A new gated luxury residential community in Cape Cod represented a challenge for integrator Extreme Audio & Video, which was tasked with installing and integrating 80 homes with smart home technologies.

To do so, the Cape Cod-based dealer turned to Snap One and its wide range of solutions, from basic audio systems to automation and control platforms. The New Seabury Homes development broke ground in 2020, and features 80 luxury homes of different styles on 1,500 acres.

80 Different Custom Homes, All Brought Up in a Snap

The buildout happened quickly, with Extreme Audio & Video staff constantly multitasking by pre-wiring some homes while putting the finishing touches on others, says Mike Astin, owner of the integration firm.

Astin and his company are active Snap One partners and a Control4 Platinum dealer, so the company relied heavily on Snap One’s solutions.

“Without the exceptional product and tech support from Snap One, we would have had a much harder time pulling off a project of this magnitude,” Astin says.

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The massive multi-dwelling unit (MDU) project presented the possibility of presenting homebuyers with good, better and best smart home packages to consider, but consultations with clients and electricians revealed desires for different amenities that weren’t part of those packages.

For example, some buyers wanted a smart door lock and a few thermostats, while others only wanted a TV mounted over the fireplace. Others, meanwhile, wanted a complete smart home package with a Control4 automation system. This meant that each home became its own custom project.

Creating 80 different smart home packages seems challenging – and it was – but it was made more feasible with Snap One’s large catalog of products, dealer discounts and reward points that come with buying in bulk, according to Astin.  

“We were able to stockpile products in our own warehouse and deliver complete, tailored systems on tight schedules, even in the midst of the pandemic,” Astin says.

Extreme Audio & Video: Single Source of Product Provides Fewer Pain Points

Sourcing products from a single source also helped simplify installation and configuration, as Snap One products integrate well together. Any adjustments that had to be made were handled remotely via the OvrC remote management.

According to Astin, remote access through OvrC was a huge selling point for home buyers.

“They liked the idea of being able to monitor and manage thermostats, lighting and other electronic devices while they’re away,” Astin says.

Snap One products installed in these homes include Araknis routers and switchers in every house, Luma surveillance cameras, a Control4 touchscreen and Halo remote. In addition, the project called for a Samsung The Frame TV mounted over the fireplace mantel.

Working with Snap One products also allowed the integration firm to be flexible and allow homebuyers to bring their own smart home products and integrate them with the latest Control4 OS.

 “Snap One has been an instrumental part of our business for 10 years, and with this project under our belt, we know we can rely on their exceptional solutions and support for commercial projects like this going forward,” Astin says.

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