Smart Home Automation — Certified Installers, Real Results
New Age Technology is a certified smart home automation company serving the Twin Cities metro — and the question every homeowner should start with is not which device to buy, but which platform will actually run your home reliably for the next decade. Control4 and Savant are not interchangeable consumer gadgets. They are professionally engineered ecosystems that require trained integrators, proper network infrastructure, and a calibrated installation — none of which a box from a big-box retailer provides.
Owner Chad and the New Age Technology team have completed whole-home automation projects ranging from single-room lighting scenes to fully integrated systems controlling lighting, HVAC, multi-room audio, security cameras, motorized shades, and home theater — all managed from one interface. If you have already spent time on forums trying to decide between platforms or compare local companies, this page gives you the direct answers that those threads rarely do.
What Is Smart Home Automation?
Smart home automation means every system in your home — lighting, thermostats, audio, video, locks, shades, security cameras, and climate — operates from a single unified platform rather than a collection of disconnected apps. That distinction separates a professionally integrated smart home from a drawer full of smart devices for the home that each require their own login and rarely communicate with one another. A true whole-home system uses a central processor, dedicated low-voltage wiring, and a platform that can execute complex scenes: dim the lights, lower the shades from the same interface that runs everything else, set the thermostat, and start a playlist the moment you say 'good night' or press one button. Consumer products like smart TVs, video doorbells, and PoE IP security cameras can be imported into a professional platform — but they function as endpoints, not the brain. The brain is the platform, and specifically the home automation controller that ties lighting, audio, shades, and climate into one hub.
Smart Home Platforms We Install and Support
### Control4
Control4 is the most widely installed professional automation platform in North America. It supports more third-party devices than any competing system — smart home automation devices from hundreds of manufacturers integrate natively — making it the right choice for homeowners who want flexibility and broad compatibility without sacrificing reliability. Control4 requires a certified dealer for purchase and installation; you cannot buy a Control4 processor at retail.
### Savant
Savant targets the luxury tier with a more refined, Apple-influenced user interface. If the visual experience of the app and touchscreens matters as much as the underlying functionality, Savant is worth the conversation. Both Control4 and Savant are excellent — Control4 wins on device breadth, Savant wins on UI polish.
### Open-source alternatives
For homeowners asking about open-source alternatives like Home Assistant: they are capable platforms with real communities behind them, but they require ongoing self-maintenance, lack professional warranty coverage, and do not offer the reliability guarantees that a certified integrator can stand behind. We are happy to discuss where each platform fits your goals and budget — call 952-204-7222 and ask for Chad.
Our Smart Home Installation Process
Every project at New Age Technology follows the same structured process so nothing is left to guesswork.
- Step 1 — Discovery call. We talk through how you live in your home, which rooms and systems matter most, and what your existing infrastructure looks like.
- Step 2 — On-site assessment. We walk the property, assess wiring runs, network equipment, and any pre-existing smart home automation devices already in place.
- Step 3 — System design. We produce a full design document specifying the platform, processor location, device list, wiring plan, and control interface layout — no vague proposals.
- Step 4 — Low-voltage installation. Our team runs all required cabling, mounts hardware, and integrates every subsystem — lighting, HVAC control, audio, video distribution, security, and motorized shades — before any programming begins.
- Step 5 — Programming and commissioning. The system is fully programmed, scenes are built, and every integration is tested end to end.
- Step 6 — Handoff training. We walk every household member through the app, touchscreens, and voice commands until the system feels natural.
- Step 7 — Ongoing support. Software updates, remote diagnostics, and on-site service are available after go-live — because a smart home is not a one-time installation, it is an ongoing relationship.
How to Choose a Smart Home Automation Company
The forum and review-site searches you have been doing are the right instinct — most smart home projects that go wrong start with an unqualified installer, not a bad platform. Here is what to verify before signing anything.
- Manufacturer certification: Ask specifically whether the company is a certified Control4 dealer or a Savant authorized integrator. These are manufacturer-issued credentials that require training, ongoing testing, and minimum installation volume. A general contractor or handyman who 'does some smart home stuff' will not hold them.
- Scope of work in writing: Every device, every wire run, and every programmed scene should appear in the proposal. Vague line items like 'smart home setup' are a red flag.
