There is a huge difference between using a trusted home systems integrator and buying electronics from your local big box store. If you find the right professional, you’ll not only net a custom-made system, but will also forge a relationship that could last for years. This could be invaluable as technology outpaces your home systems and updates become necessary.
Such was the case for professional Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Greg Jennings, whose ongoing relationship with Automation Design + Entertainment, Kalamazoo, Mich., has not only scored him a system he loves, but has kept him abreast of the latest technology updates since his system was originally installed in 2011. Peter Cook, president of Automation Design + Entertainment, was originally contacted by Jennings’ parents, who wanted to trick out a home they were building that would be featured in a local Parade of Homes.
“Through that relationship we met Greg, who was at the time a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers,” says Cook. “I knew from working with previous pro athletes that his lifestyle would be unique: He travels a lot and would need to keep an eye on his home in Green Bay remotely. The system would also need to be easy to use and reliable, with an emphasis on security features. Greg loves music, so that was another top priority.”
With this lifestyle in mind, Cook originally outfitted Jennings’ main house four years ago with a HomeLogic (now Elan) control system. But because technology moves at lightning speed, what was current then has been dramatically improved since. During those few years, the Elan g! system was developed, offering new and better features and benefits—including improved control of audio and video equipment and transmission of notifications to remote smartphones. And most importantly, according to Cook, the g! system would provide the Jennings household with a reliable means of managing a 6,570-square-foot home with a zero learning curve.
“Building a good relationship with an integrator is so important,” says Cook, who conducts an annual meeting with each of his previous clients to assess and inform them about how their systems can be improved, updated, or upgraded to better suit their lifestyle as time goes on. “When we met with Greg during one of our annual assessments after we installed his original system, we showed his family the g! platform. They liked it, and so we did that upgrade for him quickly and in a way that didn’t disrupt his lifestyle or cost him a lot of money.”
The Players
Electronics Design & Installation Automation Design + Entertainment, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Builder Visser Construction, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Architect Visser Construction, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Electrician Engbers Electric, Kalamazoo, Mich.
By upgrading a smart home system as its functionality evolves, homeowners like Jennings are able to sidestep the associated cost of doing a complete system overhaul. The updates included replacing the system processor, the keypads, and touchpanels with newer, smarter models. Now, the Jennings family can enjoy a complete Elan g! system with integrated control over thermostats, surveillance cameras, lighting, a motorized gate at the entrance to the property, and a whole-house audio system that broadcasts the sound of the doorbell over every speaker in the house. “This system update was really about staying focused on simplicity, ease of use, the needs of the family, and keeping abreast of technology as it changed,” Cook says. “We are always looking five to 10 years down the road for ways to easily update our control systems.”
Jennings and his family are thankful to have a system that is both completely up to date and easy to manage, as well as a home systems integration partner who is looking out for the family’s best interests as technology charges forward at wide-receiver speed. EH
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