Windthrow

Enjoying all the posts. My goal right now is just to become better informed in a really general sense so that I can ask the right questions and be able to understand why someone might have been unhappy and whether their experience tells me anything useful about what I might expect for my experience. Things I have learned so far: 1. Push the envelope of what your dealer has experience with and you can expect thing to go less smoothly. This primarily means using devices they have integrated before. 2. Think through as many use cases as possible early as to get the initial install properly defined and then be ready to go through some updating once you start living with your system. 3. That people might be unhappy with their Control4 installation doesn't automatically mean there is a problem with Control4 itself. 4. Alternatives to Control4 with the same level of functionality at a comparable price point are very limited.

Thank you for all the thoughtful replies. Has been very helpful, feeling more prepared for the initial conversations on this. Build is in Ontario Canada, a two hour drive from Toronto. Closest dealers are about an hour away, and then obviously many more in Toronto.

Not sure I understand the reason behind the question. Architectural design is largely done. Grading design is being finished in advance of Minor Variance application. Structural design is just getting underway, interior design and HVAC soon to start as well. Building permit application will go in once Variance is approached. All working towards construction start late summer.

The architect and also the builder have been involved in Control4 builds and have worked with an installer that appears to have been installing for at least 5 years. Next step is to talk to all 3 and understand their concerns better, so am trying to educate myself as much as possible before that conversation so I ask the right questions. Thanks for the responses so far.

No trolling. In my current house and vacation property I have bits and pieces of home automation that work well; thermostats, bits and pieces of "smart lighting", smart door locks and sound system for example. Plus parts that dont work at well at all; home theatre being the prime example of that. Would love one system that "rules them all" that work reliably and allow us to manage the homes systems quickly and easily. Have not got to the point of figure out exactly how I would configure the system, but expectation is that it will manage: lighting (interior and exterior), blinds, AV, security and HVAC as a start, That said I realize I probably dont know what I dont know yet,

So...in the process of designing my retirement dream home. Based on a quick bit of research it feels like Control4 does what I think I want in terms of Home Automation. Mentioned to my architect and got back a response as follows: "We have had some disappointing experiences with Control4 on past projects". There are some obvious follow up questions I will be asking such as: what kind of experiences? when? what OS version? etc. A non-exhaustive google search turns up some unhappiness with Control4 but given the number of installations done in the last twenty years the number of complaints I found seemed relatively small. I guess if I could wave a magic wand and survey everyone that had a whole home system completed in the last 12 months if the system has met or exceeded their expectations, I am wondering what percentage of people would answer "No". Anyone want to speculate based on your own experience? Any other thoughts? Thanks