FAQ

We recommend between 4 - 8% of your home's value. You will be on the higher-range if real estate in your area is a bargain, and on the lower range if you live in a high-cost real estate market (ie. Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York). We highly recommend using our home technology budget calculator which you can access by clicking here.  

We provide information to enable homeowners to choose a technology installation firm that is the best fit for their project. We believe that our certification criteria and vetting process dramatically improves the odds of success, though we still recommend that every homeowner interview the firms and do their own due diligence before hiring any home technology installation company.

HTA Certified companies have been thoroughly researched for reputation, technical competence, customer service, and aftercare support policies. They have also provided an enormous amount of data that we publish to allow you to see exactly what their specialties and capabilities are. Although the Home Technology Association cannot guarantee a perfect technology installation, we can astronomically improve the odds of success through highly vetted firms. See a video by celebrity real estate professional James Harris on why HTA Certification is vital to success by clicking here.

HTA Certified firms are divided into three categories: Estate, Luxury, and Foundation. Although we feel that great companies exist at every level, they are grouped into these categories as they excel at different types of projects. Our goal is to match homeowners with the right fit for their project. Click here for an explanation of the differences between the three HTA Certification tiers.

We recommend between 4 - 8% of the home's expected value. Select a higher percentage range if real estate in your area is a bargain, and the lower percentage range if you live in a high-cost real estate market (ie. Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York). We highly recommend you and your client use our home technology budget calculator which you can access by clicking here as a great starting point for determining budget ranges.

The Resource Guide is a directory of some of the best brands in the home technology industry. These stellar companies are hand-picked to participate in the Home Technology Association's mission to connect homeowners, architects, builders, and interior designers with the very best custom installation firms in the world.

No. Much like the GIA certification is to diamonds, 5-star safety ratings are to vehicles, ASE certification is to mechanics, and being a CPA is to accountants, a brief explanation that an industry standard based on excellence exists is what builds trust with consumers and trade partners. A short visit to the HTA website will help any consumer understand that HTA Certification is the Gold Standard for integration companies.

No, the Home Technology Association is not a competitor to CEDIA but rather a complement. The HTA and CEDIA both help integrators, though in different and complementary ways. CEDIA education helps Custom Installation (CI) firms improve in installation knowledge and successful business practices, something the HTA supports and endorses. The HTA includes a CEDIA Member reference on each HTA Certified dealer profile and will include the CEDIA certifications the various individuals within the firm may have.

CEDIA, along with the CTA, is the CI industry’s voice in Washington DC whenever there is any legislation affecting the low-voltage industry. The home technology industry needs CEDIA and the CTA, just as it does the Home Technology Association, and the many benefits they bring to integration firms and technicians.

Ideally integration companies would have both CEDIA and HTA Certifications. Integration firms would have CEDIA certified technicians, and the company itself would be HTA Certified. In regard to certifications, CEDIA and the HTA certify different things. CEDIA certifies individuals. The HTA certifies companies as to their technical ability, customer service, and reputation. In conclusion, the HTA supports CEDIA, and CEDIA supports the HTA in its mission.

The HTA has an aggressive awareness campaign that encompasses direct marketing, digital marketing, trade shows, and traditional advertising. The Home Technology Association is also building relationships with national design and build trade associations to let them know about the HTA Certification standard and how to find the most qualified integrators. We reach out to HTA Certified integration firm's architect, builder, and interior designer partners, proving to them why it is in their and their clients' best interest to only hire HTA Certified firms. Getting the word out about the benefits of hiring HTA Certified companies is a top priority for the HTA.

HTA has 60+ certification requirements and a confidential proprietary algorithm to objectively evaluate a firm's capabilities. You can get a high-level overview of the requirements by clicking here.

Over 25 respected industry professionals were consulted on the certification criteria. The final set of certification criteria was approved by our Board of Advisors, which is comprised of some of the most respected names in the custom installation industry. Click here to meet our Board of Advisors.

HTA Certified firms are divided into three categories: Estate, Luxury, and Foundation. Although we feel that great companies exist at every level, they are grouped into these categories as they excel at different types of projects. Our goal is to match homeowners with the right fit for their project. Click here for an explanation of the differences between the three HTA Certification tiers.

Once a firm is HTA Certified, their qualifications will be inspected every year. At any time, though, HTA Certification may be revoked if the dealer fails to uphold the high standards of professionalism, service and reputation as required by HTA standards.

No. Home technology installation firms are not certified based on the brands they offer. No brand (participating or not) has the ability to influence our objective certification process.

No. The Board of Advisors each had a hand in setting the HTA Certification criteria. Home Technology Association staff process each application in accord with these guidelines. Either the applying dealer meets the criteria or does not.