A smart home starts with the wiring, not the app.

The biggest decision: timing

Our first question to you is not "which system" but "when". If the home is still under construction, you are in the best position: we route pathways and network cabling to every light point, switch and control point while the walls are open — far cheaper, cleaner and more reliable than adding them later.

And if your home is already built, that does not stop you from a good smart home: we use wireless solutions (Zigbee / Wi-Fi) that need no wall-breaking — light switches swapped in place of the existing ones, a lock fitted in place of the cylinder, and stick-on sensors. Wired is more durable, wireless is faster to install — and we choose based on your case.

Which system fits you?

There is no "best" system in the absolute — only the one that fits your case. The decision rests on three things: new build or existing, budget, and your devices (iPhone or Android). These are the main systems:

KNXPremium villas · new buildThe global wired standard — the most robust and proven for large projects; needs first-fix planning.

Apple HomeKitiPhone usersHigh privacy and a smooth experience inside Apple's ecosystem, with Siri voice control.

Google Home / AlexaBroad voice controlThe widest device and voice-command compatibility; a good general-purpose choice.

Tuya / AqaraBudget · existing homeFast wireless install at a competitive price; Aqara works with both HomeKit and Google.

We recommend the system after a site survey, not before, and we avoid mixing systems that do not talk to each other — a failed smart home is usually not bad devices, but scattered systems each in its own app.

Lighting — the thing you touch every day

Lighting is what you use most, so it is the best place to start. The basics: control of every lighting group, dimming where it suits, and ready scenes — "welcome", "sleep", "leaving" that turn everything off with one tap.

Motion sensors in corridors, stores and bathrooms save energy and add comfort — light on entry, off after you leave, with no switch. The switch stays a switch that works by hand at all times, even if the internet drops.

Climate & energy

In the Eastern Province heat, cooling is the biggest item on the bill. A smart thermostat schedules cooling around your hours, lowers it automatically once everyone leaves, and brings it back before you return — so you arrive to a cool home without running it all day.

Tie it to a "leaving" scene to switch off the lights, raise the cooling setpoint and lock the doors with one command.

Locks & entry

A smart lock opens by fingerprint, code or from the phone, and gives you a log of who entered and when — plus a temporary code for staff or guests that you cancel whenever you like. A video doorbell shows who is at the door and lets you speak to them from your phone even when you are away.

See our solutions overview for entry and access control.

Protection — the layer you don't postpone

A smart home without protection is half a home. Door and window sensors alert you on an unexpected opening, a water-leak sensor under the heater and kitchen saves you a disaster, and a smoke sensor alerts your phone — not just the neighbours. We use reliable alarm systems suited to villas such as Ajax, managed alongside the rest of the home.

Protection integrates with surveillance and access into one system — explore more in our knowledge center.

The network — a foundation, not a luxury

Everything above stands on a network. A smart home on weak Wi-Fi means devices dropping and commands lagging. A villa needs coverage from distributed access points, not a single router in a corner, and preferably a wired path (fiber or Cat6) for fixed points.

How many points does your villa need? Ask the Smart Advisor — it gives a free preliminary estimate.