.

But, what if one day something didn’t work like it did when it was first installed?

Whether you’re building a home and would like to include a media room or you’re thinking about remodeling an existing space, there are a lot of aspects to consider.

Media rooms are no longer just a place to sit back and watch TV. Nowadays, there are many other points of interest like gaming, surfing the internet, video chatting, and even connecting to your home’s security system to consider.

Home is certainly where the heart is, but if the home itself were alive, have you thought about its heart health? The home network is the circulatory system that supplies your Audio Video system and your connected devices with the data that keeps them operating. Rather than having inconsistent service speeds or coverage due to lack of planning, organize and understand your home network so its vital signs stay strong.

It’s spring break and the kids are home. You’ve planned on a great staycation—streaming music while having dinner outside, catching up on your favorite series, having family movie nights, and even wowing the kids with your gaming skills.

But on the first Saturday morning, before the bacon even has a chance to fry, the power flickers and you’ve got more than just a startled, barking dog on your hands—your home technology is out of whack. “OK, I can fix this,” you tell the family. “I’ll start by calling … um …” Where do I start?

Mounting your flat screen TV to the wall can save on space and make your room look more polished. But first, it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re mounting it correctly so you don’t end up with a broken TV.

If you feel like you’re ready to tackle this DIY project, check out our tips first!

There’s a lot of discussion right now around the smart home, and how smart is too smart, and when it comes to creating a home automation solution that gives you more peace of mind and less angst.

Enjoy this recent panel discussion from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which tackles this topic from different perspectives: