In the fast-paced world of smart home technology, staying ahead of the curve is no small feat. As Atlanta homeowners, you might be concerned about investing in smart home technology. As with most technology these days, will it be outdated next year? The solution to avoiding rapid obsolescence is engaging the expertise of a home automation company. In this blog, we'll explain why partnering with a home technology integrator is the key to a smart home that stands the test of time.

Some people become immersed in certain subjects, usually ones they care deeply about. Others might know a few things about a topic but not enough to be dangerous. And sometimes, people think they know some things about a topic, but they turn out to be misconceptions. With so much different information freely available in today's world, it's easy to get lost. 

When it comes to home automation, the casual observer might believe certain “facts” about it, but the truth is a little more nuanced. As a premier home automation company serving the Florida Panhandle area, we’d like to clear up some common misconceptions about home automation for Rosemary Beach homeowners. Please keep reading!

Over the years, many Georgia homeowners have invested in home automation to make their lifestyles easier and their homes safer and more efficient. If you’re buying a recently built or an extensively remodeled older home, there’s a good chance the previous owner added smart technology like lighting, security, and more. 

Perhaps the smart tech in your newly purchased house is the icing on the cake that made you love it. And you were told that the system is something called Control4. You may not know what Control4 is or how to make it work for you in your new Atlanta abode. Since you're here, you're in the right place! Keep reading to learn more about Control4 home automation and what you can do to tailor it for your needs. 

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in smart home automation, and likely you’ve heard of Control4. When you look for a Porsche dealer, you want the one with the best reputation for sales and service. Of course, being local counts, but there are several Porsche franchises in the metro Atlanta area. If you’re looking for a Control4 installer for a smart home automation system, you also want one with a reputation for expertise and after-sales support.

So, how do you choose the right Control4 installer for your Woodstock, GA smart home project? Keep reading below for the most important characteristics.

A Control4 system is the best way to orchestrate all the smart functions and devices in your home. Not only does Control4 make its own devices like the Chime video doorbell and Contemporary Wall keypads and lighting control solutions, but it also works with thousands of third-party devices. Those devices include almost any AV device that responds to infrared remote control, Nest thermostats, Lutron lighting control, Yale smart locks, and so much more.

But there is one more piece that unlocks even more value from a Control4 system. It’s called 4Sight, and it’s a service that brings a wealth of additional power and customization possibilities to your Control4 home automation system. Find out how 4Sight services put all the power and control of your Atlanta, GA smart home in the palm of your hand – literally!

The concept of smart home control and automation sounds great to you. We talk about every aspect of it on these blog pages, from AV systems to lighting to shading and everything else. But the process of starting might seem a little daunting; trying to figure out what you want and need. 

When you buy a car, do you spring for the loaded model that has absolutely everything? If you do, you won't suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) – you’ve got it all. That’s great, but most auto manufacturers offer different trim levels or a multitude of a-la-carte options to customize your vehicle the way you want it. That way, you get what you want and don’t pay for what you don’t need. 

When it comes to smart home design and installation, that’s what an expert Control4 installer like GHT Group can offer you – a system specifically tailored for your Duluth, GA home and your needs. Read on to see how working with a Control4 dealer gets you all the smart home you need and want – and not what you don’t.  

Lighting control is one of the most popular smart home accouterments, and for very good reasons. But those reasons will vary greatly depending upon people’s needs and motivations. For some, it’s the convenience of having more than one way to control lights, like from a smartphone or through a voice assistant. For others, a schedule or sensor that turns off lights brings efficiency and energy savings.

Perhaps the best reason for going with a whole-home lighting control system – and not just one room or a few lights – is all of the above. Each reason is justification enough for lighting control for a Milton, GA home, but it becomes so easy to rationalize when putting them all together. See what we mean below!

Are we being serious here? Yes and no. After all, as a leading Control4 installer serving Sandy Springs and Metro Atlanta, why would we tell you not to hire us for your smart home needs? So bear with us here for a little tongue-in-cheek look at smart home automation.

Almost every day, a new smart home device hits the market. OK, maybe not every day, but it seems like there’s a new one every day. From devices from industry giants like Amazon to upstarts like Wyze, there are amazing options for remarkably sophisticated smart home functionality. Couple that with the ever-growing software ecosystem from the tech industry’s leaders like Amazon, Apple, and Google, and why would you ever need GHT Group? Well, we’re going to go ahead and tell you three reasons why you might not need us, just in case you couldn’t think of any right off the bat!

Are you the techy type that all your friends call for advice on the latest devices? Maybe you’re also handy with home projects and enjoy the undeniable satisfaction of doing something yourself. If so, you might be quite tempted to try your hand at doing a DIY home automation project. 

