In the last few articles, we’ve talked about the five families of home automation, some of the key standards to watch out for, and how much cloud is the right amount of cloud.

If you’re still deciding which automation “family” to back, check out this article for our recommendations.

Now that you’ve got an idea of what kind of system you’re after, let’s look at the next big question: who should actually install it?

Because – as we cover in our real-life example of what happened with a New Zealand smart home business in January 2025 – choosing the wrong supplier can leave you high and dry when things go wrong.

Picking the right installer isn’t just about who can make the lights dim; it’s about who will still be around to support you five years from now.

Part Four: Who’s the Right Person to Install This?

Choices

Here’s a quick rundown of the usual suspects — from the pros to the “my neighbour’s kid who’s good with Wi-Fi” option — and how they stack up.

Type Notes Systems Cost Pros Cons
CEDIA Professional Member of the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association Proprietary, Programmable, Configurable (rarely DIY) 💰💰💰 Professionally trained and certified, insured, and delivers the best possible results Higher cost
Custom Integrator Regularly integrates a few different systems Proprietary, Programmable, Configurable & Plug-and-Play 💰💰💰 Good at blending systems together May cost more, and professionalism/insurance can vary
Vertical Expert (e.g. camera installer) Specialist in one system Proprietary, Plug-and-Play 💰💰 Quick and efficient on their system Limited scope — you may end up needing more than one onsite
Electrician Generalist Configurable, Plug-and-Play 💰💰 Easy to find and already on your job Limited to the systems they know — not all automation systems are equal
Neighbour’s Kid Tech-savvy but untrained Plug-and-Play, DIY 💰 Handy and local when things break Limited experience = limited reliability and security risks
Do-It-Yourself You! Plug-and-Play, DIY Free (if your time is worth $0) Cheapest labour around Huge learning curve; expect security and reliability headaches

Our Take

If you’re investing serious money in automation, go with someone who treats it seriously.

A certified CEDIA Professional or experienced Custom Integrator may cost more upfront – but they’ll save you countless hours of frustration (and those awkward calls when your lights stop responding to “Movie Night”).

Because in home automation – as our cautionary tale proves – the wrong installer can turn your smart home into a very expensive dumb one.

Simplify Life.