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The Home Technology Educational Series: Prepare Your Remodeling Business to Meet Evolving Client Needs

The Home Technology Educational Series: Prepare Your Remodeling Business to Meet Evolving Client Needs

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Technology has become more important to all our lives. The pandemic highlighted this fact, since many of your clients’ homes now serve as a remote office and remote classroom. When designed early and implemented correctly, home technology systems make your clients’ homes safer, healthier, more convenient, and more entertaining.

As such, it is important for NARI members to feel comfortable discussing home technology options with their clients to serve their needs properly. Becoming a “tech friendly” contractor will result in your clients thanking you for looking after their and their home’s needs. The goal of these courses is for NARI members to:

  • Have a solid foundation to intelligently discuss home technology systems with their clients.
  • Learn how to quickly budget professionally installed systems and how to find qualified technology integrators.
  • Learn the advantages of professional products that qualified technology integrators sell and install vs. DIY products
  • Learn the breadth of technology systems such as Networks, Security, Smart Home/Home Control, Universal Design & Wellness, Lighting & Shades, Whole House Audio Systems, and Home Theater & Media Rooms the modern home technology integrator installs and when they should be brought to the project.

NARI Member Price: $295
Non-member Price: $395

*Fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable

We will cover the following throughout this robust 3-part course:

Session 1
Networks
The network is the digital “foundation” of the modern home. It connects the rest of the technology systems together and is the gateway to the Internet. As so much other technologies rely on the network, such as Wi-Fi, phone service, audio & video streaming, video conferencing for work and schooling, smart home technology and more, it is vital that your clients get a secure network that will meet current and future household needs. This learning module includes topics such as:
  • The need for strong and secure Wi-Fi across the entire home and possibly outdoor areas
  • The need for network prewiring even in a “wireless” world
  • How many wireless access points are needed for strong Wi-Fi coverage?
  • The difference between DIY / consumer-grade vs. Small Business/EnterpriseGrade network components for security and performance
Security
Everyone desires to feel safe and secure in their home. Most people are familiar with a basic alarm system, though what are the other technologies that can keep your clients safe? With so many new DIY alarm systems on the market, does your client even need professional installation? This learning module includes topics such as:
  • A general overview of alarm systems, surveillance cameras & access controls options
  • Pros and Cons of wired vs. wireless alarm systems
  • Discuss the latest technology innovations that are available
  • Exterior lighting’s effect on home security
Smart Home / Home Control
Years ago, “home automation systems” were a desired amenity on luxury homes though very expensive. Now commonly referred to as the ‘smart home’, today’s powerful home control technology adds safety, convenience, entertainment, and fun to a much larger percentage of homeowners. This learning module will define what a smart home is, what home automation is, and explain the difference between DIY and professionally installed home control solutions so your client gets the experience they desire. This section includes topics such as:
  • The types of subsystems that can be controlled through a simple interface
  • The aesthetic & convenience benefits of home control systems and home automation
  • Multi-app vs. Single app (pros & cons of each approach)
  • DIY vs. professionally installed systems (Amazon & Google systems vs. what Savant, Crestron, Control4, Elan etc. systems can do)
  • The advantage of having touchscreens in key areas of the home
Session 2
Universal Design & Wellness
A recent study showed that 80 percent of home buyers and homeowners of all age groups reported they would pay more for a healthier home. This module aims to help residential remodeling professionals explore the intersection of design, innovation, and technology to create healthy homes for their clients that will meet their needs as they age. We will touch on how to bridge the gap between technology and design and show how technology provides improved health while illuminating your work. Study reference at this link. This learning module includes topics such as:
  • An explanation of what in the home falls under the umbrella of “wellness” (water & air quality, human centric lighting, sound isolation / acoustic comfort, etc.) and its related technologies
  • What statistics can be shared with your clients or anecdotes for quality of living enhancement with wellness systems?
  • A discussion of technology’s role in Universal Design (also referred to as ‘Living in Place’ or ‘Aging in Place’)