Depending on what you want to accomplish, you might be fine going the DIY route. But if your home is large, you want sophisticated automation sequences, and you want a system that doesn’t need frequent debugging, you may want to read the rest of this blog. Or you can skip it and call GHT Group, Atlanta’s leading Control4 installer, about your smart home wish list. We’ll be happy to help! Now, keep reading below for all the reasons to bolster your decision to call us – just in case you need some. 

Have we gone off the deep end? We are now claiming that home automation can improve wellness? Bear with us; it's not as wild as it seems. First, home automation is a great convenience – and luxury – and if that alone reduces stress, that's an improvement in your wellness.

Think about it. If your home automation system can inform you that you left the garage door open because it knows you're not at home, you can close it with a tap on a screen or have it do so automatically after a few minutes. If you're on vacation and you have a video doorbell and smart security cameras, you can check in on your house at any time and be notified of any unusual activity. Peace of mind and reduced anxiety is a boon for wellness too.

But even beyond the convenience and security aspects, comprehensive smart home systems like Control4 can create a better atmosphere for wellness too. As a Control4 installer in Cumming and Metro Atlanta, we have seen (and helped create) many ways clients have used their smart home features to improve fitness, mood, and relaxation for a healthier atmosphere. Keep reading for some of the best ideas!

Car brands can often trigger an emotional response with many people. Some have excellent experiences that make them loyal to the brand, and others have terrible ones. While the automobile product itself is critical in building that experience, it often comes down to the buying process and dealer service. As you have all likely experienced, these experiences have probably varied widely from very good to awful.

When it comes to home automation services for your WaterSound, FL home, who installs and maintains your smart home systems is just as important as the products you choose. Why? Because even the best products and solutions can disappoint if not correctly configured, installed, and maintained. Keep reading to learn more about what to look for in choosing a home automation company.

We spend a lot of time on these pages expounding the benefits of smart home technology, because, well, it’s what we do. And we are genuinely excited about all areas of AV and home technology, as evidenced by our ample 20,000 square foot Marietta showroom, well worth the drive from your Cumming home if you can tear yourself away from beautiful Lake Lanier for a bit.

Maybe you've already invested in a home automation system. Or perhaps you happen to have bought a Cumming property that already had a system or a component of one like lighting control. If what you have isn’t broken, why fix it? We say, don’t fix it, but maintain it so it continues to run well. We can do that for you too. But if your system has a few years on it, we’re going to recommend you upgrade. Why? Because there’s so much you can do with the latest smart home technology! As metro Atlanta's leading home automation company, once we show you all the things your smart home can do, you’ll have no excuse not to upgrade. But below are the excuses you can use to justify it to your significant other! 

SEE ALSO: Why You Should Trust a Smart Home Company with Your Home Automation

Let’s face it, anyone can have some level of home automation and smart control these days. Hundreds of smart devices are available at the click of an Amazon Buy button, at Home Depot, or Best Buy. You can be your own integrator, programmer, and head debugger and install a surprisingly extensive smart home system yourself. 

Perhaps you're not interested in integrating your own system or trying to figure out why your outside lights didn't turn on at sunset. If you’re a busy professional, your time away from work is likely far more valuable than debugging your smart home devices. We're not going to tell you hiring a professional for your smart home installation will be less expensive – when is it ever? But we can tell you what you will get with a professionally installed smart home system like Control4, and how a Control4 installer like GHT Group, Atlanta's leading home technology integrator, can ensure you don't spend your free time as your home's IT person. Keep reading for more. 

SEE ALSO: Introducing Control4's Newest Home Automation Platform: OS 3

In most of life's endeavors, there's a good way and a not-so-good way of doing things. Sometimes you can learn from mistakes without major repercussions. Sometimes, mistakes can be extremely costly and aggravating. Bear with us here; this is not a life coaching blog. 

GHT Group is in the home technology business and not trying to compete with Tony Robbins. What we can do, based on our over three decades in business in the metro Atlanta area, is give you solid advice on how to go about planning for smart home automation in your residence. 

Keep reading for our tips on what to do and not to do when planning your smart home. Did you know lousy home automation has been known to break up relationships? Trust us on that one; we've seen a few things.

SEE ALSO: 3 Home Automation Trends to Watch in 2021

Control4 is known far and wide as a full-fledged home automation system, but it also features a native whole-home audio solution that gives standalone multi-room music systems a run for their money. Not only can you quickly access and share music throughout the home, but you can also manage other smart home functions, such as lights, TVs, and door locks, using the same preferred Control4 device.

Because no Georgia household or music listener is the same, Control4 offers various intuitive control options that suit different preferences. While a handheld remote may be best for controlling music when you’re relaxing on the couch, voice commands may be better when you’re cooking in the kitchen.

Below, we’ll explore five easy ways to command the Control4 whole-home audio system in your Brookhaven or Metro Atlanta home. Get to know the ways and decide which ones you may like best!