High ticket prices, even higher popcorn prices, sticky floors and uncomfortable seats are preventing more and more families from going to the movies these days. But instead of avoiding what has been a long standing family tradition of enjoying the latest and greatest movies, many homeowners are now choosing to bring the movie theater experience to their own homes.
As the owner of 360 Media Innovations, a home theater installation company in Philadelphia, Chima Gale explains that home theaters and media rooms are a great addition to nearly any house. However, making the final decision to have a home theater installed may be the easiest part of the process—besides enjoying your first movie in your new room, of course—because finding a company worthy of your business is a crucial, and sometimes complex, part of achieving your dream theater.
When you’re looking for a home theater installation company in your area, Gale warns that it’s your responsibility to make sure that the company and technicians are capable of performing the tasks that they promise. It is all too easy for a company to advertise for services that it is not certified or experienced to complete. Although he says that the laws on necessary licenses for installers vary from state to state, at 360 Media Innovations, all of the technicians have a home improvement contractor’s license because during the installation process, they will be dealing with low voltage wires.
Besides asking for proof of certifications, you may also want to ask for references from friends and perhaps also read the reviews about the company that have been written online by past clients. However, one of the most important aspects of the verification process is the consultation. Your first discussion with a possible installation company, Gale says, should be an in-depth conversation in which both you and the technician are interviewing one another. Ideally, he says, you want a representative from the company to visit your home so that he can get a first-hand view of the size of the space that will be used and the layout of the room. If time does not permit for an in-home consultation, then it is possible for you to gauge a company’s experience over the phone, though an in-person discussion is always ideal, Gale insists.
During your meeting, the representative should be asking you a wide array of questions to gauge your budget, your style ideas, your expectations, and what you and your family will be using the room for. If he isn’t asking you a lot of questions about your ideas, Gale says, then this should raise an automatic red flag. How can someone provide you with your ideal home theater if he is not asking you for details about what you are envisioning for your home?
Your consultation is also the perfect opportunity for you to get answers to all of your questions about the installation process. Since the representative is the expert, he should be able to walk you through the design and installation process, help you decide what technology is most appropriate for your design plan, and, most importantly, give you an estimate for what your home theater is likely to cost you. Too often, he says, companies will give a very low priced estimate just to get through your door. Then when the work actually begins, hidden costs that you had never anticipated will start to be tacked on. To safeguard yourself against any possible scams, he says, you should get everything in writing from the start.
Another characteristic of a home theater installation company worthy of your business is one that offers you a guarantee. Most home theater companies offer a six-month guarantee, Gale says. However, since 360 Media Innovations is so confident in its work, clients are offered one-year guarantees on all of the work that is performed. In the end, you should be comfortable with your final choice and confident that the technicians who come to your home will be able to complete the project on time and on budget.