Top 8 Things Smart Home Installers Wish Estate Managers Would Do

As we head into summer, many of the Estate Managers in our network are either opening up seasonal homes in beautiful Santa Barbara or Montecito…or they’ve got construction projects scheduled while the owners are away. In both cases, we are often on the Estate Managers’ speed dials.

We love working with Estate Managers—from the start home installer’s perspective, they’re the unsung heroes who keep their ships sailing smoothly. But when it comes to smart home tech, we know how stressful it can be when something doesn’t work right before the principals arrive. That’s why we put together this friendly guide: the Top 8 things smart home installers wish every estate manager would check before reaching out.

These tips won’t just help you avoid the dreaded “tech panic”—they’ll also help us serve you faster, smarter, and more effectively. That way, when you’ve done your part, we’ll know to jump straight into deeper diagnostics.

Bottom line: always remember that we’re on the same team! With a little proactive system monitoring, we can help keep everything seamless, luxurious, and frustration-free.

Let’s stay ahead of the game together.

Here’s how:

1. Test the System—Early

If your principals are arriving for the weekend, please test all key systems (WiFi, shades, lighting scenes, audio, surveillance, etc.) at least one week in advance. That gives your smart home installer time to get you on the schedule before Friday at 4:59 PM.

2. Check the Internet (Yes, Seriously)

We know it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised. If nothing’s responding, start by confirming that the internet is working before calling a smart home installer. Log into a browser or contact your provider to rule out an outage.

3. Confirm the Power’s On

If a circuit is tripped or there’s a temporary power loss, many of your smart home systems won’t come back online until they’re manually restarted. A quick glance at the breakers can save everyone time. Also check for tripped GFI outlets located in garages, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. If the GFI is tripped, any downstream outlets will be dead as well.

4. Check for Red Lights on Equipment

Red lights on equipment usually indicate they are powered off or in an error state. If you see no lights at all, the unit is likely powered off.

5. OVRC Connect is Your Best Friend

If we’ve installed OVRC, you already have remote rebooting power in your hands. Try recycling the stack before you call us—it often resolves 90% of minor issues and puts you ahead of the game.

6. Know Our Hours

Our service team is available Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM. If it’s the weekend and you don’t have a service contract, we’ll get you booked when we arrive on Monday morning. Interested in premium support? We offer service contracts based on system scope and property square footage.

Find out more about our premium service plan >

7. Know the Limitations of Modern Tech

Today’s luxury tech is powerful and elegant but still benefits from occasional resets and maintenance. Modern AV technology devices are also complex, requiring multiple variables to be synchronized and functional at all times. Understand that all tech invariably requires a reboot or reset from time to time.

8. Give Us a Heads-Up—Don’t Wait!

Even if you’re unsure whether it’s a real issue, tell your smart home installer early. We’d rather triage something simple than scramble last minute. A quick email midweek is always better than a call late Friday.

Together, we can make a great team!