GOOD QUESTIONS DESERVE CLEAR ANSWERS
What you'd like
to know beforehand.
Start with costs and the process, or jump straight to your questions about devices, technology and ongoing support.
Costs & process
How much does setting up my smart home cost?
The initial phone call is free. The on-site consultation is charged; we agree the fee in advance, including how it will be credited if you go ahead with the work.
You receive an individual quote for implementation. Hardware, setup and optional services are listed separately. The work involved depends on your existing devices, rooms, network and the routines you want. You can buy devices from us, source them yourself or keep using existing ones. It is best to discuss new purchases with us first.
How does a consultation in Graz and the surrounding district work?
We start with an initial phone call about your wishes and existing devices. If our service fits your project, we arrange an on-site consultation in Graz or Graz-Umgebung if needed. You then receive a quote for the agreed scope. Our service is for private households. Later support is available as needed and billed for the time spent.
Do I need a subscription or an ongoing maintenance contract?
You do not need a paid cloud subscription to run Home Assistant locally. Additional services, such as an optional remote-access subscription from Nabu Casa, have their own terms and fees. Individual manufacturers may also offer paid features. Our quote clearly lists the selected services and their ongoing costs. You can request support from AI Smart Living as needed; we charge for the time spent. You decide which additional services you want to use.
What is possible
Do you supply new devices and set up devices I buy myself?
Both are possible. On request, we select suitable devices with you and supply them at the agreed selling price. We also integrate existing or self-purchased devices where they support the required features. Hardware and setup are listed separately in the quote. Speak to us before buying so the model and system match.
What do you mean by products you have tried yourselves?
We recommend products we have practical experience with, considering setup, everyday use and how they work with other devices. This is not independent certification or a guarantee for every combination. Before recommending a product, we also check whether the specific model suits your home and the features you want.
Do you also connect washing machines, dryers, robot vacuums and TVs?
Yes, that is part of our service. We check your models and set up supported connections for status notifications, shared controls or automations. Capabilities vary by device: Wi-Fi alone does not mean every feature is available in Home Assistant. We clarify what is possible before starting.
Can I keep using my existing devices?
Often, yes. Tell us the model names and the functions you want. During the free initial phone call, we discuss which connections may be possible. For detailed planning, we check factors such as firmware, interfaces and the appropriate Home Assistant integration. Some devices work locally; others need a manufacturer bridge or cloud service. A final assessment may require more information or an on-site test. You will learn what can be reused and where an addition makes sense.
Can I make my rented home smart without drilling?
For many uses, yes. Smart plugs, suitable bulbs and battery-powered wireless buttons or sensors let you get started without new wiring. Whether a device can be mounted without drilling depends on the model and the surface. Together, we check which solutions suit your flat and can be removed later. If existing switches or fixed electrical installations need to be changed, we discuss that work separately with you in advance.
Will my normal light switches still work?
That depends on how your lighting is connected. If you turn a smart bulb off at the normal wall switch, it has no power and can no longer be controlled through the app. We therefore plan the controls with you: suitable wireless buttons or an appropriate integration of existing switches may work, depending on the situation. On site, we check what is possible without altering the electrical installation and show you the agreed controls at handover.
Can smart controls be added to my existing underfloor heating?
That depends on your existing controls, room thermostats and adjustment options. We check whether a suitable retrofit is possible and how temperature sensors and schedules can be used sensibly. A solution that works in one home is not automatically suitable for every heating system. If changes to fixed electrical wiring or the heating installation are needed, we clarify the additional scope and the involvement of suitable specialist firms in advance. Underfloor heating responds slowly, so we plan the controls to suit the system and do not promise specific savings.
Will family and guests find the controls easy to use?
We tailor the controls to you and your household. Clearly labelled buttons, a simple dashboard or a few easy-to-understand scenes such as “Evening lighting” and “All off” are often enough. Anyone who wants to use an app can have their own Home Assistant user account. We agree which controls suit you and go through them at handover. Guests can use a suitably configured button without an app or an account of their own.
Can I start with one room and expand later?
Yes. For example, you can start with lighting and a button in the living room. We consider your next wishes when choosing the hub and planning wireless coverage. Compatible devices and further automations can be added later. Before expanding, we check compatibility, range and available capacity so new features fit the existing system. Together we decide a sensible order: first what helps you every day, then more rooms and routines.
Can I take my smart home with me when I move?
Many loose or plug-in components can move with you, as can the hub and its configuration. For fixed components, it depends on installation and agreed terms. In your new home, we check rooms, network and wireless coverage again and adapt affected automations. It's best to make a current backup before moving. Together, we establish which devices can be reused and whether you need extra sensors, buttons or wireless coverage for the new rooms.
What can I control with the cube?
With a compatible control cube, you can change a lighting scene or adjust brightness by turning it, for example. Available gestures depend on the cube model, operating mode and integration. After checking the device, we agree which gesture triggers what and configure the automations. The cube sends commands to your system; the lights or other devices you want to control must be integrated there.
