Smart home setup
Speakers, plugs and bulbs, robot vacuums, routines
Smart speakers, plug-in plugs and bulbs, robot vacuums, camera and doorbell apps, and Google Home, Alexa or Apple Home routines. No hard-wired electrical work.
Estimate the costHow we work
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On-site service
Our team is based in Flushing, Queens, and comes to your shop, office or home. Software and settings problems can also be handled remotely.
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Quote first, then work
You get a written quote after an on-site assessment. Work starts only when you approve, and any extra time is discussed first.
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A clear pricing method
Trip charge by round-trip mileage, labor by actual time. Tolls, the congestion toll and parking are passed through at cost, with no markup.
How pricing works -
Service area
All five NYC boroughs, Long Island, northern and central New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley and coastal Connecticut. Farther areas: please book in advance.
See the service area
Overview
Who it is for
- Families with smart devices that never got set up
- Older parents who would like to control lights and appliances by voice or phone
- Anyone with devices from several brands and a phone full of apps
- People who are often away and want to check on home and switch things off remotely
What we do
The work this service usually covers. The exact scope is set out in the written quote after an on-site assessment.
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Smart speakers and displays
Google, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomePod and similar: connected to Wi-Fi, set up for music, reminders and calendars, taught to recognize each family member’s voice, and used to control other devices. -
Smart plugs, bulbs and light strips
Plug-in smart plugs, smart bulbs that screw into your existing lamps and fixtures, and plug-in light strips: paired, grouped by room and put on schedules.
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Robot vacuums
Connected to the app, with a map of your rooms, cleaning times, no-go zones and carpet areas set, and a quick lesson in emptying the bin and cleaning the brush.
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Camera and doorbell apps
Battery and plug-in cameras and doorbells: connected to Wi-Fi, with motion alerts, privacy zones and family sharing, and a clear answer on whether cloud recording needs a subscription. -
Routines and schedules
Routines such as “Leaving”, “I’m home” and “Bedtime” in Google Home, Alexa or Apple Home, so one phrase or one tap controls several devices; lights on a timetable or at sunset.
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One app, the whole family
Devices from different brands brought into one app where they support it, family members invited, default passwords changed, and everyone shown how it works, grandparents and kids included.
How it works
Nothing starts until you approve the quote, and parts or equipment are bought only with your OK.
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Tell us what you have
Tell us which devices you have (models or photos) and what you would like them to do. Not bought yet? Ask us first and we’ll suggest models that suit your Wi-Fi and habits. Anything that has to be wired into your home’s electrical system should be put in by a licensed electrician first. -
On-site check and written quote
We look at the devices, your phones and the Wi-Fi signal (many smart devices only join 2.4 GHz), confirm what can be done and what needs an electrician or a different device, and give you a written quote. -
Setup once you approve
Nothing starts until you agree. We connect the devices, organize them by room and set up routines and schedules. Extra plugs or bulbs are confirmed and bought only with your approval, at cost with the receipt; you sign in to your own accounts.
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Tried by the family, itemized invoice
We run through the routines with the family and show you how to change a schedule or add a device. The invoice itemizes labor, the trip charge, pass-through costs and receipts.
Get a rough idea of the cost
Enter an address or ZIP code and choose the service to see a rough range. Tolls, the congestion toll and parking are extra at actual cost; the final figure is the written quote after an on-site assessment.
Questions
Common questions about cost, scheduling and scope.
Can you install smart switches or ceiling lights?
No. Changing wall switches, fitting light fixtures or any work on your home’s electrical wiring is electrical work, which in New York City needs a licensed electrician, and we don’t do it. We set up plug-in and battery devices only. Once a licensed electrician has done that part, we can come and set up the apps and routines. For cameras or doorbells that need mounting, see Home cameras & smart locks.
Can we give voice commands in Chinese?
It depends on the device. Some smart speakers understand Chinese, others only take English commands, and the languages each brand supports change over time. If you haven’t bought yet, tell us which language your family speaks and we’ll choose based on what the maker supports at the time. If voice isn’t convenient, a routine button on the phone or a schedule works without saying a word.
Can devices from different brands go in one app?
Often, yes, depending on which platform each device supports: Google Home, Alexa, Apple Home or the Matter standard. Some devices only work in their own brand’s app, and we’ll tell you so. If you haven’t bought yet, ask us first and save yourself the trouble.
Do I need to buy the devices first?
Either way works. If you buy them yourself, send us the models first so we can check they work with the app you want to use. Or we can buy them for you at cost with the original receipt, only with your approval (see Smart products, sourced & installed).
How is the cost worked out?
The trip charge is based on round-trip mileage on the Google Maps fastest route. Labor is billed by actual time, with a 1-hour minimum per visit and 15-minute increments after that. Tolls, the Manhattan congestion toll and parking are passed through at actual cost with no markup and itemized; parts are at cost with the receipt and bought only with your approval. You get a written quote after an on-site assessment. See the Pricing page for details.
Another question? Call (315) 888-5858 or message us on WeChat.
Need someone on site?
Tell us what is going on. We look at the problem first and give you a written quote after an on-site assessment.
Farther areas: please book in advance