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The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:
Topic: | The low voltage shame... This thread has 28 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 29. |
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OP | Post 16 made on Saturday June 24, 2006 at 21:48 |
roddymcg Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2003 6,796 |
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On June 24, 2006 at 21:42, mr2channel said...
I live in Richmond, and Nags Head is only 3 hrs away and my wife's family lives down there, and I have been going to the outerbanks since their was only one stop light and one grocery store...and I will say that the pool of selection for low voltage tech firms does not exist...they have ONE company promoting LV services and I cannot vouch for the quality of their work...but I do know they lines they carry, and it ain't Crestron or Levinson!
From what I have seen the builders use the electricians alot. If it is a home being built for the specific purpose to be rented out ( as you have read above their is alot of $$$ to be made) those homes get just enough to make it a selling point on an ad.
If it is a custom home the builders seem to either say no to the client or the client brings it up too late for any real company to get down their and do the work.
I have done a few nice jobs down on the outer banks but most people that do look into it find that per diem makes the job too costly, no matter if the A/V firm is from Richmond, or the VA Beach area, or as a last resort the Raleigh area, and at least from the Richmond/VA Beach area the client only has to choose between maybe six to ten REAL A/V firms (I am not counting new upstarts, with no experience or our good ol' lectrician...and lets not forget the alarm guys)
I have thought about moving to the outerbanks and making a go at it, but the real issue comes down to having enough REAL business to keep a REAL A/V firm going, most of the time the work is done by whomever is the cheapest. Truely ashame though if you go through the Duck/Corolla area you will find many, many million dollar beach homes and countless multimillion dollar pads, most are rented out!
If anyone knows of a friend or family in need of work in the outer banks and they want a real system...my firm is for hire and do travel...all we ask is regular rates and per diem. This in the Corolla area, Whaleshead I believe. I wish I knew about this a little earlier, but hindsite is 20/20...
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When good enough is not good enough. |
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Post 17 made on Saturday June 24, 2006 at 21:55 |
ejfiii Select Member |
Joined: Posts: | July 2003 2,021 |
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On June 24, 2006 at 21:42, mr2channel said...
and I have been going to the outerbanks since their was only one stop light and one grocery store... We Willy Winks Baby!!! I remember it too. Talk to Kevin (OEX) about owning/running an AV company in a vacation area where there is lots of building going on. I think it could be done in the Outer Banks.
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Post 18 made on Saturday June 24, 2006 at 21:58 |
mr2channel Select Member |
Joined: Posts: | August 2002 1,701 |
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Well Roddy retrofits are possible...but a real B*%ch due to the code requirements that are in place to make the homes safe for hurricanes...
I did a retrofit for a friend of mine's mom because the builder was an ass and did not allow an outside firm in until after the home was out of his hands and when we went to fish the right surround wiring, it was an exterior wall that had, no kidding three sheets thick of 3/4" plywood and Z shaped cross bracing up the entire wall...granted it was a 2 1/2 story wall (vaulted ceiling) that was all glass from the second story up.
to sum it up retrofits end up costing at least 2X-3X as much as new construction + per diem.
I normally don't do clean up work...but for you Roddy, I will, just let me know if you want me to go down and tighten up what he has.
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What part of "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." do you not understand? |
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Post 19 made on Saturday June 24, 2006 at 22:01 |
cma Super Member |
Joined: Posts: | August 2003 3,044 |
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Figure Eight Island and Wrightsville Beach near Wilmington are also areas where I have seen disgraceful work for the caliber of homes in the area.
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Post 20 made on Saturday June 24, 2006 at 22:06 |
Trunk-Slammer -Supreme Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | November 2003 7,462 |
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Even though it's about a 7 hour ride for me, I would do work on the outer banks as well, since I have a place to stay in Buxton.
I actually enjoy doing jobs out of town. It's nice to wow the locals......
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Post 21 made on Saturday June 24, 2006 at 22:15 |
mr2channel Select Member |
Joined: Posts: | August 2002 1,701 |
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Hey I have a great idea! lets have an IP party on the outerbanks! everyone quick...gather up your free airline miles, we are staying w/ Roddy's girls parents! :)
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What part of "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." do you not understand? |
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OP | Post 22 made on Saturday June 24, 2006 at 22:34 |
roddymcg Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2003 6,796 |
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Well if I play my cards might I have part of this someday. Forget about retroing this place, 4 stories. It would be a nightmare to say the least. Not really where I was going with this thread. But if I am planing a trip out here to deal with this I will give you guys first option at helping me out, I get to stay here for free:) I think we could find a room or two for some help, there are 10 bedrooms after all.
