AnthonyZ
Active Member
CRISCO, you are clearly as greasy as your nickname implies.The "professionals" I was referring to are installers that have given me quotes in the $60,000-$80,000 range to install a whole-house system, far more $ than anyone needs to spend. My "professionals" comment was meant to convey my frustration that I've seen far more breath & depth of knowledge about Home Automation on this forum than from any of the "professional" installers in my area I've talked to about installing a system in my house. AnthonyZ--I apologize if you were offended by my "professionals" comment...don't be so sensitive!
First off, without more details, your comment that $60-80K for an install is "far more than anyone needs to spend" is without merit, substance or legitimacy. For you, sure but, for others and for incredibly robust systems, $60-80K is reasonable and, in some cases, light. Over the past year, I designed, installed and commissioned a $130K CQC based system. Needless to say, it was one hell of a rig and I spent approx. 11 weeks on the project (out of state) between Nov of '08 and Aug of '09. I suppose that despite the fact that you have no idea of what the system is capable of, that's probably exorbitant. It wasn't.
Second, don't offer me an apology and then take it back with a snide remark in the same sentence. It stinks of insincerity.
As for "pro" vs. DIY, I am, for the most part, clearly in the DIY camp. I just happen to make a living doing HA work (primarily, for the past two years, as a "consultant" for other dealers) I'm bored with the vast majority of what the professional market offers and the jobs they do. While I got into this industry via high end, custom AV, it's quite frankly boring to me compared to the creative, unique solutions that I see highlighted here at CT (and similar sites) everyday. That's why I call CT my home away from home. I'm not excited about chasing the same or similar GUI's (it seems that many professional systems look like Stepford versions of the same old thing). I'm bored with spec'ing gigs with the same or similar BOM's as my competitors and then having to fight tooth and nail with consumers to receive even the slightest margins on equipment that I've worked tirelessly over the years to become intimately familiar with. It's not a lot of fun to argue with clients, who have more money than God, over why I shouldn't have to subsidize the upfront materials costs on a project when they just want to hold on to the funds for another week's worth of compound interest. I would, it seems, rather find a niche in a different or adjusted business model and continue to enjoy the hell out of AV and automation than stick in the industry and getting to the point where I resent the whole shebang.
To answer another question raised earlier, I do offer "consultant" work to DIY'ers. There's an infinetesimal market for the work. There's little impetus to pursue and thus, I take those gigs as they "find" me rather than going after it aggressively. I do considerably better by working with other dealers or accepting the occasional gig of my own.
I, like others, do not want to see this entire thread get hijacked into an "Us vs. Them" type of argument. There are other venues for it. I will say, though that when a new member's very first post is vitriolic in tone, I will be the first to call BS.
I am also an avid DIY'er. I do the work that I can, when I can around my own home. From landscaping, to electrical to building, etc. I understand where the DIY mindset comes from. Further, I have spoken with a number of people in the last year about the possibility of me leaving the industry. I love it too much to allow my resentment for my clients to taint my enjoyment of the work itself.