Lighting & Shades
Proper lighting is a vital aspect to comfortable living in a home no matter if it comes in through the windows or through the home’s lighting fixtures. The LED lighting revolution has not only brought about more efficient lighting, you now have the ability to adjust the color of the lighting to mimic the color temperature of natural sunlight as it changes throughout the day. Modern lighting control systems make the home’s lighting easier to control and can greatly aid in safety and security, too. This learning module includes topics such as:
  • What are the various lighting control options available?
  • An explanation of the benefits of lighting control system vs conventional switches and dimmers
  • Discuss human-centric lighting (HCL lighting) and its advantages
  • An explanation of the difference between professionally-installed lighting systems vs app-based options such as Philips Hue, etc.
  • The advantages of wireless shades vs manual shades
  • An explanation of the various shading options available
  • Through photos, will show examples of different lighting and shading keypads to highlight the aesthetic advantages of lighting / shading keypads vs gangs of switches and dimmers
Whole House Audio Systems
Just about every client would love to listen to music throughout their home and even possibly outdoors. There are many different whole home audio systems now, and you should know the various options available so that your clients may have the music listening experience that meets their expectations. Sound quality, speaker styles, and the user experience vary greatly. In this module, you will learn:
  • The different speaker types available (both indoor & outdoor), including invisible options
  • The sound quality differences between the ever-popular voice assistants (Amazon Echo, Google Nest devices, Apple HomePod, etc.) built-in speakers vs. custom-installed options
  • Ways to control the music (through dedicated apps, a professional home control system, etc.)
Session 3
Home Theater & Media Rooms
Home Theaters and Media Rooms have been a popular home amenity ever since the 1980’s, and their popularity has exploded since the pandemic began. More homeowners are not comfortable going to the commercial cineplex, plus the performance of the best home theaters exceed what is available at the neighborhood movie house. In this module, you will learn:
  • The difference between a home theater and a media room
  • How the term “home theater” can mean different things to different people so you can understand how to interpret what your client wants
  • Learn about “mild to wild” options with some photos of each
  • Learn the latest developments in home theater and media rooms and how this affects the room (Atmos speaker locations, larger displays, ALR screens, etc)
  • A very brief overview of front projection, large flat panel displays, and now Direct View LED displays (Note: display options will be covered in the next learning module)
  • Learn why the integrator must be involved in the room’s design very early (sightlines, where to hide equipment, sound isolation & acoustic requirements, etc.)
Display Options & Hiding Technology
The advances in video display technology over the past 25 years has been staggering. Video displays have specialized over the years, and it is good to know the options available so your clients get the right display for the right application, including outdoors. In this module, you will learn:
  • An overview of video display options (including front projection) from small to massive, and when it’s best to use each
  • Learn the construction needs of some projects (recessing a display, recessing screens, bolstering a wall to handle weight of large displays, sightlines, etc.)
  • Ways to make technology disappear (motorized lifts, projector lifts, motorized screens, panel/art lifts, etc.)
  • Ways to make technology blend-in or more beautifully (brands such as Trufig, Wall-Smart, Basalte, Black Nova, luxury keypad options from Crestron, Savant, Lutron, etc.)
Planning for Technology
This learning module neatly summarizes some key takeaways learned from the other learning modules, namely that technology needs to be planned for very early. In this final module, you will learn:
  • Why a qualified technology integrator needs to be involved in the project as early as possible
  • A bullet point list of the items an integrator has construction input on
  • Access to a free tool for estimating installation costs
  • How to find qualified technology integrators. Learn about the HTA Certification standard for integrators and other ways to determine if an integrator is professional
  • Why being a “tech-friendly” contractor will differentiate you from the competition
A handout will be provided for all attendees designed to be a technology ‘checklist’ you can share with prospective clients. It will be a menu of the different technologies that integrators install, allowing you to run through the gamut with your client, learn what technologies the client is interested in, and then engage a qualified integrator.

NARI Member Price: $295
Non-member Price: $395

*Fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable