Keep up with Customised via #LiveInstall

Social media plays a big part in the Customised marketing activities.  Since 2012 we have consistently used a specific hashtag in our tweets and posts for our followers to track our installations across the UK.  #LiveInstall was first used by Customised but has now become the most frequently used hashtag for Smart Home installers across the globe to highlight their expertise.

We use it to show off our daily activities whether it be a multi-room music installation, a new house being cabled with Smart wiring or adding the final touches to a fabulous mood lighting system.

In the gallery below are several images from live installations we are working on right now in Surrey, Norfolk, Chiswick, Westminster, Cornwall and Scotland.

Click on the icons below to connect with us via our social media channels. We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Top Tips - Keeping Your Smart Home Install on Budget

Customised appreciate the pressures of a self build or renovation project. Financial constraints can arise at anytime during your project. Setting clear budgets at the beginning can ensure that the smart home features remain when the project completes. Here are a few simple tips to keep things in check.

• Be clear about your finances from the start - and don’t be afraid to ask your home technology installer whether they are keeping it in mind as the project develops.
• Focus your budget on the core essentials, such as future ready cabling, and consider adding bolt-ons such as home cinemas and HDMI distribution at a later stage.
• You can create a smart home without splashing out on expensive automation systems. Ask your installer if the use of “DIY” brands could achieve the same solution for requirements like heating control, CCTV and mood lighting.
• If the initial quotations show a smart home is out of reach, don’t panic. Go back to the brief and discuss with the installer if less expensive options are available or could some items be added later when you have more cash.

Book your free home technology consultation today. Get in touch.

Fear not, the Smart Home is here.

Smart home technology is available to cure the tech headaches, bring greater efficiency, provide more entertainment and heighten security in the home. It offers a scaleable solution based on budget, needs and type of property.

From our recent exhibition at Grand Designs Live, I clearly saw the increase in demand for and awareness of smart homes with both home renovators and self builders. 'Grand Designers' are often early adopters of new building techniques, from alternative energy sources to innovative insulation options. Their pioneering attitude to building has made them receptive to the concept of smart home living; they see great value and sensibility in future readying their home.

The future ready home has an extra layer of infrastructure woven into the fabric of the building. A designed cabling system is installed at first fix stage by the electrical contractor. Alongside the usual electrical cables there are wires installed for internet and TV distribution, security and CCTV, mood lighting and zonal heating controls and multi-room music. Regardless of any technology being connected to these cables the home is future ready once those extra cables are in place.

The future ready home can offer energy savings, with reduced energy bills for heating, lighting and electrical appliance energy consumption.  Home technology can bring comfort and convenience, learning your habits for heating, lighting and entertainment and using apps that give you complete control when you are home or away.  The future ready home can have increased security, with intruders captured on high definition cameras with snapshots sent to your mobile devices, alerts from your home when the kids come home from school or simulate occupancy when away on holiday with automated lighting and blinds.

I would like to highlight the need for property developers to consider a new level of wiring in their developments. At the moment the majority are letting their customers down by providing wiring straight out of the 1990's home specification guide. Back then we didn't have tablets, cloud based storage, On Demand TV or Apps. When we carry out our free home tech surveys I constantly get told that home owners frustrations are with inadequate connections for TV and Internet, dumb heating controls and the spread of wall acne with huge banks of thermostats, light switches and dimmers in kitchens and reception rooms.

I know that home builders are making their first steps at evolving their homes for the new connected way of living, I often read about it within the pages of this property supplement. It is great to see the change happening but my fear is that this evolution is not being planned or designed. At Customised we are here to help home buyers, builders and designers with the change to future ready homes.

Let Customised remove the fear factor, smart home living is fast becoming the new normal.

Customised Answer Your Smart Home Questions

Everyday we answer Smart Home questions from homeowners, builders and designers. Here are the three most common. If you have a Smart Home question use our contact us page to get the answer.

What are the most popular solutions available to homeowners on a budget, and what can be achieved?

Multi-room music is now easily achievable in any home, brands such as Sonos and Denon have systems which start from under £200, sound terrific and often do not need professional installation. Intelligent heating control using smart thermostats from the likes of Nest and Honeywell are reducing household energy bills by learning your habits and only heating spaces when required, smarter heating control is another under £200 outlay.

How can the home technology be controlled, i.e. via tablet, smartphone, and what is the most effective solution?

Tablet and smartphone have become the default controller of home technology. Apps produced by companies like Sonos, Savant and Nest have made controlling your home a great experience. Control with mobile device means you have control in the home but more importantly away from home too. Adjust the heating, check your security camera, unlock the door for a delivery and turning an electrical appliance off are all simple tasks for a Smart Home owner. However the very nature of a mobile device means that you often need some form of backup for scenarios like no battery or being used by others (kids) so we still have light switches, on-wall keypads or a most recent trend is the use of sensors. Walk in, lights on, walk out, lights off; great for hallways, utility rooms or garages etc.

How can the use of home controls have a positive impact on the way you live?

Energy saving - home technology can reduce your energy bills for heating, lighting and electrical appliance energy consumption.

Comfort & convenience - home technology is able to learn your habits for heating, lighting and entertainment purposes bundle that up in a mobile app that gives complete control when you are home or away makes it a great choice.

Security - home technology can be used to alert you when there is a fire or smoke detected and guide you to a safe exit. Intruders can be captured on high definition cameras with snapshots sent to your mobile devices. Get alerts from your home when the kids return home from school and even get contacted by your home if a burst pipe is detected.

