CEDIA has revealed the key findings from its recent national awareness study of the association and its members among design/build professionals, including the news that when home builders, architects, and interior designers sub out smart home technology installation, they use a CEDIA contractor 45 percent of the time.
Commissioned in support of the CEDIA strategic plan announced earlier this year, the study sampled 273 home builders, architects, and interior designers in June and July 2018. The survey sought to identify who these professionals are contracting to install residential technology, their level of interest in the sector, and their awareness of CEDIA and its members. CEDIA plans to undertake this study annually and conduct the same type of study in Europe.
Other results include:
• 74 percent of interior designers and 61 percent of architects are looking to subcontractors to install smart home technology and contracting out to a certified home technology professional in the majority of instances.
• 63 percent of home builders are doing the work themselves, and if they are contracting out, they tend to use an electrician.
• Nearly 80 percent of respondents stated they were interested at some level in smart home technology.
• Close to 70 percent of home builders are aware of CEDIA, compared to 58 percent of architects and 35 percent of interior designers.
• Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed view certifications as being very important for a smart home contractor. With 70 percent also being more likely to hire a certified smart home subcontractor over a non-certified one.
CEDIA continues to ramp up efforts to engage with home builders, architects, and interior designers. The association is building on the success of CEDIA Technology Solutions Pavilion at Design and Construction Week (DCW), which welcomed over 80,000 architects, builders, and designers through its doors, and will do the same at DCW in February 2019.
The CEDIA Outreach Instructor program is growing, equipping members with the tools they need to present the industry, the breadth of the home tech pros’ work, and the benefits of using a CEDIA member. CEDIA has also hired a media relations firm specializing in this area to ensure that architects, builders, and designers know about the residential technology install industry and why they need to work with their local CEDIA member. The association is also ramping up a digital advertising campaign to launch in Q4, and continues a highly successful content marketing program with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
The CEDIA Awareness study was carried out by The Farnsworth Group. The Farnsworth Group brings a thorough understanding of the construction and building industry, having focused on custom research projects within the sector for three decades. More information at www.thefarnsworthgroup.com.
For more information, visit www.cedia.net.
