Guides
Straight answers about private AI, smart homes and looking after a second home, written by the people who install them.
Closing Up Your Hamptons House for Winter: What to Automate and What Still Needs a Person
Closing up a Hamptons or North Fork house for winter: the heat, water, power and humidity checks to do, and the alerts that warn you before damage spreads.
GuideWhat a Private AI Home Assistant Costs (With Real Prices)
What a private AI home assistant costs: real package prices, care plans, device costs, five-year totals and how it compares with DIY and dealer systems.
GuideIs Alexa Always Listening? What Smart Speakers Actually Send to the Cloud
Is Alexa always listening? How wake words work, what Echo, Google and Siri send to the cloud, why speakers wake by accident, and how to limit sharing.
GuideFreeze, Leak and Power Alerts for Second Homes: A Buyer's Guide
Which freeze, leak and power-outage sensors a second home needs, where to put them, what alert thresholds to set, and how to keep alerts working offline.
GuideLocal AI vs Cloud Assistants: What "Private" Really Means for Your Home
Local AI vs cloud assistants for the home: where your data goes, what local models can and can't do, and the trade-offs in cost, speed and reliability.
GuideHome Assistant vs Control4 vs Crestron: Cost, Control and Who Owns Your System
Home Assistant vs Control4 vs Crestron compared: how each is sold, typical costs, lock-in, local control and which fits your home. A plain-English guide.
GuideCan You Text Your House? Smart Home Control by iMessage, WhatsApp and More
How texting your smart home works over iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram and app alerts: what each needs, where messages travel, and how to keep it safe.
GuideHurricane Season Smart Home Checklist for Miami Homes
A hurricane season smart home checklist for Miami: what to set up before June 1, what to do when a storm is forecast, and how to watch the house from away.
GuideSmart Home for House Managers and Caretakers: Access Without Oversharing
Smart home access for house managers, caretakers and vendors without oversharing: separate accounts, scheduled lock codes, activity logs and offboarding.
GuideHow to Choose a Smart Home Installer: 15 Questions to Ask Before You Sign
How to choose a smart home installer: 15 questions on ownership, admin access, lock-in, support and pricing, plus the red flags to spot before you sign.