If you’re the type of person that does their research when looking to make a major purchase, you know how difficult it can be to compare similar products. The marketing materials often check off all the boxes, and you may wonder what the difference is between products A and B. 

But products and solutions have differences, and sometimes you have to dig a little bit to unearth them. Take cars, for example. Maybe you’re comparing two SUVs, and they’re about the same size, inside and out, have 300 horsepower engines, and a 10-inch infotainment screen. They have the same options, checking all the boxes you want. So how do you compare them? It’s going to come down to the way they drive, how that infotainment works on the screen, how you like the seat comfort, and many other factors. 

When it comes to smart home automation, sometimes you can’t really test-drive before you buy. And most of these systems will have very similar features and do the same things. So how can you tell the difference? As a premier Control4 installer, we’re partial to Control4 and its approach to home automation. And we’re going to tell you about three things that make Control4 stand out from other solutions, so you can make an informed decision for your smart Watercolor, FL smart home. Ready? Stay with us. 

Crestron is a pioneer in home and commercial automation, with a history dating back to 1971. Some companies tend to rest on their laurels when they've done well for a long time, but not Crestron.

Many competitors to Crestron have sprung up in the home automation space, both with professionally installed systems and DIY consumer automation devices. Yet, the company has stayed true to its roots to deliver meticulously engineered, sophisticated home automation solutions that scale up to the needs of the most complex homes.

How is Crestron continuing to stay ahead in home automation? Let’s look at three reasons you might want to choose Crestron for your Marietta, GA smart home. 

SEE ALSO: How to Enhance Online Activities at Home with Crestron Automation

With summer temperatures across the southern U.S. setting records in some areas, we know we’re in for some scorchers in Georgia and Milton. But even if it’s a little hotter than usual, it’s not a surprise. However, wouldn’t it be nice to save a little money on energy costs in the current economic climate? 

You can with the help of a home automation company. A smart home system can synchronize your lighting, window treatments, and climate control for a cooler, more comfortable, and efficient summer season. Keep reading below to see how!

Have you embraced smart home technology? If you've bought any kind of intelligent light, a Nest thermostat, or a Sonos speaker, you have a taste of the convenience of smart devices. But to get the full benefits of smart home automation, you need a holistic approach to managing all your smart devices and features. That's what Control4 home automation is all about – a comprehensive system for managing a smart home, with or without your input. Let’s explore the features and benefits of a Control4 system for your Birmingham, AL home. 

If you’re like millions of Americans, you likely have some summer travel plans away from your Georgia home. Whether you’re planning an extended summer trip at your lake house by Lake Lanier or Oconee or a couple of weeks in Europe, you’ll want to ensure you keep your Buckhead property safe. 

Even if you have someone looking after your place, you can ensure you’re always on top of what’s happening with smart, proactive security enabled by home automation. As a premier home automation company, GHT Group loves to show clients how to keep homes and properties safer with smart home systems. Here are three ways you can do it!

One thing in a home that sometimes doesn't get as much attention as it should is the lighting. Lighting can make a huge difference in the look and feel of a home. Sometimes it’s subtle; an interior may just feel right, and you might think it’s the finishes, layout, or furnishings. But lighting can affect the way you see and notice all those things.

Anyone can choose fixtures, lamps, and lighting styles for a home’s interior. But how do you make sure you have enough lighting, not too much lighting, and the right type of lighting – both for task and ambiance – in each space? That’s where a professional can help. As one of metro Atlanta’s premier interior lighting design companies, GHT Group can be your full-service lighting partner for your Georgia home.

Keep reading to see how a professional lighting company can assist with your home lighting design.

The world is awash in smart devices and automation. Your new refrigerator and washing machine might now come with wi-fi connections to tell you the wash is done or that your water filter needs changing. Why do you need a home automation company with all this intelligence around you? 

Maybe you don't. You might be quite happy with your smart home features and a DIY approach to them. But we view the smart home a little differently. The washers and smart refrigerators have a ways to go before they become fully integrated into an overall smart home experience. But we do know how to create a smart home that works for you in other ways. And we can do it without you having to understand all the ins and outs of networking issues, multiple control apps, what functions work with which interface, and much more. 

So, what can a home automation company do for your Duluth, GA home? Keep reading below. 