Technology
Can you bring my different apps and systems together?
We review your devices, manufacturer accounts, bridges and hubs. Supported features can be brought together and linked, for example in Home Assistant. Existing systems do not automatically need replacing. Some manufacturer apps remain necessary for updates, map editing or special settings. We explain what can be combined and what stays separate.
Will I still need the device manufacturers' apps?
Many supported features can be brought together in Home Assistant for everyday use. The manufacturer’s app may still be needed for initial setup, firmware updates, map editing or special device functions. Its role depends on the model and how it is integrated. At handover, we explain which apps you still need for your devices and what you can do through your shared interface.
Can you remotely control or automatically start every device?
No. It depends on the model, available interfaces and features intended by the manufacturer. Some devices only provide status information; others allow commands or require approval on the device itself. We do not bypass safety locks. For washing machines and dryers, a finished-cycle notification can be useful even without automatic start.
Will my home still work without the internet?
Partly. Locally configured devices and automations can keep working during an internet outage, provided the hub has power and the necessary local connections work. Cloud integrations, external information and some voice services need internet access. Remote access also stops if your home internet connection goes down. During planning, we establish which routines matter most to you and choose the technology accordingly. You'll know in advance which agreed functions work locally and which require an online service.
What happens during a power cut or if the hub fails?
Without power, affected lights, sockets, network equipment and the hub do not work. If only the hub fails, automations running through it are temporarily unavailable. Certain directly paired buttons may still control their devices if the chosen technology supports this. We discuss important manual controls with you and check behaviour after a restart. If needed, an uninterruptible power supply can be planned for selected components; its runtime depends on capacity and connected devices.
Do I have to use voice control?
No. You can control devices with suitable buttons, your smartphone, a dashboard or predefined automations. If you'd also like voice control, we check your rooms, desired commands and suitable hardware together. Home Assistant provides Assist for this purpose. You can choose exactly which devices it may control. For example, start with living-room lighting and add commands later. Your everyday use helps you decide where voice control is useful.
What's the difference between local and cloud-based voice control?
With fully local voice processing, your spoken commands stay on your own hardware. The microphone, speech recognition and speech output need to suit your commands and the hub's processing power. Cloud voice services process parts of the request outside your home and need internet access. Speed, supported languages and available commands vary between solutions. We first clarify whether you mainly want to control lights and devices or also ask more open-ended questions, then choose the right option with you.
Where is my data stored and how long is it kept?
Home Assistant normally keeps history at your home, in a database on your hub. You can configure which device values are recorded and how long detailed history is kept. Different retention periods may apply to long-term statistics and backups. If you use manufacturers' clouds, external voice services or cloud backups, those providers' data flows also apply. We discuss which records you need, which data stays local and which optional services process or store data outside your home.
Can I access my home remotely, and who gets access?
Yes, by agreement. We can set up an optional remote-access subscription from Nabu Casa or a suitable VPN connection. The choice depends on your network and requirements. Separate user accounts, strong passwords and additional login protection help you control access. We set up remote access for our support only with your permission and use it within the agreed scope. We show you how to revoke it. Without remote access, Home Assistant is normally accessible on your local network.
Is my Wi-Fi good enough, and can Wi-Fi and Zigbee interfere?
What matters is reception in your rooms. Internet speed alone tells you little about that. We check the connection based on your home and chosen devices.
Typical Home Assistant Zigbee devices use the 2.4 GHz band, which Wi-Fi also uses. Suitable channels, keeping the wireless adapter away from the router and USB interference sources, and well-positioned Zigbee devices with repeater functionality help reduce interference. Wi-Fi devices need adequate reception where they are installed. Matter over Thread also requires a compatible Thread border router.
Support
Can I manage the system myself later or change providers?
Yes. Home Assistant is open source and offers a documented interface for devices, automations and settings. You can learn to manage it yourself or engage other qualified support later. At handover, we discuss administrator access, the agreed configuration and backup options. We clarify dependencies on manufacturer accounts, cloud services or special extensions when choosing devices. You'll know which parts you can manage and where later changes need extra knowledge or provider access.
How are my settings protected if the hub breaks?
Home Assistant supports manual and automatic backups and restoration to an existing or new system. An up-to-date copy stored outside the hub is essential so it remains available if hardware fails. Encrypted backups also require the corresponding key. Together, we choose suitable storage locations and what to back up. Restoration puts the saved settings back. If you change the wireless adapter or hardware at the same time, extra setup steps may be needed before devices are reachable again.
Who handles updates and later changes?
You can install updates yourself or ask us to do it when needed. Support is charged for the time spent. Before major changes, we check a current backup and the relevant release notes. Updates can change device integrations or automations, so affected routines also need to be tested afterwards. Batteries, the network and manufacturer firmware need occasional attention too. At handover, we discuss which tasks you want to take on. For new wishes, we check together how they fit into your existing system.
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