:: The Process ::

The AllMedia Process:

1. Initial Client Meeting
2. System Design Proposal Meeting
3. Proposal Agreement Meeting
4. System Design & Preparation
5. Installation
6. Quality Assurance
7. Training & Completion
8. Follow-up Meeting

The first step in helping you to decide on your new home electronics system is education and information sharing. Don't worry, you do not need to be technologically savvy in order to use or help plan your new system. In this initial meeting we will become aware of your desires, needs and dreams. At the same time, we will give you information about how things work, what they can do for you and whether your budget is sufficient to accomplish your goals. This is a process of discovery where we work to appreciate how best to provide solutions that meet or exceed your expectations. Depending on the scope of your project, this meeting will take between one and three hours and will be scheduled at your convenience.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."

Once we've gained a clear understanding of your goals and budget, we create a written proposal of your system design. This document describes your entire system in plain English. It sets out what features and capabilities you'll enjoy in each area of your home, how you'll be able to easily interact with the system, what the finished system will look like and pricing for your consideration. Also, at this time, we will make you aware of additional options and/or upgrades that are available to you. These options are presented as enhancements to the basic system parameters gleaned from our first meeting and are chosen for two reasons. One, high value performance improvements and two, because we never want to hear a customer say, "I wish I'd known you could do that for me." If we've done a good job in our initial meeting with you - asking the right questions and listening closely to your answers - the System Design Proposal will accurately articulate and fulfill your goals for the system.

We present this document in our second meeting with you. By talking through all of the aspects of the System Design Proposal, we're able to validate our understanding of your expectations and make revisions as necessary. If, at this time, there is complete agreement on the proposed system parameters and pricing, you will be asked to sign the proposal, make a deposit and we will begin preparations for installation.

This meeting normally lasts about an hour.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."

After we've discussed your System Design Proposal and made any necessary adjustments and revisions, we'll ask you to sign the amended proposal. This step in the process is easy. We don't use a long involved contract written by our lawyers. The Proposal Agreement sets out your payment schedule and the terms of the AllMedia Custom Video & Sound warranty. The proposal will describe what we plan for each affected room in your home. If your proposal involves multiple pages, you will be asked to sign each page to insure full disclosure and agreement on all aspects of the project.

This meeting normally usually lasts less than an hour.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."

After you've accepted the proposal, we will prepare detailed drawings, schematics, task and equipment lists that are necessary to ensure that your system will function perfectly and reliably meet your goals.

We will prepare all of the necessary documentation that will describe the equipment to be used, how and where it will be installed in your home, the user interfaces and programming required to make the system easy to operate and schematic drawings for the wiring. Depending upon your system, the documentation may include cabinet drawings and marked up drawings of your home that may be necessary to help other trades understand your system's parameters. It is also during this phase of the project when we will meet with and/or communicate with those other trades whose work intimately affects or interfaces with your system. These may include: cabinet makers, lighting designers, interior designers, HVAC contractors, landscapers and Security System contractors. These contacts are made "behind the scenes" and don't require your attendance unless you request it.

This process usually takes five to fourteen days depending on the complexity and scope of your project. When it's done we will prepare a schedule to accomplish the work proposed in a timely manner and we will contact you to arrange for access to your home during installation. Upon your approval of the scheduling, we will prepare the necessary purchase orders and expedite receipt of the equipment for your project.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."

Depending upon the type of work involved, installation will begin with the running of wire & cable through walls, to or from the outside of your home and from any source points for input signals needed by your system (e.g. outdoor speakers and cameras, telephone and antenna, cable or satellite signals). During this "rough-in" stage your system's backbone of communication is established in preparation for the next phase of construction.

The next phase of construction, the "trim-out", involves terminating any and all signal paths, installation of wall plates and connectors, volume controls, in-wall speakers, door stations and central wiring panels. At this stage, for new construction, connection to cable and telephone services will be completed if those services are available.

The final phase of installation, "the finish", completes the installation of all in-room wiring, control panels, electronic components, on-wall and free standing speakers, satellite dish, antennas, video displays and cameras. Configuration, calibration and programming of your system completes this phase of the installation.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."

Throughout your project, a series of quality assurance steps are undertaken. These steps are reviewed at the completion of each phase of the installation.

If any aspect of your project is incomplete or unsatisfactory, a punch list is created and corrective action is scheduled and performed. When all quality assurance checks and punch list items are completed, we will schedule a completion and hand-over meeting.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."

We pride ourselves on designing home electronics systems that are easy and fun to use. Because most people have had plenty of frustrating experiences with home electronics, a lot of our training time is spent explaining what you don't have to do!

Usually training takes place the day of or a day or two after the final installation and it usually lasts about two hours. You and your family members will be shown how everything works and we'll stay until you are comfortable operating all parts of your new system. We'll even give you a "cheat sheet" if necessary to help you through the first few days of operation.

Following training we will review the final proposal and any change orders that were incorporated into your new system to verify that every aspect of your system performs as specified. If we've done everything as promised and if you're satisfied that the project is complete, you'll be asked to sign-off on the project's completion and make your final payment. Upon your acceptance and signature, your warranty period begins.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."

We at AllMedia Custom Video & Sound know from experience that no matter how thorough our training is, you will likely have questions concerning the operation and/or capabilities of your system that can't be anticipated before you start living with it. For this reason, we schedule a follow up meeting with you that will take place between 30 and 60 days after your system is up an running.

At this meeting, which usually lasts less than an hour, you are encouraged to raise any questions that may have come to mind through your day to day use of the system. All family members are encouraged to attend this meeting so that everyone in your family is comfortable in their understanding of your system's capabilities. There is, of course, no charge for this meeting.

This significant commitment to your satisfaction is what sets us apart from the competition. Honestly, though, we gain at least as much from these meetings as do our customers. The follow-up gives our customers the opportunity to raise issues and questions that allow us to make adjustments and thereby constantly improve planning and service to all our future customers. By providing a forum to vent the "little" things that few people find important enough to warrant a phone call and correcting or re-training as necessary, we find that we end up with happier customers and more referrals.

In the end, both we and our customers benefit tremendously from this type of open communication and the result is greater satisfaction for everyone involved.

"I'm ready to get started, please contact me..."