From Lutron Caseta retrofits in Forest Acres bungalows to HomeWorks QSX whole-home control in Cobblestone Park new builds — we install smart lighting, smart switches, motorized shades, smart panels, and the wiring backbone that makes everything talk to each other. Done by licensed electricians who understand both the wiring AND the smart-home ecosystem.
"Smart home" means different things to different homeowners. For some it's a few smart switches and a voice assistant. For others it's whole-home Lutron HomeWorks programming with shades, audio, security, and HVAC all integrated. The right system depends on the home, the budget, and how much complexity you actually want.
We work across the range. For most existing Columbia homes — including the historic Shandon bungalows, mid-century Forest Acres ranches, and older Lake Murray waterfront properties — Lutron Caseta is the right answer. Wireless. Retrofit-friendly. Works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home. Reasonably priced. Up to 75 devices per home. We install Caseta hubs, smart dimmers, scene buttons, fan controls, and the integrations on a regular basis.
For premium new builds and high-end renovations — Cobblestone Park, Saluda River Club, top-tier Lake Murray custom homes — Lutron HomeWorks QSX is increasingly the default. Wired backbone, professionally programmed scenes per room, integrated with motorized shading, security, HVAC, and audio. Significant upfront design and programming investment but unparalleled control and reliability.
Smart panels (SPAN, Schneider Energy Center) are a separate category — replacing your main panel with one that monitors and controls each circuit. Most useful for solar + battery homes or homeowners who want whole-home energy intelligence. Worth it for some projects, overkill for others — we'll tell you straight when it makes sense.
Smart dimmers, switches, fan controls, scene buttons, Caseta Smart Hub. Works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home. Wireless retrofit-friendly — no rewiring needed in most cases.
Whole-home control system. Wired backbone with wireless options. Professionally programmed scenes per room, integrated with shading, security, HVAC, and audio. Cobblestone Park and Saluda River Club specialty.
Lutron Sivoia and Hunter Douglas integration. Wired for new construction; Sivoia QS Wireless for retrofits. Sun control on lake-facing windows; privacy scenes for living areas.
SPAN and Schneider Square D Energy Center installations. Real-time circuit monitoring, app control, solar+battery integration. Premium addition for energy-conscious or solar homes.
Standalone smart outlets, in-wall smart switches, and dimmers in non-Lutron ecosystems. Leviton, GE/Jasco, Kasa, and others when the homeowner has an existing system.
Low-voltage and CAT6 runs for smart-home systems. Pre-wire during new construction or remodel for shades, audio, security cameras, access control. Cleaner than retrofit wireless.
We do smart home work across the Midlands. Heaviest concentration in premium new builds (Cobblestone Park, Saluda River Club, premium Lake Murray) and historic remodels (Shandon, Forest Acres, Heathwood).
They serve different homes. Lutron Caseta is the easier, more affordable option — wireless, DIY-friendly enough that homeowners can add devices themselves later, works with most smart-home ecosystems (Apple Home, Alexa, Google), and covers up to 75 devices per home. Lutron HomeWorks QSX is the high-end whole-home control system — wired backbone (sometimes wireless), integrated with shading, audio, security, and HVAC, professionally programmed, and supports homes with hundreds of devices. Cobblestone Park and Saluda River Club new builds often spec HomeWorks; most existing-home retrofits in Forest Acres and Shandon are Caseta.
Usually yes — smart switches and dimmers are designed for retrofit. The catch is that most smart dimmers require a neutral wire at the switch box. Many pre-1990 Columbia homes have switches without neutrals (the old "switch loop" wiring). We can either run a neutral, use Lutron Caseta's no-neutral-required dimmers (a specific product line for this exact problem), or install a smart relay/bridge near the panel. We diagnose what your home has before quoting.
A smart panel (SPAN, Schneider Square D Energy Center, Lumin) replaces your conventional panel with one that measures each circuit's load in real time and lets you control them via an app. Useful for solar+battery homes (prioritize critical circuits when power runs short), homes wanting whole-home energy monitoring, and homes integrating with smart-home control systems. Premium addition — typically $4,500-$8,500 for the panel itself plus install. Worth it for solar/battery projects and high-end builds; overkill for most homes.
A basic Caseta-based setup — Smart Hub, 10-15 smart dimmers/switches, scene buttons for entry and bedrooms — runs $2,200-$4,000 installed. A whole-home HomeWorks system with shades, lighting scenes per room, and professional programming runs $15,000-$50,000+ depending on scope. Smart-panel additions are separate. We scope and quote each project after walking the home — most builds split the cost between hardware (60-70%) and labor (30-40%).
Mixed. Most smart switches need power to operate, so they won't function during an outage unless you have a backup generator or solar+battery system. The lights they control work normally (the wired light circuit still functions when power is on). Smart panels with integrated battery backup keep their control functions live. Lutron Caseta's hub needs power to relay commands but the dimmers themselves can still be operated manually with the toggle. For whole-home outage resilience, pair with a Generac standby and an automatic transfer switch.
Yes. We install Lutron and Hunter Douglas motorized shades, integrated with smart-home control. Wiring runs to each shade location during electrical rough-in (in new construction) or via a wireless option (Lutron Sivoia QS Wireless) for retrofits. Premium Saluda River Club and Lake Murray homes often want shades on lake-facing windows for sun control and privacy. We handle the electrical; the shade vendor handles the actual blind installation.
We'll spec the right system for your home and budget.