High-Tec Home Life
With the Virtual Concierge your house can do all of these things for you and more. Just as the concierge in a fine hotel handles the little details that make your stay more enjoyable, the Virtual Concierge whole-house automated system manages the day to day comfort, convenience, and security of your home, adding enjoyment and enhancing safety for you and your family.
 Developed by Encore Technology + Design, the Virtual Concierge arrives in one easy-to-install package that’s custom-tailored for your home plan. Each package includes all of the equipment needed for the system other than wires (touch screen interface, motion sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide sensors, dimmers, water leak sensors, etc.) plus an easy-to-follow installation guide for your general contractor that outlines exactly what each subcontractor needs to do and when they need to do it, simplifying the wiring and installation process and eliminating guesswork. It also includes a “parts list” for the required structural wiring so it’s easy for the contractor to purchase exactly what is needed. The “brains” of the system – a rack of sophisticated electronic equipment – arrives assembled, pre-tested, and is ready to “plug in” to the home as easily as you would unpack a computer. Simply plug it in, turn it on, and it’s ready to go.
While the technology behind the system is impressive, what matters most to the homeowner is what that technology can do for you. Quite simply, once it is installed the technology is almost invisible, yet it is ever vigilant in monitoring your home’s systems, taking care of all those little details for you so you don’t have to worry. If an identifiable problem should arise with your HVAC system, for example, a message will appear on your home’s interface panel alerting you of the problem so you can have it taken care of. The system can also notify you via email should anything occur, making it easy to monitor your home even when you are at work or on vacation.
We are all aware of the tremendous energy savings we can enjoy by adjusting the temperature of our home to be closer to the outside temperature when we are away, easing the load and power usage of the HVAC system. In addition, turning off unused lights when we are away is an easy way to save energy. Though we all know this, how many of us actually take the time or remember to do those things every single time we leave our house? With the Virtual Concierge, you’ll never have to give it a second thought. Simply push the “away” button on your control panel as you leave, and the system will automatically adjust the climate and lighting settings for you, while simultaneously arming the security system. When you get back, simply press the “home” button and all the settings switch back to levels that are comfortable for the family.
 Water leaks can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home, and often you don’t even realize you have a leak until you suddenly step in a puddle of water. At that point much of the damage is already done. The Virtual Concierge includes electronic water leak detection devices that automatically shut water off at the source and notify you on the main control panel that a leak has been detected, allowing you to repair it before major damage occurs. In addition, when you push the “away” button as you leave the home the water is automatically turned off, preventing leaks before they start.
We certainly hope no one has to endure the tragedy of a fire, but if one starts in your home then getting your family and pets out quickly and safely is the top priority. If the Virtual Concierge detects smoke or flame it will automatically turn on all the system lighting in the home that can lead you to the exits (making it easier to find your way out if smoke is hindering visibility) and begins flashing the selected lights on the exterior of the home so that the house is instantly identifiable to emergency personnel.In a situation where every second counts, these added safety features can mean the difference between life and death. With an added call monitoring service (not included in the package) the homeowner has the added security of a live person who will call the house to check if smoke or other emergency is detected and then call the appropriate emergency responders to send help.
The Virtual Concierge also simplifies lighting in your home. Motion sensors automatically turn on lights in selected stairways and pathways, creating “light without thought.” They automatically shut themselves off when motion is no longer detected. The lighting control also has safety applications, such as the flashing lights in an emergency outlined above, and for security purposes. When your home is in ‘away’ mode, the lighting control will create a “lived in” look for your home, which deters would-be thieves. The system can also dim controllable lights, which saves energy.
A full security system is also included with the Virtual Concierge, including motion sensors, door contacts for all first-floor entry doors, and a security keypad. Because it is integrated with the other systems of the home the motion sensors can do double-duty, so that when the system is in “home” mode, the sensor causes the system to automatically turn on a light, but in “away” mode, activation of that same sensor would indicate an intruder and activate the alarm instead.
Integrated wiring also simplifies setting up phone and data connections in your home. The Virtual Concierge includes eight phone/data outlets, six cable/phone/data outlets, and one in-ceiling wireless access point, which means a computer, phone, or tv can be easily installed throughout the home, and you’ll be able to easily access the internet from your laptop from anywhere inside the home or even outside on the porch or deck. In addition, computers in different rooms can be set up on a network to share a printer or easily transfer data back and forth securely.
 In addition to controlling the functional aspects of a home, many homeowners are interested in having the latest in home theater and integrated music systems. Encore Technology + Design has also created two levels of Entertainment packages that are available for these five home plans. It is well known how much music can enhance a sense of well being and completely change the feel of a space. It was with this benefit in mind that these systems were created. Each package can be installed as a stand-alone system or in conjunction with the Virtual Concierge system.