- Post-install support model: Ask how software updates are handled, whether remote diagnostics are included, and what the response time is for a system outage. Companies that disappear after commissioning leave you without recourse when a firmware update breaks a driver.
- Red flags: Proposals with no device list, installers who cannot name the platform processor model, and companies that quote a system without walking your property first.
New Age Technology addresses all of these — owner Chad is reachable directly, and 24/7 technical support is available for clients with active systems.
Smart Home Automation Cost Factors
Transparent pricing information is rare in this industry, and that absence erodes trust with exactly the evaluation-stage buyer who is comparing multiple companies. We do not publish flat-rate prices because smart home projects vary too widely — but we will explain every factor that drives your specific number.
- Platform licensing: Control4 and Savant require dealer-managed software licenses; open-source platforms do not.
- Device count: Every light switch, thermostat smart controller, motorized shade, camera, lock, and speaker is a billable line item for hardware.
- Wiring scope: New construction allows clean structured wiring runs. Retrofit projects in finished homes require fishing walls, which adds labor hours.
- Network infrastructure: A professional automation system demands enterprise-grade Wi-Fi and a properly segmented network — if your current router came from your ISP, it is likely not adequate and will need upgrading.
- Programming complexity: A home with 12 scenes and 30 devices programs faster than one with 80 devices, multi-floor zoning, and AI voice integration.
The best way to get an honest number is a free on-site assessment. Call 952-204-7222 to schedule.
Professional Installation vs. DIY Smart Home Platforms
This is an honest comparison, not a sales pitch. DIY platforms like Home Assistant and Apple Home can deliver real value for technically fluent homeowners with limited scope — a single thermostat smart upgrade, a few smart devices for the home, or a smart lock on one entry point. The tradeoffs are real: self-hosted platforms require ongoing maintenance, community-sourced drivers that break on firmware updates, no professional warranty, and no on-call support when the system goes down before a dinner party. A professionally installed Control4 or Savant system carries manufacturer warranty coverage, is supported by a certified integrator who can push fixes remotely, and is designed to scale — adding a new zone, a new security camera, or a new voice integration does not require you to rebuild your configuration from scratch. The total cost of ownership gap narrows considerably once you factor in the hours spent troubleshooting a self-managed system and the reliability ceiling that DIY platforms hit at scale. If you genuinely enjoy the tinkering, Home Assistant is a capable platform. If you want a system that works every time without you managing it, professional installation is the correct answer.
How to Choose a Home Automation Company in the Twin Cities
Most homeowners comparing home automation companies are really choosing between three different things that get lumped under one search: a certified integrator, a big-box installation service, and a DIY platform. They are not the same purchase, and the difference shows up years later. Here is how the three actually compare.
### Certified integrator (what we are)
A certified Control4 dealer or Savant integrator holds manufacturer-issued credentials that require training, ongoing testing, and minimum installation volume. That is the tier that can buy, program, and warranty the professional platforms.
- Platform access: Control4 and Savant processors are not sold at retail. Only a certified dealer can source and license them.
- Design first: A full design document specifies platform, processor location, device list, and wiring plan before anyone runs a wire.
- One accountable trade: We run the low-voltage cabling, integrate every subsystem, and program the system ourselves, so there is no finger-pointing between a wiring crew and a programmer.
- Ongoing support: Remote diagnostics and firmware management after go-live, reachable Monday through Friday, with 24/7 technical support for clients on active systems.
### Big-box or general installation service
The install-only crews attached to electronics retailers can mount a TV and set up a soundbar competently. Where they fall short is whole-home integration.
- No platform depth: Most are not certified Control4 or Savant dealers, so they cannot deliver a true unified system that runs locally on a dedicated processor.
- Menu pricing, not design: Work is quoted per task, not engineered around how your home is wired and how you actually live in it.
- Thin support model: Once the job is closed, there is rarely a named person to call when a firmware update breaks a driver.
### DIY platform
Home Assistant and Apple Home are real options for a technically fluent homeowner with narrow scope, and we will say so plainly.
- Right for one or two devices: A single smart thermostat or a smart lock on one door is a reasonable weekend project.
- You are the support desk: Self-hosted platforms depend on community drivers that break on firmware updates, carry no professional warranty, and go down with no one to call.
- Ceiling at scale: Once you cross into multi-subsystem, multi-floor automation, the maintenance hours and reliability limits close the cost gap fast.
