Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Want to Know
Before You Call
We've gathered every common question across all our services into one place. Browse by category or scroll through — we're an open book.
General Questions 6 questions
Do you work with apartments that aren't being renovated?
Absolutely. We do complete installs in finished apartments all the time—TV mounts, sound systems, Wi-Fi upgrades, smart home devices. We work cleanly and carefully without disrupting your home. Some wire routing may require minor wall work, but we handle everything and restore surfaces perfectly.
Why should I call you during a renovation and not after?
Because once your walls are closed and painted, running new wires means opening them back up. During a renovation, we can run all the infrastructure—speaker wire, HDMI, ethernet conduit—before the walls close. This gives you unlimited flexibility to add or upgrade equipment for years to come at a fraction of the future cost.
What does a Control4 system actually do?
Control4 is a professional-grade smart home platform that ties together your AV, lighting, shading, climate, door locks, and security under one intuitive interface—a dedicated remote, touchscreen, or your smartphone. It's the difference between a smart home that frustrates you and one that feels effortless.
What areas of NYC do you serve?
We serve Manhattan, Brooklyn & Central New Jersey.
What are your support plans?
We offer ongoing support plans because we believe great service doesn't end at installation. Support plans include priority response, remote troubleshooting, and scheduled check-ins. Visit our Support Plans page
for details on each tier.
How do I get started?
Call us at (646) 450-1060
or fill out our contact form. We'll schedule a consultation—either by phone or in your home—to understand your needs, walk through the options, and give you an honest assessment of what's possible and what it will cost. No obligation.
Audio & Video 6 questions
Can you install in a finished apartment without opening the walls?
Yes—and we do it constantly. We have wire-fishing techniques that let us route cables through finished walls without major disruption. Some jobs require small patches at entry and exit points, which we restore to match perfectly. The result looks like the wires were always there. That said, if you're renovating, contact us first—running infrastructure before the walls close is dramatically easier and less expensive.
How do you deal with Manhattan's concrete and plaster walls?
This is our specialty. Pre-war plaster, concrete construction, brick—we've worked in every building type Manhattan offers. We use the right anchors, the right drill bits, and the right approach for each wall type. We also carry structural wall protection whenever we're working in finished spaces, and patch any wall penetrations to a professional standard.
What brands do you recommend and why?
We specify based on your goals—not on which brand has the best dealer margin. For control systems, we prefer Control4 for serious smart home integration and reliability. For audio, Sonos is excellent for multi-room simplicity, while Klipsch, Polk, and B&W offer superior sound quality in dedicated theater applications. For displays, our recommendation depends entirely on your room—lighting, viewing distance, and whether you need maximum brightness or maximum contrast. We'll give you an honest recommendation before you buy anything.
Do I need to buy the equipment separately, or do you handle it?
We can do either. Some clients prefer to purchase equipment themselves—we'll give you a specific list with model numbers. Others prefer us to source and supply everything, which ensures compatibility, gives you a single point of accountability and we manage all warranty claims for you. We're transparent about pricing either way and charge MSRP.
What happens if something stops working after install?
We offer support plans that include priority response, remote troubleshooting, and on-site service. We don't disappear after we collect payment—this business runs on long-term client relationships and referrals. If something goes wrong, call us and we'll take care of it. Visit our Support Plans page
for details on each tier.
How long does a typical AV installation take?
A single-room TV mount with full in-wall wiring typically takes a half-day to full day. A multi-room audio system with hidden equipment takes two to three days. A complete whole-home AV build during renovation may span several visits over the course of the project. We'll give you a clear timeline at consultation so you can plan accordingly.
Networking & Wi-Fi 6 questions
Do I need to be renovating to upgrade my network?
Not at all. We improve Wi-Fi in finished apartments all the time. Depending on your existing wiring and layout, we can dramatically expand coverage using your current infrastructure or with low-impact installation that doesn't require opening walls. We'll assess what's possible before committing to any approach.
What's the difference between a mesh system I buy at Best Buy and what you install?
Consumer mesh systems are designed for easy setup—plug in and go. They work fine for basic use in smaller spaces. What we install is enterprise-grade hardware (Ubiquiti, Eero Pro, Ruckus) configured specifically for your apartment, device count, and usage patterns. We place access points based on your floor plan, run hardwired backhaul connections where possible, and configure QoS, VLANs, and guest networks. The result is significantly faster, more reliable, and more secure than anything you can buy off the shelf and self-install.
Why is my internet fast but my Wi-Fi still slow?
Your internet service delivers fast speeds to your router, but how your home distributes that signal is a separate problem. A single router in the wrong location, walls with dense materials, or a network that's not configured to prioritize traffic can all dramatically reduce the speed your devices actually receive. We diagnose the real bottleneck and fix it at the source.
Can you help if I'm in the middle of a renovation right now?
Yes—and you should call us immediately. If your walls are still open, you have a limited window to run ethernet and mount access point hardware cleanly. Once the drywall goes up, you lose that window. We can coordinate directly with your contractor to make sure everything is in place before the walls close.
Do you work in co-ops and condos with board restrictions?
Yes. We're very familiar with the constraints of NYC co-ops and condos—board approvals, alteration agreements, building rules around drilling and wiring. We work within those frameworks and can advise on what's feasible before you commit to any scope of work.
What support do you offer after installation?
We offer ongoing support plans that include remote monitoring, proactive troubleshooting, and priority response. We intend to be your long-term technology partner—not a company that disappears after you pay the invoice. Visit our Support Plans page
for details on each tier.
Support Plans 8 questions
Why do I need a support plan?
With the appropriate hardware installed in your system, we can now do most maintenance, updates, support and even system repairs remotely. If there's a new Roku update that would normally require a home visit to integrate, we can often perform the maintenance right from our office without interrupting you for a home visit. This reduces time and expense for you and for us. Your smart home technology system consists of many items—from wiring and hardware to software and programming. In addition, it's connected to mobile phones, computers, your internet service and your utility power. A Support Plan keeps these systems operating and functioning together to their intended capability.
Is my system reliable?
In fact, more than ever. We rarely need to replace hardware. But there are constant software updates—not only on what we installed, but on your mobile devices, streaming platforms and internet services. Keeping your system up to date helps to maintain reliability, aids in troubleshooting, and lowers the time required to make repairs, saving both of us time and money.
What if I'm not on a plan?
You can choose to pay per incident and by the hour, but won't receive priority scheduling, extended hours, or over a dozen other benefits. In fact, you'll likely pay more than if you were on a plan.
What can you monitor and update remotely?
Just about any device that's connected—including all critical home automation and networking hardware. These are exactly the items that are most dependent on software updates and most benefit from proactive monitoring.
What can't you monitor?
Older hardware like some TVs and a few third-party applications, appliances and non-connected devices fall outside our remote monitoring scope.
How do my manufacturer warranties fit in with the plans?
Your manufacturer warranties are fully in effect up to their specific parts and labor schedules. If we need to remove a device for service, the on-site labor for our visits is covered in some of our plans.
Do I need to sign a contract?
We offer a monthly agreement that automatically renews. There are no annual contracts—and if you're ever not satisfied, you can cancel at any time with no penalties.
How are the plans paid?
Our Support Plans are paid monthly. We accept credit cards to minimize paperwork. You can manage your account anytime at our account portal.
Still Have a Question?
Just Ask Us Directly.
We're happy to talk through your specific situation before you commit to anything. No sales pitch — just honest answers.
1641 Third Ave, New York, NY 10128 · info@hometheateradvisors.com