From our base in Loddon, South Norfolk, Customised provide Smart Home installation services throughout East Anglia. Get in touch to arrange your free Smart Home survey.

@NorfolkPolo Visitors Experience #SmartHome #Technology at #NorfolkPoloFestival

Customised have just completed a two day residency at the fabulous NFU Mutual Norfolk Polo Festival held at Langley Abbey.

We brought our cutting edge line up of home automation, audio & visual and security products to the Festival. We showcased the ultra-trendy Sonos multi-room audio system, the stylish curved and Ultra HD televisions from Samsung, the handcrafted ArtTV by PictureFrame.TV and complete home control with HDL BusPro.

The VIP and Players Lounge sponsored by Customised was decked out with colour changing LED lighting, bass thumping, app controlled Sonos and high quality HD TV. This setup got a great reaction from guests young and old, our home survey diary reflects this!

In the Customised smart stand we used the functional but stylish HDL BusPro home automation system to control the lighting, audio, blinds, curtains and security. HDL BusPro is a professionally installed system that will manage the essential services in your property to bring efficiency to your lighting and heating, enhance your security systems and provide the convenience of motorised curtains or blinds. It is a luxury system with a sensible price tag.

The show stopper on the stand was the stunning ArtTV made in the UK by PictureFrame.TV. This bespoke product can be made with a choice of frame style, artwork and sizes. You can use your existing screen and conceal it with your favourite picture. Wow your guests by revealing your Ultra HD TV at the press of a button!

On the pitch the Customised sponsored Suffolk team made it to the finals of the the Counties Cup but came up against a determined and skilful opponent in Cambridgeshire. Suffolk ran them close but fell short in the final chukka.

All the teams who competed over the two days provided fantastic entertainment to a packed pitch side audience. The young players especially, from Langley School, have a bright future in the world of polo. We all probably witnessed the rising stars of this global sport.

Customised were delighted to be a part of this fantastic event and already plan to be a involved in the 2016 Norfolk Polo Festival.

Thank you to our supporters at the show HDL UK, PictureFrame.TV, Alltrade, AWE Europe, Anthony Gallo and ACA Apex.

Customised showcase #smarthome and #homeautomation at @norfolkpolo

The weekend of Polo is upon us. The build up to the Norfolk Polo Festival has been a lot of fun putting together a display to show off Smart Home's to the visitors of this sporting extravaganza held at Langley Abbey, near Loddon. Are you ready to get Smart?

Here is a taster of some of the technology we are bringing to the festival.

Home automation with HDL BusPro including lighting, heating, curtain and blind control

Art TV from Picture Frame TV

CCTV and Wi-Fi by Ubiquiti

LED colour changing lighting controlled by HDL BusPro

Smart Home wiring with ACA-Apex and ABB

Audio with Anthony Gallo and Sonos

Curved HD TV with Samsung

Thank you to all our great suppliers for their support during the preparation.

Wi-Fi without the headaches. Wireless internet everywhere.

The search for the strongest wi-fi signal in the home is often a frustrating walk around your house. I've lost count of the amount of customers who have complained to us before we start a job that their wi-fi is only good here, here or here! Wi-fi should be consistently available in all corners of the home, including outside. It's so simple to improve your wi-fi.

When we wire a new property or re-wire a renovation project, we wire for wireless with Cat6 cabling (the same cabling we use for CCTV, on-demand TV and telephone). A survey is carried out to calculate the optimum ceiling mounted positions for wireless access points to provide you with the best signal throughout. The access points also manage your devices connection to ensure that it is always handled by the access point with the strongest signal.

Please don't rely on your BT, Sky or TalkTalk router to provide you and your family with the best wi-fi coverage. A two access point system connected to your router, with an installed price of around £400, will provide excellent wireless coverage throughout your home. To add outdoor coverage look at spending around £150 on an external access point.

Customised carry out a wi-fi survey as part of our free home technology surveys. Book your survey now.

A Smart Home wiring hub in progress during a recent installation. All the Cat6 cables are terminated, labelled and tested. This the common point for all your distribution of wi-fi, on-demand TV, HDTV, CCTV and much more.

First time buyers and #SmartHome living.

The excitement of owning your first home is hard to compete with. You're finally on the property ladder, free from renting, landlords and house sharing. As you look round your new purchase thinking about new wallpaper, kitchens and flooring you should also be considering how do I make this home smarter.

Follow our helpful tips below to boost the IQ of your new home.

• If the property is being renovated or extended you need to install Smart Home wiring. Demand that your electrician runs Cat6 cabling for services like On Demand TV, Wi-Fi and multi-room music and TV. 
• Upgrade your existing heating controls to Smart controls. Internet connected thermostats provide more accurate control, remote control and learn your heating preferences. Check out Nest for smart heating.
• Improve your Wi-Fi. Leave the days of poor wi-fi reception behind in your new home. The simple and inexpensive installation of long range, secure wireless access points mean that no matter where you are in the property you'll have a strong signal.
• LED lighting. To keep your electrical bills down look at replacing old halogen lighting with energy saving LED bulbs. It may be a pricey outlay initially but the long term savings will make it worthwhile. To add some wow factor to rooms like the kitchen, lounge and garden look at installing colour changing LED lighting controllable by your mobile device.
• Safety first. Smoke detectors are unloved but vital devices in your home. An upgrade to internet connected detectors like Nest Protect will provide you with smoke and carbon monoxide detection in one device, notifications to your mobile device and tell you exactly where smoke is detected in the property.

These are just some of the simple upgrades to your new home to make it smarter. Customised are home technology specialists based in Norfolk. Connect with Customised to learn more about home technology.