OTHER TECH

Count Your Money Before you let an installer come into your home, find out what he charges. Some bill you a flat fee based on the work you need done. Others will charge by the hour - typically $40 to $80 per man hour (which means $120 to $240 an hour if you have a three-man crew). And some include labor but not parts in their estimate. Find out different installers' formulas so you can do even comparisons between them. And of course tell them what your budget is, just to make sure you're all on the same spreadsheet.

Do a Walk-Through We all know what a turn-on a crisp set of blueprints can be. But virtual is never as sexy as the real magilla, so if your installer is doing anything remotely complicated, he'll want to visit your living space - assuming it's already built - before committing to a price and schedule. One installer told me he won't even sign on to a retrofit project without doing a physical inspection, since wiring a finished house is as custom as it gets. (To begin with, just think of all the issues involved with running wires under wall-to-wall carpeting.)

Check the Proposal Your installer will next work up a proposal. Make sure you're clear on what it will cover and that the bottom-line price will be included. (Even doing the proposal itself might be a cost not included in the proposal!) The format can vary from a simple spreadsheet to a multipage strategy that breaks the job down into phases, zones (that is, rooms or areas), or individual projects (home theater, lighting, and so on).

Spend Your Money Luckily, paying for this whole shebang is usually strung out over the length of the job. An installer will likely charge you based on a schedule - maybe 15% on acceptance, 25% after pre-wiring, 50% before trim out, and 10% upon completion. Payment is even easier if your installer is acting as one of your builder's subcontractors, because the cost can be rolled into your mortgage.

Even a Stone Building Isn't Set in Stone Who says a wall, door, or fireplace can't be moved to accommodate a speaker or TV? For homes under construction, layouts aren't final, so keep your mind open to any changes that can be made to turn your entertainment dreams into reality.

The toughest part is finding the right installer, so take the time to ask around for recommendations and to do your research. But once you've found someone, it will be smooth sailing, because you'll be in the hands of a pro.