5 Smart Home Upgrades to Make Before the Holidays

Get Your Technology In Tip-Top Shape for Hosting 

You are pulling a roast out of the oven when the doorbell rings. You set the pan down, wipe your hands, and walk to the front door, only to find a delivery driver already walking back to the truck. Holiday hosting is full of small interruptions like this one.

A few smart home upgrades let you see who is at the door, change the music, and lower the shades without leaving the kitchen. Beacon Audio Video Systems installs these upgrades for homeowners in Cincinnati, OH. Below, we outline just some ways technology lends a helping hand. 

SEE ALSO: Video Distribution for Home Entertainment

Whole-Home Wi-Fi for Holiday Streaming

Holiday gatherings test your network. A dozen guests streaming video on their phones, a few game consoles linking for local play, and every device already in the house can overwhelm a single router. Beacon plans access point placement around your floor plan, so coverage stays strong from the basement to the back patio. Share your home's square footage and device count during a consultation, and we will come up with a custom network design for you. 

Every other upgrade on this list depends on a reliable connection, so Wi-Fi and networking are the best place to start.

A Video Doorbell for Deliveries and Visitors

The Control4 Chime video doorbell sends a snapshot to your phone or to Control4 touchscreens around the house when someone rings the bell or motion is detected. Two-way audio lets you talk to whoever is at the door.

During the holidays, that means you see who is there before you put down the pan. Tell a delivery driver to leave the package by the garage door, or ask a guest to come on in. Later, check the recorded clip to see what was delivered and where it was left. Unlock the door from the kitchen and keep cooking.

Beacon installs the doorbell and sets the motion zones for your porch. Learn more about our home security solutions.

Motorized Shades for Privacy and Glare Control

Motorized shades open and close from a keypad on the wall or from your phone, and they can follow a schedule, too.

Think of Thanksgiving afternoon. As the second game kicks off, the winter sun is creating glare on the TV. Instead of having to stand up and walk across the room to shut them, do so from an app on your phone or by voice command. Shades automatically close in the evening to create a more cozy, private environment when it’s time to sit down for dinner. 

Multi-Room Audio for Every Gathering

Music sets the tone for a holiday party. With whole-home audio, your curated playlist follows guests wherever they go. Start a playlist in the kitchen, keep it going in the dining room, and send something quieter to the family room. Each zone can play the same song or its own.  

Beacon works with respected speaker brands such as Sonance and Paradigm, and we match the system to your rooms and your budget. See our audio and video solutions.

Control4 Scenes Tie It All Together

One-touch scenes turn a list of upgrades into a single experience. A Guests Arriving scene can open the shades, start the music, set the temperature, and turn on the TV, all from the Control4 app, a touchscreen, a keypad, or a voice command. These scenes reduce the number of steps you take while hosting, so you spend more time with your guests. We program each scene around the way you entertain.

You can see how it all fits together at Beacon's Control4-certified showroom.

Schedule Your Upgrades Before the Season

 Installation schedules fill quickly in the fall, so now is the right time to plan. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Beacon, and we will help you choose the upgrades that fit your home. Our team can visit your home to review your current equipment and map out a plan that fits your timeline.