Questions, answered honestly.

We design and document the technology for your project — AV, lighting control, automation, networking, security, and access control — then put it out to competitive bid, help you select a qualified integrator, and oversee the installation through to a verified walkthrough. We never sell or install the equipment, so our only job is getting you the right system at the right price.

An integrator makes money selling and installing equipment, which is a conflict of interest you should know about. We make money on consulting fees alone — we have no products to sell and no manufacturer relationships to protect. That means our recommendations are driven entirely by your project, not by margin.

We work on consulting fees, structured to the scope of the engagement. Because we run competitive bids and prevent over-specification, clients frequently save more than our fee on the project — the Harlow Residence in Palm Beach achieved its full automation vision for over $100,000 less than prior quotes.

Yes — the integrator installs and programs the system. We design the specification, manage the competitive bid to select the right integrator for your project, and hold that integrator to a documented standard. You get the benefit of both: independent design and professional installation.

As early as possible. The most expensive mistakes are made before any equipment is installed — a missing conduit, an un-coordinated rough-in, a scope no one owns. Engaging us during design or pre-construction lets us coordinate the technology on the drawings rather than fix it after drywall. That said, we also help with existing systems and mid-project rescues.

All of them. We're manufacturer-agnostic by design and specify across Crestron, Control4, Savant, Lutron, Vantage, Sonos, Ubiquiti, Ruckus, Meraki, and every other major platform. We choose what's right for your project rather than what we're certified to sell.

We're based in Santa Barbara, California and work nationwide. Beyond our home market, we serve the wealthiest residential enclaves in the country — including Beverly Hills, Malibu, Aspen, Palm Beach, Naples, Greenwich, the Hamptons, Jackson Hole, Paradise Valley, and New York City — for projects whose scope and complexity justify an independent consultant.

Absolutely — it's one of the most valuable things we do. We read the proposal line by line, explain the real performance differences, and flag what's padded, missing, or mismatched to your goals, so you can make an informed decision before you sign.

In most cases, yes. We right-size the specification and then run a competitive bid among qualified integrators, which typically lowers the price more than our fee costs. A sole-sourced integrator quote is the most expensive way to buy AV, and competing it usually nets you out ahead even after you pay us.

Our fees generally run about five to ten percent of the project, depending on scope and complexity. Because competitive bidding and trimming over-spec usually save more than that, the fee tends to pay for itself rather than adding to your cost.

Look for CEDIA involvement for residential work and AVIXA or CTS credentials for proven design and installation competence, plus the correct low-voltage contractor license and current insurance for your state. Certifications are a baseline signal, not a guarantee, so we also vet references, documentation standards, and the service department before recommending anyone.

Absolutely. If there is a firm you trust, we will include them in the competitive bid so you can see how their number compares on an apples-to-apples basis. You may well end up hiring them, just at a fair, benchmarked price rather than a sole-sourced one.

It is rarely too late to help. We can review an existing quote for over-spec and padding, benchmark it against the market, and often rebid the remaining scope to recover real savings. Even partway through, an independent review frequently saves more than it costs.

Both. New construction is where we add the most value early, because we can plan the wiring and network before the walls close. But we also design upgrades and retrofits for existing homes and competitively bid that work the same way.

It varies widely with scope, but luxury automation commonly runs from roughly a hundred thousand dollars into the several hundreds of thousands for fully integrated estates. The brand matters less than how many systems you integrate and how deeply, which is exactly why right-sizing the spec and competing the bid makes such a difference to the final number.

Usually because they are not actually quoting the same thing. Different integrators assume different scope, equipment, and labor, so the numbers are impossible to compare line for line. We produce one detailed, vendor-neutral specification so every integrator bids the identical scope, which is the only way to know who is truly cheaper.