The single biggest factor in how a smart home turns out isn't the equipment. It's when the integrator arrives. Brought in at schematic design, we can plan chases, backboxes, speaker locations, and power exactly where they belong, invisibly, and at a fraction of the later cost.
Wiring is cheap while the walls are open and expensive once they're closed. A single afternoon of coordination during framing can save a homeowner tens of thousands, and a great deal of dust, down the line.
If you're renovating or building, the move is simple: introduce your integrator to your architect and builder early. The three trades draw together, and the technology becomes part of the house instead of an apology bolted onto it.