I seeing places built all over the place down here and they have to valued in the multi millions. I had to rant and let those on the forum know just in case they ever wanted to move out here. I am happy where I am at and for the time being have more work than what I know what to do with. So I will being staying put.
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When good enough is not good enough. |
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Post 23 made on Sunday June 25, 2006 at 00:27 |
AHEM Select Member |
Joined: Posts: | January 2004 1,837 |
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On June 24, 2006 at 12:23, roddymcg said...
My girlfriend's dad buys this 8,000 sq ft house with like 10 bedrooms on the outerbanks, NC. and you haven't married her yet why?
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OP | Post 24 made on Sunday June 25, 2006 at 07:51 |
roddymcg Loyal Member |
Joined: Posts: | September 2003 6,796 |
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On June 25, 2006 at 00:27, AHEM said...
and you haven't married her yet why? Never once claimed to be smart... lol Her birthday present this year was to fly me out here, I like her birthdays. Time to pack up and go home, I have about 6 straight weeks, including weekends it looks like, on the board plus the service calls that I got while I was here. Back to reality...
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When good enough is not good enough. |
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Post 25 made on Sunday June 25, 2006 at 09:06 |
oex Super Member |
Joined: Posts: | April 2004 4,177 |
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Its funny. I work on many houses worth $5 million plus. you'd be shocked at corners the homeowners cut. I di one with a million $$ siding package. 1 1/2 marble on the entire house. They eliminated the motors/jets in all the whirlpool tubs because when people come to look they won't even notice and wont be any less impressed. They eliminated phone jacks to save money. Structured cable, speaker wiring, wouldn't even be considered.
I just finished one worth >$8 million with 3 six gang switches in the master bedroom. Homeowner absolutely did not want lighting control. PERIOD
Don't be quick to blame the builders or electricians. Lighting control in my area is not something wanted but something actually requested not to have. I have seen many systems installed and ripped out and settled in court. Coreo, phast, grafik eye/homeworks abortion, and more. I've seen Crestron problems that the factory came out to try and fix. As a group, there has been a lot of customer unstaisfaction with this genre of product.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying hire a pro without actually saying hire a pro |
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Post 26 made on Sunday June 25, 2006 at 16:36 |
EXT Founding Member |
Joined: Posts: | August 2001 134 |
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Look at other areas of the house and you will find sub-standard items and installations. Even if the house claimed to have high-end plumbing fixtures you will find the builder installed lower-middle end plumbing fixtures and claimed they were high-end. It goes on and on, the only area they spend money is for eye-candy, what the buyer can see. If it looks good, shiney and similar to being in style they will install it, if it is hidden in the walls they will use the cheapest they can get away with such as 3/8 OSB board under the shingles. They will have taken their money and be long gone by the time the roof looks like a scrub-board as the OSB sags between the rafters/trusses.
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Post 27 made on Sunday June 25, 2006 at 16:56 |
juliejacobson CE Pro Magazine |
Joined: Posts: | April 2003 3,032 |
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On June 25, 2006 at 16:36, EXT said...
Look at other areas of the house and you will find sub-standard items and installations. Yes! I find that people who invest in quality do it universally. The correct, minimal technology is a fundamental reflection of quality. If they're skimping on that, they're skimping on much more.
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"CEPro: your website sucks!" - Fins www.cepro.com[Link: twitter.com] |
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Post 28 made on Sunday June 25, 2006 at 19:48 |
I hate to say it but when im on vaca. Ill take the 5 fridgs fully stocked with cold beer over the techno headaches 7 day aweek and twice on sunday. We all chose where to skimp.
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McPancakes, its whats for breakfast! |
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Post 29 made on Monday June 26, 2006 at 09:08 |
tschulte Advanced Member |
Joined: Posts: | November 2005 808 |
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Roddy, all I can think about is that Bud Light commercial with the revolving frig. LMAO!
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Just my opinion, I could be wrong. |
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