Entertainment Package 1 is intended for installation in either custom cabinetry or in a central location near your media or living room. It is an integrated entertainment system that has been specifically designed and pre-tested to fit your home plan. The package includes an equipment mini-hub with surge protection and ventilation built in, audio/video processor, 40” LCD television capable of producing breathtaking HDTV images, progressive scan multi-disc CD/DVD player, wireless universal remote, three zones of audio, each with one pair of in-ceiling speakers and in-wall LCD keypad, prewiring for an iPod docking station, and support for up to three video sources (CD/DVD player, cable/satellite receiver and one other source) plus one additional audio-only source such as an iPod dock.
This entertainment system allows you to select independent audio sources in each room or select “party mode” to have the same music playing throughout. The universal remote makes it very simple to control the system with an intuitive, user-friendly interface, so no one has to become the “expert.” in managing four or more remotes.
Entertainment Package 2 is a centralized, whole-house entertainment system.. The package includes an equipment hub with custom enclosure, surge protection and ventilation, an audio-video processor, three high-definition TV connectivity ports (for future addition of HD flat-panel televisions), one room pre-wired for surround sound (including in-ceiling speakers), progressive scan multi-disc CD/DVD player, 40” high-definition LCD television, wireless universal remote, three audio zones, each with speakers and in-wall controller, prewiring for three additional audio zones, and prewiring for an iPod docking station.
This system gives you all the benefits of Package 1, plus, if additional televisions are added, you will have the ability to share one video source such as the DVD player among them – you can start the movie in the living room and finish watching it in the bedroom. Package 2 also has the advantage of being expandable – you have the flexibility to add more televisions or add additional audio zones over time as your needs and budget allow.
If you are like most homeowners, the thought running through your mind right now is, “Sure, that sounds great, but how much will this cost?”
Those who choose to build a custom home will have to make decisions for all of the elements that go into the home, from framing to mechanical systems to finishes and furnishings. Most homeowners want to make sure they’re getting a good value for their investment, and will evaluate decisions for these items both in terms of how much they will enjoy them while living in the home and also how they might affect resale value should they decide to sell.
While most people have no trouble getting online or going to several stores to comparison shop for appliances or plumbing fixtures, integrated technology is an area where people sometimes feel intimidated, and also where it may be difficult to compare on an “apples to apples” basis because so much of it is customizable. These are all great questions that you should ask as you start evaluating new technology features for your home. It is not at all uncommon in today’s market to see homes that have up to 10% or more of that home’s value applied to technology.
 It may be easier to grasp the value by looking at a comparison that most people will be more familiar with. Let’s say you are shopping for a new car. You have your model selected and know the base price. The more you talk with your spouse, the more the conversation leans towards adding that extra amenity package you both really want - the one with dual climate control, an upgraded audio system, a touch screen GPS and backup camera. You select that package, and based on the make and model of car, you find that it is a $2500 – $6500 upgrade, or roughly 10%. Interestingly enough, this type of process is undertaken by thousands of people a day for their automobiles, offering them more convenience and making them more comfortable and safer. This is now a similar series of questions and decisions that you can make for your home. Would you like the cameras covering that car while it is parked in your driveway? How about saving money on energy and securing your home with the touch of a single button? The value proposition is the same. Isn’t it time your house did more for you and your investment than your car?
What if...
Your home could shut off the water if a leak was detected?
Your home’s exterior lights flashed in response to smoke or medical emergency to guide your family out and first responders quickly to your home?
Your home recognized when you arrived and turned on the lights for you?
You could put lights and thermostats into energy saving mode automatically when leaving your home?
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
The five home plans pictured on page six are available with options to purchase the Virtual Concierge System and either of the Entertainment Packages. Plans for each system are sold separately. For $199 per package you will receive a booklet that contains a custom-designed plan for the home showing the recommended locations for wiring, fixtures, speakers, and components needed to complete that package. You will also receive detailed instructions and timelines for the general contractor and all subcontractors who will need to be involved in the installation process so that everyone knows what they will be responsible for and at what stage of construction the work needs to take place.
Once you have purchased your detailed home technology plan or plans, you have two options available for purchasing the required hardware (lights, electronic components, speakers, etc.)
 Option one is to contact Encore Technology + Design, the firm that created the customized plans, and order the equipment. For a set price everything you need for your particular plan will arrive ready-to-install on one pallet. Once the appropriate contractors have installed the parts and pieces (valve controls, motion detectors, integrated wiring, etc.) as specified by the plan, the “brains” or control system can be plugged in and connected almost as easily as plugging in a computer, and the system will already be programmed and ready to run.
Your second option is to use the purchased installation plan and spec sheet as a shopping list and price each item individually through local suppliers and contractors.
Either way you are receiving a huge value for the money. Simply having a technology firm create a custom plan for your home is typically a $3,000- $10,000 investment, so $199 for the plan is a huge cost savings. Purchasing from Encore ensures that you have the best equipment and that it will work perfectly in the home and saves the time and hassle of shopping around, but for those who prefer to do it themselves the plan provides for that option as well.
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