How do you choose a home automation integrator?
What to ask a home automation integrator before you commit: delivered projects, open systems, access, documentation and support after handover.
Choose the integrator who can show delivered projects, explain what the system does without internet, and put in writing who holds the access and what happens after handover. The price of the equipment says little about these points, and they decide whether the installation still serves you in five years.
In Portugal there are installers, brands with their own network and independent integrators. These questions help compare them.
Ask for delivered projects, not only photos
- How many projects like yours has the integrator delivered?
- Can they show the documentation given to the client?
- Can you speak to a client or see an installation running?
A development with dozens of apartments and a single house need different experience. See Quantum Logic projects as an example of the level of detail you can ask any integrator for.
Ask about systems and who can change them
- Does the system use open protocols or depend on one manufacturer?
- Can another integrator maintain and extend the system later?
- What happens if a device is discontinued?
An integrator who works with open systems does not tie you to one brand. See also home automation without internet: what keeps working.
Define who keeps the access
Before you commit, confirm in writing:
- Who administers the system and its linked accounts.
- Which credentials and backups are handed over.
- How access is granted to or removed from third parties.
Confirm coordination with the build
Automation depends on the electrical design and the network. Ask how the integrator coordinates with the electrician, designer and architect, and at which stage they need to be involved. See when to plan home automation in a house.
Check certifications where they apply
For CCTV and alarms, installation must be done by a certified entity. Quantum Logic is a PSP-certified security installer, certificate no. 7074. Always ask for the number and check it.
Ask about handover and support
- How is handover done and which tests are run? Use the handover checklist.
- What does support include, during which hours and with what response time? See what a maintenance contract should include.
If you want to compare a proposal or start a project, get in touch.