Audio, Video, and Home Automation Tips From the Experts

Taking Over a Smart Home Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming Every week, we meet homeowners who are stepping into a house with an existing smart home system—or who have decided it’s time to move on from their current AV provider. Almost always, the feeling is the same: overwhelmed. What should be exciting quickly turns into frustration. The system feels locked down. Logins are missing or controlled by someone else. Simple changes require phone calls, service tickets, or expensive upgrades that don’t seem very simple at all. At Wired Works, we specialize in AV and smart home takeovers—helping homeowners regain control of their technology, simplify what they have, and move forward with a system that’s reliable, flexible, and truly theirs. Here’s what that process looks like, and why it matters. What Is an AV Home Takeover? An AV home takeover happens when a homeowner buys a property with an existing smart system, decides to change AV companies, or inherits a system that’s outdated or difficult to manage. In many cases, these homes were built around proprietary platforms that require dealer-only software and ongoing dependence on a specific integrator. That often leaves homeowners without full access, visibility, or confidence in their own system. Our belief is simple: you should own your smart home—not feel owned by it. Our Approach: Simplify First, Then Make It Better We’ve found that the best smart homes aren’t built around a single locked ecosystem. They’re built from well-supported, best-in-class systems that are modular, app-driven, and easy to maintain over time. Instead of forcing everything into one closed platform, we typically break the home into individual systems—networking, audio, lighting, video, surveillance—each with its own excellent app and long-term support. From there, we use Josh.ai as a unifying layer that makes everything feel seamless without locking the homeowner in. This gives homeowners full access to their systems, clear ownership of credentials, flexibility to evolve, and a modern experience that actually feels intuitive. Step One: Understanding What’s Already There Every takeover starts with a full evaluation of the home. We walk the property, review the equipment, and take time to understand what’s working well, what’s outdated, and what’s limiting flexibility. This step isn’t about ripping everything out. It’s about clarity—so we can make thoughtful decisions about what’s worth keeping, what can be improved, and what’s holding the system back. Step Two: Identifying Lock-In and Limitations Many takeover homes include components that can only be serviced by authorized dealers or require special software to make even small changes. When we find those systems, we take the time to explain what they do, why they can be limiting, and what options exist moving forward. Our goal isn’t to criticize the original installation. It’s to help homeowners understand their choices so they can make confident, informed decisions. Step Three: Rebuilding With Proven, Widely Supported Solutions From there, we recommend platforms that are well-supported, widely adopted, and easy to live with long-term. These are systems with strong apps, active development, and flexibility for future growth. Just as important, we walk through the benefits and tradeoffs of each option so nothing feels rushed or sales-driven. The homeowner stays in control of the direction. Step Four: Starting With the Network (Always) Every smart home lives or dies by its network. That’s why we always start there. We design and refine the network to ensure it’s fast, stable, secure, and built to support everything else in the home. When the foundation is solid, the rest of the system simply works better—streaming is smoother, automation is more reliable, and service issues drop dramatically. Step Five: Building Around How You Actually Live Once the foundation is in place, we help homeowners prioritize what matters most to them—whether that’s music, TV, lighting, security, outdoor spaces, or automation. We don’t believe in forcing everything at once. Smart homes should grow intentionally, based on real-life use, not a checklist. Step Six: Bringing It All Together Once the individual systems are in place, we offer an optional layer that sits on top of everything and brings it all together. This allows your home to feel unified, with simple routines and personalized control. Behind the scenes, each system remains independent and easy to service—but to you, it feels like one smooth, cohesive smart home. Step Seven: Ownership, Training, and Long-Term Partnership This is where we truly separate ourselves. At the end of a takeover, homeowners have their logins, documentation, and apps fully set up. We make sure they understand how everything works and feel confident using it day to day. Our role isn’t to “hold the keys.” It’s to be a trusted long-term partner who’s there when needed—but never a gatekeeper. We offer several solutions for remote service and onsite service. Our goal is to be your AV team for life—the people you’re happy to see at your home and the ones you call when that itch for a bigger TV or better outdoor lighting kicks in. The End Result: Confidence and Control A successful AV home takeover leaves homeowners with technology they understand, systems they can trust, and the freedom to evolve over time. That’s how we believe smart homes should work—and that’s what we help our clients achieve every day.