By Clay Hankins
In part 1, I addressed what your expectations should be when you hire your custom home theater expert. Here, I will address what your expectations should be once you’ve hired your expert.
First, your home theater expert should be able to listen to you. Imagine going to your doctor and telling them your ankle hurts only to get a full on examination of your elbow.
Even if you live in a multi-million dollar home and you’ve told your home theater expert you want your theater to be a place to hang out to watch a few football games and a place for the kids to watch some Disney films, you shouldn’t expect to see a $50,000 estimate and if you did, your home theater expert wasn’t listening.
Sometimes it is true that spending a little more can bring a lot more results, but your home theater expert should explain why (like spending another $200 will keep you from replacing your receiver in 3 months, for example.)
Second, you’ve approved the estimate and hired your home theater expert and now the process begins. Most often, some equipment will need to be ordered.
Your home theater expert should give you some kind of timeline for when everything will take place. There can be a few things that need to happen and all of it will happen quickly, or sometimes multiple phases will need to take place. Either way, a good home theater expert will try to take into account contingencies and inform you along the way if they happen. Anyone that’s been involved in a construction project knows there will be contingencies.
Most companies have different ways to collect fees/deposits. It is common to have to pay for equipment up front and then installation when the job is complete. Both parties assume some risk but your home theater expert should be able to provide references if you have any questions before turning over your hard earned money.
As the process goes along, be sure to let your home theater expert know if there is anything that needs to change. Often, the installers are going along and the client will make changes to the plan. This can create confusion and also wreck a well laid out plan. You should have a contract or work order so you know what you’re getting and what you will be billed. Most companies are happy to make changes along the way, but they often lead to additional costs and that should be spelled out in advance.
Hopefully, if all has gone well, your new home theater or media room will be up and running and you can enjoy it at its fullest potential. Your home theater expert should make sure you are comfortable operating any remote controls and provide you with an itemized invoice. Don’t hesitate to ask if there are variances from the original estimate. The labor bid should be close to the estimate amount (unless there have been a lot of approved changes) and the same with the equipment.
Now, dim the lights, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
-Clay Hankins is the CEO of The Audio Guy, LLC located in the Dallas, TX area and serving the Dallas Home Theater and surrounding area markets.
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