Links and more info on the CEDIA Webinar slideshare here, starting on page 30 "networking"

This is kind of OT but...

Some of the houses i work at have care takers, butlers, misc staff who are tasked with basic troubleshooting of the AV systems. A few months back i was waiting in NY for the care taker to come let me into a clients home. The guy was a retired fire chief in his mid 80's. Super nice guy but impossible to talk through things over the phone.

This got me thinking about what some of us will be doing when we retire. Our knowledge of the home control system market will make us a valuable candidate for caretaker at large estates. We would be a capable front line for the client when they have AV issues. Instead of the client showing up to a vacation house to find that things dont work...we could test and address those issues before they arrive.

Anyhow...something to think about for those of us who wont be content with fishing or sitting on a beach.

You can be my technology bitch when I'm old. We can build a granny suite for you.

Mac, when I retire, I'll be retired.
What's the point of closing up my business only to work as caretaker for somebody else at lower wages?

I don't enjoy doing nothing. I was never capable of sitting in a chair with a fishing pole or laying on a beach. I don't drink, i don't like Cigars. I don't like the sun or golf or sports. I don't want to put in 60 hours a week when im 65 but i have to have something to do or i will go nuts. Keep in mind that i don't/wont have children. Maybe torturing a daughters new boyfriend or hanging out with grandchildren would keep someone occupied.

Isn't the point of monitored systems/aftercare/RMR, to replace the property caretaker from having to watch over the AV stuff?

Aftercare is growing in awareness and need, how much to charge and how to implement are the obstacles.

For the smaller shops, I suspect there will be need of a centralized station that does the basic first questions of batteries, cable box, etc. Then hands off a work ticket to the AV company.

That means a centralized station that has access, familiarity with the brands we use.... And the capital, resources, hardware to do such a startup.

"worktire" is the new reality for many of us...would love to think that I will amass a huge fortune so I can do whatever I want but the reality is that to "retire" at any reasonable age from the real grind I will need to supplement, so the plan is to go to the beach and work in some capacity in this industry....I am totally with Mac on this...however a fishing pole and cigars will be a part of the plan too

Hey All,

Things have definitely changed a lot since this thread was created. There are definitely more choices out there and the platforms have evolved quite a bit.

A few key points on Ihiji:

1) We are still partners with many of the hardware manufacturers - so you can use Wattbox, Bluebolt, TrippLite, APC, etc for IP power and Ihiji integrates with all of those. We also integrate with almost all of the PoE switches - so you can manage all of your power reboots, regardless of manufacturer, from a single interface. At CEDIA 2016 we also launched out iPhone and Android App to help technicians in the field and save them from App overload when it comes to power management! Here's some info on our app and the many other changes we've made recently - [Link: ihiji.com].

2) We aren't expensive. With a our new Invision Lite Service, you can actually monitor your internet connections, get internet speed testing, see all of the devices on the network and do all of your power management for no additional monthly fee. So for one low monthly fee, you can manage thousands of clients for no additional costs - literally pennies per customer. We do have some premium service levels which give you richer insights, better remote access and alerting - but it still isn't expensive. Fun fact - when we launched in 2009 we charged almost $3,500 per client site per year! We don't publish our costs or retail but I can tell you we're waaaaaaaayyy less expensive for a solution that has actually gotten much more powerful. Here's an example of how you might package our system to a client - [Link: ihiji.com].

3) On the topic of "worktire" - we want to help you with this! We launched a Race for Revenues, Margaritas and Retirement (RMR) at CEDIA 2016 to help you get more RMR. We have everything you need to get started selling service plans, reduce your headaches, create more reliable systems and make RMR a reality. You can start building RMR for as little as $10/mo to your client. I know it may not sound like a lot but it's a starting point that over time can increase and really add up - just ask your buddy who's been doing security systems for 10 years about recurring revenue services! [Link: cepro.com]

Hope that helps, happy to chat more.

Open a 'Scared Straight' academy? That way, you can brutalize kids who need it and then go home at the end of the day.