Techteriors opens new custom home technology design center
Business offers latest technology updates for modern homeowners
By Dwayne Butler, Correspondent
Mequon, Wis. - Homeowners are getting more out of their residences because of what they are putting in them.
Lighting with the simple push of a button. A security system to monitor the safety of a family in one room or the entire house. A dynamic home theatre system. Streaming audio through strategically placed speakers.
While these lavish, high-tech automated systems were once relatively novel concepts, they have since grown in popularity and are now a priority for many owners of new and remodeled homes.
"There are more people becoming aware of and expecting this type of technology," said Mike Phillips, tri-owner of Techteriors, LLC, in Mequon. "Plus, the industry is developing and making available products that are high functionality and high reliability, and lower prices, which end up broadening the market."
Techteriors, located at 12308 Corporate Parkway, Mequon, is keeping pace with the demand of this combination of consumer lifestyle and technology with a grand opening in February of the largest custom home technology design center in southeastern Wisconsin. The 3,000-square-foot center fulfills the company's mission of educating potential customers on the growth in home-automation systems.
Customers can experience using a one-touch panel for lighting, heating, security and entertainment. Also included are movie theatre projection screens up to 110 inches, plasma screens up to 63 inches, power recliner chairs, specialty-designed chairs for response to the bass track of movies or music, stealth home theatres, audio systems, high definition video, wireless and wired lighting control systems, dimmer switches, motorized shades and surveillance equipment.
"It's a design center that showcases and gives the people of the experience of what we do in (designing) a home setting," Phillips said.
In the beginning
Techteriors was started in October 2001 by John DeToro and Frank Porcaro and based in a small commercial facility on Good Hope Road. Phillips joined the company in 2004. An increase in clients necessitated a move to new offices in Mequon less than two years ago.
The company specializes in constructing the technical infrastructure and linking components for home entertainment, security, lighting, heating, cooling, communications, water systems, vacuuming systems and tele-video conferencing.
Techteriors currently has 28 employees, with growth to about 32 within the next month or two.
Most of their projects are residential but they do offer lighting, security and audio visual systems for commercial offices. The company's marketing theme is "simplifying technology to enhance entertainment, convenience and security."
The projects are as straight-forward as installing a home entertainment system through a remote control operation or as multi-faceted as wiring an abundance of systems with a one-touch device for homes with up to 30,000 square feet in space. Prices are fixed and range from $1,000 and up.
Planning a project
Interested customers initially meet with a Techteriors client manger, who takes them through a lifestyle assessment interview. It includes questions about their musical tastes and how they listen to music, watching television, how much they travel and what types of things they like to control with their time.
"The whole idea there is that we really need to get to know them, because there are so many options available," Phillips said. "In this situation, they are better off if we learn a lot about them to present them the subset of the possibilities that are out there."
Clients then visit the design center to determine the best system for them and their budget.
"We will walk them through and show them some of these options so they can experience it," Phillips said. "At the end of the design center process, the salesperson knows enough and the customers know enough by seeing different things that we can put together a high level recommendation."
With an established budget in place, the client then meets with a Techteriors engineer, who combines the details for the materials and drawings of the project and formulates a detailed price.
Once that process is completed, Phillips says a project manager takes over and "drives everything that takes place," including integrating with the general contractor and overseeing the installation and programming of the home automated system.
Additionally, service and support is given after the project is completed.
Techteriors, LLC is open daily and evenings by appointment. For additional information, visit their Web site at www.techteriors.com or call (262)-243-9800.
From Mequon-Thiensville Courant