We love smart home technology, and it shows. Our blog is chock full of articles on the latest in audio, video, and home technology devices and solutions. 

As a longtime Control4 Pinnacle dealer and integrator in the metro Atlanta area, we’ve also extolled the virtues of Control4 smart home systems. The company can't be beaten when it comes to easy to use and configurable systems that can automate and orchestrate thousands of intelligent devices from many vendors.

And while we’ve covered much of the basics of what you can do with smart lighting, shading, AV, and more, we’ve thought of a few more ideas that can make home automation genuinely useful in daily life. Read on for five things you may not have known home automation could do. If this sparks some ideas about what you can do in your home, that’s the intent! 

SEE ALSO: Product Overview: The New Control4 Neeo Remote

Marie Kondo’s Konmari method has captured the imagination of everyone who has ever wanted to declutter and simplify their lives. As she puts it, if something doesn’t spark joy or mean something to you, get rid of it – responsibly, of course. 

Now, what could that possibly have to do with home automation? Well, you can avail yourself of home automation services to declutter your brain and rationalize your life. Surely that might spark a little more joy in your Buckhead, GA life, right?

Join us as we follow the Konmari method (one area at a time) to show you three ways home automation can simplify your life. See if you agree by reading our suggestions below!

You’re likely aware that many DIY security camera systems exist on the market today. For some people, they might offer enough functionality to fit their needs. But as in most things, there are advantages to solutions configured and installed by experts. Why would you want a professional security camera system for your Destin, FL, home? Keep reading below to learn three reasons why. 

While the current generation of kids may not know the Jetsons, it left a lasting impression on those that watched the cartoon in the 1960s and in many years of syndication after that. It promised a world of flying cars, robots, holograms, drones, and video calls. Guess what? We have all of those today, sans the flying cars. If we can get the coming generation of self-driving cars to run on real streets without crashing into each other, perhaps they can take flight next.

If the imagination behind the Jetsons was a portent of things to come, then what do the next 50 years hold for the future of home automation in Atlanta and around the world? Braced with the knowledge we have today, and given some of what we’ve seen in technology the past few years, we’re going to make some fearless prognostications about the next few years.  Perhaps in a couple of years, we'll circle back and see what we got right and wrong!

SEE ALSO: A Quick Look at the Top 3 Features of Crestron Home Automation

What is Matter, and how does it impact home automation? The short answer is that it won't matter to you unless you are deeply into DIY home automation. As a WDIFY (We Do It For You) full-service home automation company, we care about new developments in the smart home industry, and Matter is one of them. We want you to understand them so you are a well-informed consumer, although when you work with us, we shield you from having to worry about such things.  

So, what is Matter, and does it matter for your Alpharetta, GA, smart home? Let’s get into it. 

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

Lighting control is one of the most sought-after smart home solutions today. The reasons are straightforward; lighting control and automation saves money, is energy efficient, and makes your home more convenient and beautiful. 

While several home automation companies offer lighting control products and solutions, no company has a singular focus on it like Lutron. The company invented the solid-state dimmer in the 1950s, and since then has continued innovating in lighting control and management in both the residential and commercial markets.

As you might expect from a company focused on lighting control, Lutron makes several solutions. We have featured Lutron’s Caseta system before, a wireless system that serves as an entry point into the world of lighting control, and is best suited for smaller homes and condominiums that range up to 2,500 square feet. In this blog, we're going to focus on Lutron's higher-end solutions – RadioRA 2 and HomeWorks QS, targeted toward larger and more extensive properties.

Which Lutron lighting control system is the right choice for your Johns Creek, GA home? Read on to learn more. 

SEE ALSO: Introduce Your Home to the Human Side of Lighting Control

In case you hadn’t noticed, LEDs – light-emitting diodes – have revolutionized light all around you. Those amazingly bright headlights on the new cars? LED. The backlighting on your amazing new Sony 86-inch TV? LED. The crisp, bright, beautiful screen on your iPad? You guessed it, LED. 

LED technology has amazing advantages over any other kind of lighting. If you are considering new lighting of any type for your Dunwoody, GA, or Atlanta home, it's a no-brainer to go LED. Let's cover some of the incredible benefits of LED light fixtures below.