Smart home technology has moved from exotic to mainstream on custom home projects in the past decade. Clients now expect a baseline of home automation, integrated lighting control, comprehensive audio, and hardwired network infrastructure in any new build at our market level. The question is not whether to include smart home features, but which to include and which to skip. Some investments pay off for 20 years. Some look dated in 3. Here is how to separate the two.
Build it in during construction, not after
The central rule for smart home decisions is: anything requiring wiring in walls should be decided and installed during construction. Retrofitting hardwired infrastructure after drywall is closed costs 3 to 5 times the original installation price, and sometimes is not possible at all without demolition. The opposite is also true: technology that runs over wireless networks and plug-in power can be added or swapped later, and there is little benefit to making those decisions during construction.
What we recommend building in
Structured network wiring
A hardwired Cat6 or Cat6A network run to every room and every TV location is the single most durable investment in a custom home. Wi-Fi technology will iterate several times over the life of the home (Wi-Fi 6 to 6E to 7 and beyond), but Ethernet cabling does not change. A properly terminated Cat6A run in 2024 will still be a premium network connection in 2044. Include a dedicated network closet or equipment rack with adequate ventilation and power, and pull cables to every TV, office, computer location, and Wi-Fi access point location before drywall.
Lighting control
A whole-home lighting control system (Lutron, Crestron, or Savant) allows you to set scenes, dim lights smoothly without the flicker that traditional dimmers produce on LED lights, control lighting from wall keypads or phone apps, and integrate lighting with audio and shade systems. The cost premium over traditional switching is meaningful ($15,000 to $40,000-plus on a typical custom home), but the daily experience difference is substantial. Lighting control systems are hardwired and need to be designed during the electrical rough-in phase.
Motorized window treatments
Motorized shades (Lutron Serena, Hunter Douglas PowerView, Somfy) are wired with low-voltage power and control cabling. Retrofitting motors into existing windows is possible but harder. For large or hard-to-reach windows, high-placement clerestories, and primary-suite automations (good morning/good night scenes), motorized treatments are worth including. For smaller or less frequently used windows, manual is fine.
Whole-home audio
In-wall and in-ceiling speakers connected to zoned amplification require speaker wire runs to every room where music is desired. The cost to wire this during construction is modest; retrofitting speakers and wiring into finished walls is disruptive. Even if you do not intend to install speakers immediately, pulling speaker wire to key rooms during rough-in preserves the option. At a minimum, outdoor lanai speakers should be specified during construction because they require weatherproof conduit.
Security system infrastructure
Hardwired security systems (door contacts, window contacts, motion detectors, glass-break sensors, keypads) are more reliable than wireless alternatives and should be rough-wired during construction. Camera systems with IP cameras also benefit from hardwired network connections at each camera location. Wireless cameras are easy to add later but work better when powered and networked with a cable.
Hardwired electric vehicle charging
A 50-amp 240V circuit in the garage (for Level 2 EV charging) is code-standard on current construction. Running the circuit to the garage wall during construction is inexpensive; pulling it through finished walls later is not. Even if you do not own an EV today, plan for it.
What to skip during construction
Several smart home categories are easier to add or swap later and should not drive construction decisions:
- Smart thermostats (swap out later)
- Voice assistants (plug in anywhere)
- Smart plugs and individual smart outlets (mostly retrofit)
- Video doorbells (install after CO)
- Leak detection sensors (add anywhere)
- Smart locks (swap out existing hardware)
Automation platform choice
The automation platform (the software and controller that ties lighting, audio, shades, security, and HVAC into a coherent system) is the one decision that is somewhat sticky. The primary platforms in our custom home market are Crestron (premium, installer-configured, powerful), Savant (mid-premium, easier to use, Apple-centric), Control4 (widely supported, solid middle ground), and increasingly Lutron-native systems at the lower end of integration complexity. Most of our clients at the luxury level use Crestron or Savant with a dedicated integrator managing the configuration.
A realistic budget
On a typical custom home in our market, the smart home technology budget (including structured wiring, lighting control, motorized shades for primary rooms, whole-home audio rough-in, security pre-wire, and automation platform) runs $60,000 to $150,000-plus depending on scope. Higher-end projects with full whole-home automation, dedicated theater, and comprehensive motorized treatments can run $250,000 or more. You can see how we approach technology integration on our [design-build services](/services/design-build) page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pre-wire for technology I might not install immediately?
For hardwired infrastructure (network, speaker wire, security, motorized shades), yes. The marginal cost during construction is small, and the future flexibility is real. For end devices (smart speakers, cameras, thermostats), no. Those can be added anytime and upgrading them is routine.
Will smart home systems be obsolete in 10 years?
The physical infrastructure (cabling, network wiring, speaker wire, motor cabling) will still be useful. The control systems and end devices will have iterated. Plan to refresh automation hardware every 8 to 12 years. That refresh is much simpler when the underlying wiring is already in place.
Do I need an integrator separate from my builder?
On higher-end systems (Crestron, Savant, Control4), a dedicated audio-video integrator works alongside the builder to design and configure the system. The integrator typically joins the project during design development and coordinates with the electrical contractor on rough-in. On simpler Lutron-only projects, the electrician often handles the installation with manufacturer training.
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