Audio /Video Structured Wiring- Have we really come that far?

Recently we had the opportunity to do a sales call on a former 2007 Parade of Homes Showcase Home. The customer that purchased the home was extremely anxious and ready to get a proposal updating the dedicated Theater room and Multi-Room Audio/Video system. Like every sales call we do on existing homes we took some time to research the rooms, existing wiring, original setup and what now do we have to work with. After spending some time going through the house we thought we had a good grasp on the project and were ready to go back and work out a proposal. The proposal process brought up many questions that made us want to go back and take a second look at the wiring of the home. During the initial evaluation we determined that they had several rooms wired for background audio speakers. After sensing that we might have an issue we immediately started opening boxes where Audio/Video controls would go on the walls for the background audio system. To our surprise every control location did not have the most crucial and simplest of wires, CAT-5e. Take into consideration that this house was wired in late 2006 early 2007 where these standards had long been in place for a typical A/V company. This posed a problem.

The majority of all background audio systems use CAT-5e for communication. If there is no CAT-5e then this greatly diminishes your options for what kind of system you can have. Everyone likes options right? Of course, so now we have to go to the customer and tell them that they are limited on the type of system that we can install for them. Correct? Not this A/V Company. We came up with a very manageable, cost effective workable plan that the customer liked and agreed upon but how we got there was our biggest concern. In this day and age of technology there is no reason that the home should not have been busting at the seams with CAT-5e wiring. There is so much that can be done with CAT-5e wiring (audio, video, data, IR, etc) and it is just unimaginable why it was not done. To have a Showcase home and not use one of the most basic forms of wiring is disturbing to say the least. I am thrilled that this customer chose us to perform their install and did not end up with a company similar to the one that wired the home that would have most likely gave them little options with the wiring that was in place. Bottom line is whether this was a mistake by the former A/V Company or the builder wanting to cut corners, you have a home buyer now reaping the consequences of poor wiring. Always make sure to check with your builder or A/V Company that they are using at the least standard wiring infrastructure for your new home or remodel. Thankfully for them we worked a manageable plan that will give them many years of enjoyment from their systems.