If you're building or renovating in Sydney and considering home automation, the first question is usually: what's this going to cost me? Here's a practical guide to typical costs, what drives the price, and how to get the most value from your investment.
The honest answer is that it depends — on your home size, what you want automated, and whether it's a new build or a retrofit. But "it depends" isn't helpful when you're trying to set a budget. So let's break it down.
There's a big difference between screwing in a smart bulb from Bunnings and having a professionally designed system that controls your lighting, audio, climate, security, and blinds from a single app or touchscreen.
This guide covers professional home automation — integrated systems like Control4 that are designed, installed, and programmed to work together seamlessly. Not individual smart gadgets.
Every project is different, but here are the ballpark ranges we see for Sydney homes. These are for fully integrated systems including equipment, installation, and programming.
| Home Size | Starting Range | Mid Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4 bedroom | $25,000 – $40,000 | $40,000 – $70,000 | $70,000+ |
| 4–5 bedroom | $40,000 – $70,000 | $70,000 – $120,000 | $120,000+ |
| 5+ bed / luxury | $70,000+ | $120,000 – $250,000 | $250,000+ |
All prices are ex GST and are indicative only. Every home is different — these ranges are based on typical Sydney projects and are meant to help you budget, not replace a proper quote.
At the starting range, you're getting core automation — lighting control throughout, a few audio zones, climate integration, and app control from your phone. It's a genuine smart home, just focused on the essentials.
At the mid range, you're adding more subsystems — comprehensive audio throughout the home, motorised blinds, security cameras and smart locks, dedicated touchscreens on the wall, and more sophisticated programming with custom scenes and schedules.
At the premium end, everything is automated. Every light, every blind, every room has audio. You might have a dedicated home theatre, outdoor entertainment automation, advanced lighting design, and complex programming that makes the house respond to your routine without you touching anything.
The price of a home automation system isn't really about the "system" — it's about how many things you want it to do and how many rooms you want it in.
This is the biggest driver. A 3-bedroom apartment with 12 lighting zones is a fundamentally different project to a 6-bedroom house with 40+ zones, 8 audio zones, and blinds on every window. More rooms means more devices, more cabling, and more programming.
Most projects start with lighting and audio — they deliver the biggest lifestyle impact. Each additional subsystem adds cost:
You don't have to do everything at once. Many of our clients start with lighting and audio, then add blinds or security later. A good system is designed to expand.
This makes a significant difference. In a new build, cabling is run during construction when walls are open — it's faster, cleaner, and cheaper. Retrofitting an existing home means working around finished walls, which adds complexity and cost.
If you're building, the best time to plan automation is before construction starts. Getting us involved at the design stage with your architect and builder saves money and avoids compromises.
How you control the system affects cost. A mobile app on your phone is included with any system. But if you want dedicated touchscreens mounted in the wall, elegant keypads at every entry point, or handheld remotes, each one adds to the budget.
Basic programming — scenes, schedules, and standard control — is included in every project. But advanced automation (presence detection, conditional logic, custom integrations with third-party systems) requires additional programming time.
A reliable home automation system needs a reliable network. If your existing Wi-Fi drops out when someone microwaves popcorn, it's not ready for automation. Many projects include a properly designed network as part of the scope — dedicated access points, a managed switch, and structured cabling. This is an investment in reliability, not an optional extra.
Professional systems have minimal ongoing costs compared to subscription-heavy consumer platforms. You might pay for a remote access subscription (under $100/year), and we recommend an annual system health check. But there are no monthly fees to turn your lights on.
Once you see what's possible, most people want more. We've never had a client say "I wish we'd automated less." Budget a small contingency for scope additions during the project.
You can buy smart switches and speakers online. But a professionally integrated system is a different experience. Everything works together — one app, one interface, no juggling six different brands with six different apps that stop talking to each other after an update.
We design, install, and program everything as one team. No finger-pointing between the electrician, the AV installer, and the security company. One point of contact, one system that works.
Every home is different. Tell us about your project and we'll give you a clear proposal with no surprises.
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