The honest verdict: for one device, DIY is fine. For a whole home across lighting, HVAC, audio, video, shades, and security, a certified integrator is the only tier that delivers a locally processed, warrantied, supportable system. When you interview any home automation company, ask the one question that sorts the field: are you a certified Control4 dealer or Savant integrator, and can you show me the credential? Call 952-204-7222 and we will answer it directly.
Home Automation Installers Serving Plymouth and Hennepin County
When homeowners search for local home automation installers, they usually want two things confirmed: that the company actually works in their area, and that it does more than sell boxes. New Age Technology is based at our Plymouth showroom at 15070 23rd Ave N, just off County Road 6 and I-494, with 15+ years serving Hennepin County. Every system we install runs live in that showroom first, so you can hold the remote and feel the difference between Control4 and Savant before you decide.
We design, install, program, and support whole-home automation across the Twin Cities west and east metro, including Plymouth, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Edina, Woodbury, Chanhassen, Medina, Orono, Shorewood, and Excelsior. The install changes with the housing stock: 1980s split-levels around Plymouth and 1970s ramblers near Hopkins rarely have structured wiring behind the walls, while Lake Minnetonka lakefront estates in Wayzata and Orono need long cable runs converted to HDBaseT or single-mode fiber. Being local is not a slogan for us. It means we know which neighborhoods were built without pull strings and which lakefront equipment rooms run humid enough to need a rack-mounted dehumidifier.
We also handle the low-voltage permit process through the City of Plymouth building department on Plymouth jobs, so you are not chasing city offices. If you are comparing home automation installers in the metro, the fastest way to judge fit is to see the work running live. Book a showroom visit or a free on-site assessment at 952-204-7222.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a smart home technology package?
A smart home technology package is a bundled system design that combines a central automation platform — typically Control4 or Savant — with a defined set of integrated subsystems: lighting control, thermostat smart controllers, multi-room audio, security cameras, motorized shades, and video distribution. The package is configured specifically for your home's layout and your household's daily routines, then professionally programmed so every subsystem works together. It is not a collection of individual smart devices for the home — it is a single unified system.
How much does smart home technology cost?
Cost depends on platform choice, device count, wiring scope, network infrastructure requirements, and programming complexity. A focused single-room or lighting-only project is a very different investment from a whole-home Control4 or Savant installation covering audio, video, HVAC control, security, and shades across multiple floors. We do not publish generic price ranges because a number without context creates false expectations. The accurate answer requires a free on-site assessment — call 952-204-7222 to schedule one with Chad's team.
What modern smart technology can now be found in the home?
A fully integrated smart home today includes: motorized shading with astronomical-sunset scheduling, voice control via Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit, multi-zone audio with Sonance or Paradigm in-ceiling speakers, 4K video distribution to every room, Lutron RadioRA 3 or HomeWorks QSX lighting control, HVAC zoning with remote app access and energy monitoring, smart door and lock integration, PoE IP cameras and local NVR storage, and a home theater with Dolby Atmos. Every one of these subsystems can operate independently or respond to a single scene trigger.
Who is the leader in home automation?
Control4 is the most widely installed professional home automation platform globally by dealer count and active installations. Savant leads at the ultra-luxury tier for UI refinement. For a homeowner comparing platforms, the right answer depends on your budget, how many devices you are integrating, and how important the visual interface is to daily use. New Age Technology is a certified dealer and can walk you through the right fit for your specific project.
What is the most reliable home automation system?
Reliability in home automation comes from three things: a professional-grade platform with a dedicated local processor (not cloud-dependent), a properly designed enterprise network, and a certified installer who programs and commissions the system correctly. Control4 and Savant consistently rank as the most reliable professionally installed platforms because they process commands locally — the system continues to function even if your internet connection goes down. Consumer cloud-dependent smart devices do not offer that resilience.
Who is the number one smart home security company?
Security as part of a whole-home automation system — PoE IP cameras, smart locks, video doorbells, monitored alarm panels, and access control — is meaningfully different from a standalone security company. New Age Technology integrates security subsystems into the same Control4 or Savant platform that controls your lighting, audio, and HVAC, so a single scene can lock every door, arm the system, and switch cameras to a security layout. That unified approach is something standalone security companies cannot replicate.
What are the top rated smart home devices?
