If you are like many homeowners, the concept of a connected “smart” home can be intriguing, but can be worrisome regarding budget. Asking how much an automated home can cost is like asking how much is a car? As you can see, there are a lot of variables that go into the answer, but we will give you our best guide to start.
For new construction, we see costs range in the 3-7% range. That means for a $1,000,000 home, you will spend $30,000 to $70,000 on home automation. The number will very widely depending on quality of equipment, for example a pair of speakers can cost $200 or $2000.
For remodels or existing construction, a typical range will be between $5000-$15,000. Again, these costs can increase or decrease based on the current wiring infrastructure, existing equipment, and labor needed for installation.
It is easy to do home automation on a budget, however it is not unheard of to see projects range well over the $100,000 mark when the right customer wants to go all out.
An automated home is the ability to have one sub-system talk to another. To break down the cost of the sub systems, you can use these as guidelines:
1) Audio – about $1000 per zone of audio (including speakers and amplifiers)
2) Video – about $1500 per TV, including TV and wall mount
3) HVAC – about $500 per thermostat, including programming
4) Lighting – about $10,000 per floor, depending on number of switches and dimmers needed
5) Surveillance – about $1000 per camera, including NVR and cameras
6) Control – about $1000 per touch panel and controller that is needed.
As you can see, the overall cost of Home Automation is a function of wants, needs, comfort and control. It is best to contact an expert for a free consultation on what will work best for your system. Good luck!