Question 1

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We serve Portland and the surrounding metro: Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Tualatin, Gresham, Troutdale, Milwaukie, West Linn, Oregon City, Sherwood, and surrounding communities. Not sure? Call or text us.

Question 2

Do I need to be home for the install?

Accepted Answer

For the first visit, yes — we walk the project together so the install matches how you actually use the space. Subsequent visits (warranty fixes, additions) can often happen with just a key or a code if you'd rather not be there. We'll always confirm in advance.

Question 3

What if I rent?

Accepted Answer

We do plenty of work for renters in Portland. Wireless-first, plug-in, and battery devices don't require landlord approval and come down clean when you move. We'll flag anything that might leave a hole or need patching — and skip it if your lease doesn't allow modifications.

Question 4

Will it work with my existing Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, but the answer depends on your router, the size of your home, and what you're trying to add. A lot of smart home headaches trace back to weak Wi-Fi in the corners of older Portland houses. We test signal during the walkthrough and tell you straight if your current setup will hold up — or what to fix first.

Question 5

Do you provide equipment, or do I supply it?

Accepted Answer

Both options work. We can source equipment for your project (added to the quote at our cost), or you can purchase gear and we'll install it. We'll let you know before install day if something you've bought won't work well for your situation.

Question 6

Do you support Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa?

Accepted Answer

Yes to all three. We also work with SmartThings, Home Assistant, and Matter-enabled gear. During the consultation we ask which ecosystem you already live in (or want to move toward) and steer the equipment recommendations to match. We don't lock you into one brand.

Question 7

How long does a typical installation take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on scope. A single camera or smart thermostat is often 1–2 hours. A whole-home network with Ethernet drops could be a full day or split across two visits. We give you a time estimate in the quote.

Question 8

Why wireless-first?

Accepted Answer

Two reasons. First, it's faster and cleaner — no drywall patches, no electrician coordination. Second, we're not a CCB-licensed electrical contractor (yet), so we focus on the work we can do legally and well. Battery, plug-in, and PoE devices cover 90% of what most Portland homes actually need.

Question 9

Do you run cables through walls?

Accepted Answer

Low-voltage cables (Ethernet, camera, speaker) — yes, that's standard. We run them through walls, attics, and crawlspaces and discuss routing during the walkthrough. We do not pull line-voltage wiring — that requires an electrical contractor and we'll refer you to one if your project needs it.

Question 10

What about power outages?

Accepted Answer

Wireless cameras keep recording locally for a couple hours on battery. Hubs and Wi-Fi go down with the power unless you have a UPS — which we can spec out and install if reliability matters to you. For critical setups (medical alerts, alarm) we recommend cellular backup, and we'll wire it during the install.

Question 11

Can I add more devices later?

Accepted Answer

Yes — most modern smart home platforms are built for it. We configure your hub and network with growth in mind. If you call us back in six months to add three more cameras and a doorbell, the foundation is already there. No need to rip anything out.

Question 12

Is it secure? What about camera privacy?

Accepted Answer

We change every default password during install, enable 2FA on the controlling account, and put cameras on a separate VLAN when the network supports it. Indoor cameras live or die by where you put them — we'll suggest placements that cover what matters without staring at private spaces. Your footage stays yours.

Question 13

Do you work on older Portland homes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work on all eras of Portland homes including older craftsman and bungalow-style houses. Older homes sometimes have wiring quirks (no neutral wires, knob-and-tube, etc.) that we address on a case-by-case basis. We note any complications during the consultation.

Question 14

What's the warranty on installation work?

Accepted Answer

If something stops working because of how we installed or configured it — cable seated wrong, mount loose, settings misconfigured — we come back and fix it. No charge, no argument. Device failures are covered under the manufacturer's warranty and we'll help you process the claim.

Question 15

What if something stops working after the install?

Accepted Answer

Contact us. If it's related to our installation or configuration, we'll come back and make it right. We stand behind our work. If it's a device failure or app change outside our control, we'll help troubleshoot and advise on next steps.

Question 16

Do you handle returns or swaps if I bought the wrong gear?

Accepted Answer

Within reason, yes. If we sourced the gear and recommended something that didn't fit your situation, we'll swap it. If you bought it yourself, we'll help you figure out whether to return it to the retailer — we won't install equipment we know will fail just because it's already in the box.

Question 17

Do you do commercial or small business work?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for small businesses — offices, retail spaces, and light commercial. We focus on projects that don't require a licensed electrical contractor. If yours does, we'll tell you upfront.

Question 18

Can you work with my existing smart home system?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes. Most major platforms (Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, Home Assistant) are supported. We assess compatibility during the consultation. If there are limitations, we'll tell you before we start.

Question 19

How do I get a quote?

Accepted Answer

Contact us through the form or call/text. We'll schedule a free consultation — either in person or via photos and a brief call. You'll get a clear, itemized quote before any work is scheduled.

Question 20

Is there an ongoing subscription or monitoring fee?

Accepted Answer

No. We install and configure your system. Most smart home platforms have free tiers that cover all the features you'd use day-to-day. We'll let you know if a specific device or service requires a subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?