For a professionally integrated system, the devices that consistently perform at the highest level are: Lutron Palladiom keypads and RadioRA 3 dimmers for lighting, Sonance and Paradigm speakers for audio, Control4 touchscreens and remotes for control interfaces, Hunter Douglas PowerView for motorized shades, and PoE IP cameras with NVR for security. These are the brands New Age Technology specifies because they have proven driver support, reliable hardware, and manufacturer warranties that hold up over time.
How long does a full smart home installation take?
A whole-home Control4 or Savant installation in a new-construction home typically runs two to four weeks from wire pull through programming and commissioning. Retrofit projects in occupied, finished homes take longer because wiring requires more careful routing through existing walls. Scope is the biggest variable — a lighting-only project is a few days; a full AV, lighting, HVAC, shading, and security integration across 5,000 square feet is a multi-week project. Your New Age Technology design document will include a projected timeline before any work begins.
Can my existing devices be integrated into a new smart home system?
Often yes — but compatibility depends on the device and the target platform. Control4 maintains a driver library covering thousands of third-party products, including many consumer smart home automation devices. PoE IP cameras, smart TVs, popular video doorbells, and major streaming platforms are typically supported. Devices that communicate only via proprietary cloud APIs without a published integration are harder to include reliably. We audit your existing hardware during the on-site assessment and tell you exactly what can be imported and what cannot.
What ongoing support does New Age Technology provide after installation?
Ongoing support includes remote diagnostics for platform and driver issues, software and firmware update management, and on-site service calls for hardware or programming problems. Owner Chad and the team are reachable during business hours Monday through Friday, and 24/7 technical support is available for clients with active systems. We also provide retraining when a household adds new members or when a major system update changes the interface — because a smart home you cannot confidently use is not a smart home.
Is professional installation worth the cost over DIY?
For a single device — a smart thermostat or a smart door lock — DIY is a reasonable option. For a whole-home system covering multiple subsystems and dozens of devices, the calculus changes. Professional installation means a correctly designed network, clean wiring runs, factory warranty support, remote diagnostics, and a system that scales without rebuilding from scratch. The hours spent maintaining a self-hosted open-source platform and the reliability ceiling it hits at scale typically close the cost gap faster than most homeowners expect.
What is the difference between smart home automation and a smart device?
A smart device — a smart TV, a video doorbell, a PoE IP camera — operates through its own app and cloud service. It is a single endpoint with no awareness of the rest of your home. Smart home automation connects every subsystem through a unified platform with a local processor, shared programming logic, and scene-based control. When you press 'Away' on a Control4 keypad, the system arms the security cameras, adjusts the thermostat, turns off all lights, and locks the doors simultaneously — something no individual smart device can orchestrate.
Are there home automation installers near me in the Twin Cities?
Yes. New Age Technology is based at a Plymouth showroom at 15070 23rd Ave N, just off County Road 6 and I-494, with 15+ years serving Hennepin County. We design, install, program, and support whole-home automation across the Twin Cities west and east metro, including Plymouth, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Edina, Woodbury, Chanhassen, Medina, Orono, Shorewood, and Excelsior. Rather than a one-time install-and-leave crew, we run every system live in the showroom first and provide ongoing support after go-live. Call 952-204-7222 to book a showroom visit or a free on-site assessment.
How do I choose the right home automation company?
Ask one question that sorts the field: is the company a certified Control4 dealer or Savant integrator, and can it show the credential? Those are manufacturer-issued credentials requiring training, ongoing testing, and minimum install volume, which a general handyman or a big-box install service typically does not hold. Then confirm the proposal lists every device, wire run, and programmed scene in writing (vague 'smart home setup' line items are a red flag), and ask how software updates, remote diagnostics, and outage response are handled after commissioning. New Age Technology is a certified dealer for both platforms, works from a written design document, and provides ongoing support, with owner Chad reachable directly.
What is the difference between a home automation company and a big-box installer?
A big-box or general installation service can mount a TV and set up a soundbar, but most are not certified Control4 or Savant dealers, so they cannot deliver a true unified system that runs locally on a dedicated processor. They price per task rather than engineering the system around how your home is wired, and they rarely offer a named support contact after the job closes. A certified home automation company like New Age Technology designs the system first, runs the low-voltage wiring and programming with one accountable team, and supports the platform with remote diagnostics and firmware management long after go-live.