Addressing Home Technology Obsolescence
By Lee Distad

One concern home builders have when it comes to specifying audio/video and network integration into their projects is it’s future utility; not just in some far off time, but perhaps even in a single year or two. Between the time the proposals are agreed to and ground is broken can sometimes be up to a year or more, so the danger of brand-new homes already containing obsolete technology is a valid issue.

With the pace of change in the audio/visual world, rather than worry about whether a technology may become obsolete, it’s better to hedge against it by partnering with an electronic systems contractor (ESC) who knows how to mitigate those changes.

Fortunately, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when selecting an ESC who will deliver a good quality, future-friendly system that will add value to homes and and appeal to clients.

Have a dialogue with your contractor about their vision

Just like discussing any aspect of a proposal from one of your trades, find out from the prospective ESC what he/she sees coming down the pipe, and how his/her designs are prepared to accommodate those changes. One aspect to pay attention to is their use of standard network wiring configurations.

While some audio/video distribution systems use proprietary or idiosyncratic cabling, other products are dependant on more straightforward runs of wiring. That alone is not a bad thing, but in general, product that is networked conventionally is easier to upgrade down the road.

In addition, wireless technologies are becoming more commonplace, not just for networking computers, but for sending audio/video signals throughout the house. Ask the ESC where wireless solutions fit into the framework of his design, both for now and in the future.

Look for consistent processes

Reliability and consistency are qualities to look for in all the trades that a builder contracts with, otherwise headaches may come into play. In addition to efficiency on the jobsite, the ESC should ideally have standardized installation processes. ESCs keep files of work documentation which equips them to recommend upgrades in the future.

Installation documentation provides information on that how the particular project was wired. Having an ESC with exacting install standards can be the difference between being told that they can “absolutely” make future upgrades, or “we’re not sure.”

Negotiate some room in the proposal for alterations

While no one likes doing change orders or having uncertainty about what the finished project is going to look like–there are times when it’s prudent to leave some specifications open to later decision making.

A perfect example of this is televisions. Everybody who can read an electronics store sale flyer knows that every year flat panel televisions get bigger and less expensive. Ten thousand dollars six years ago bought a 42-inch TV, and today it will buy a 65-inch model.

One Edmonton condo developer wanted to specify a TV in the living rooms of their units for one project.  However, deciding on the exact size and price of TV while the project was just on paper wouldn’t have delivered good value for anybody by the time the building was finished two years later.

In that case, it made sense to wire the TV locations to accommodate products to be agreed on closer to the finishing date.

By better understanding what your ESC does, and the products and services he delivers, builders will be better able to specify electronics into projects that add value to the homeowner.

Lee Distad is an Edmonton; Alberta-based freelance CEDIA Certified Professional Designer who offers design and process consultation to firms in the custom installation industry. Lee’s business and industry blog can be read at leedistad.com. He can be reached at lee_distad@shaw.ca.

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