Why You Need an Aftercare Plan For Your Smart Home

The Hidden Complexity of Smart Homes & Why Maintenance Matters

Smart homes involve multiple integrated systems, including lighting, audio-visual (AV), and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Each element has its own complexities. And getting each part to work together requires another layer of sophistication.

A well-configured smart home system will work seamlessly, no matter how many moving parts it consists of. However, it’s only made possible because of the expertise of Smart Home Professionals – and their support doesn’t end at the installation.

A CEDIA-certified integrator can perform system updates, install patches, and upgrade firmware as part of an aftercare plan. These routine adjustments are crucial for system maintenance to keep your smart home working as you expect. Plus, they’re important for security. If you don’t regularly update your smart home system, it could be vulnerable to security breaches.

Without professional support, small issues can escalate – whether that’s a compatibility problem or a security weakness. By investing in home technology maintenance, you’ll have the support of a Smart Home Professional who can fix issues and identify any concerns before they become major problems.

What a Smart Home Maintenance Plan Includes

Every smart home aftercare plan is unique. How much maintenance support you’ll receive will depend on the terms you’ve agreed to.

However, some typical components of an aftercare plan include:

1. Smart home warranty coverage – A lot of smart tech devices will come with free warranties, meaning you can get repairs and replacements without incurring an extra cost if something goes wrong within a set period. A professional smart home installer may offer extended warranties, helping you get cover for longer. They can also advise you on which devices you’ll need to register with manufacturers to maximise your smart home warranty protection.
2. Maintenance checks – It’s common for an aftercare plan to involve semi-regular check-ups on your smart home technology. For example, you could pay for a maintenance plan that includes a yearly check of your system’s health. During a check, an integrator can carry out any necessary updates and optimise your smart home’s performance.
3. 24/7 support or call-outs – With a comprehensive smart home service plan, you’ll be able to contact your integrator when you need help – sometimes even 24 hours a day. Having this level of assistance will give you the peace of mind that somebody will always be around to fix things. Support like this goes beyond standard DIY troubleshooting. With an advanced maintenance plan, you can rely on a Smart Home Professional to solve complex problems and keep everything running smoothly.

Staying Ahead of Evolving Technology

Smart home technology is constantly changing. As time passes, you may choose to add a new device to your setup or have to install a compulsory update on a device. Either way, these evolutions can cause compatibility issues that can be difficult to solve alone.

Professional aftercare ensures that any firmware updates are done properly, meaning all your devices will continue to ‘speak’ to each other as normal.

Regularly working with a professional installer also makes it easier to make changes. Perhaps, there’s a new feature that wasn’t available at the time of your installation that you’d like to incorporate. If so, a CEDIA-certified professional can talk you through your options. The cost of new additions will fall outside of maintenance cover, but having a professional you can rely on will still make it easier to protect your existing tech when introducing new elements.

Home Technology Maintenance Means Peace of Mind 

Once you have a smart home you love, it’s understandable that you want it to keep working for many years to come. Aftercare makes that a more realistic goal and should provide you with reassurance. By taking smart home maintenance seriously, you’ll protect your investment and the lifestyle convenience of smart technology.

CEDIA professionals can tailor aftercare to suit you and your home’s unique needs. Perhaps you want an integrator who’ll help you introduce the newest tech to your setup. Or maybe you’d prefer someone who will keep everything secure in the background while minimising changes. You can also choose different support levels to suit your needs, ranging from smart home warranty packages to 24/7 on-call support.

Aftercare & Beyond – Why Work with a CEDIA Professional 

Investing in smart technology shouldn’t stop at installation. A functioning smart home requires ongoing care and updates. A professional maintenance plan ensures your smart systems stay secure and keep working. 

A CEDIA professional can provide structured aftercare after installation. By working with a reliable integrator, you can put a plan for long-term support in place. If you buy off-the-shelf retail solutions and attempt installation, it’ll be up to you to deal with any problems. You can minimise potential stress by using a CEDIA-certified installer with professional-grade technology instead.

Aftercare packages mean Smart Home Professionals will be there for you if things go wrong. What’s more, though, is that CEDIA members can prevent problems in the first place. Professional installers anticipate issues (like connectivity trouble) and proactively create solutions to keep smart home systems working together seamlessly. And when an unavoidable issue does crop up, they’ll use their expert knowledge to quickly address it.

If you’re considering a smart home system, find a CEDIA-certified professional near you. Our members can provide quality installation and aftercare for lasting peace of mind.