Overview
Smart home quotes are bought by consumers, and the kit is mostly off the shelf
Smart home installs at the consumer end look nothing like the professional integration market. The customer has bought a few Google or Alexa devices, some smart bulbs from a high-street retailer, a Ring doorbell, a Nest thermostat, and a smart lock. They want someone to make the whole lot work together: configured, named correctly, on the right Wi-Fi network, and reachable through a single voice command. The kit is mostly off the shelf, so the customer can price the gear themselves. What they can't price is the time to set it all up properly: device names, room groups, scenes, the network reach in the back bedroom, and the inevitable router replacement halfway through.
QuoteGenio gives smart home installers a structure that prices the configuration. Initial survey of the customer's existing kit and network, device pairing and naming as a labour line, scene and routine configuration, mesh Wi-Fi upgrade where the existing network won't reach, customer training session, and an optional ongoing support call-out plan. Send via WhatsApp from the customer's living room, take a deposit on any kit you're supplying, and the final invoice attaches a short user guide naming every device and scene so the customer doesn't phone back asking what 'Front Bulb 3' is.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for installers doing consumer smart-home work: Hue, Ring, Nest, Sonos, Google, Alexa, and hub-based setups.
The problem
The quoting frustrations every smart home installer knows
Smart home quotes span many small items across lighting, security, audio, and control. Clients Google every product price and compare aggressively.
Small quotes take as long as big ones
A 6-bulb Hue install plus doorbell takes 30 minutes to install and 45 minutes to quote by hand. Evening admin on small jobs kills your hourly rate.
Clients price-check every device
Smart-home clients look up every product on Amazon before your quote arrives. If you can't justify your margin with a clear service line, you lose to self-install.
Configuration time invisible
Setting up 12 smart bulbs, 4 plugs, and a video doorbell across 3 apps takes 2 hours. Without a 'setup and configuration' line on the quote, the client thinks it's free.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes smart-home quoting fast
A structured workflow covering devices, hubs, installation, and app setup, in one clean professional PDF.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for consumer smart-home
Line items for devices, hubs, install labour, app configuration, and training. Structured for typical smart-home quotes.
Works from the consult
Walk the home, count devices, and send the quote before you leave. Small jobs need fast quotes.
Quote in under 3 minutes
Reusable templates with your standard device pricing mean a 10-device quote is a handful of taps.
Professional every time
Your branding, clear per-device pricing, and setup time. Beats the 'install one bulb for R2,479' message on WhatsApp by a mile.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how smart home installers actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Smart Home Installers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Smart Home Installers build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Smart Home Installers job pricing
A rough guide to what smart-home installers charge for common consumer-grade jobs. Pricing is competitive because clients compare to self-install. Use these ranges as a reference and bundle services to beat price-per-item thinking.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Consultation and device planning | R992 - R2,314 |
| Smart bulb install (per bulb, existing fitting) | R248 - R661 |
| Smart switch install (per switch) | R1,074 - R2,314 |
| Video doorbell install (wired or battery) | R1,983 - R5,289 |
| Smart thermostat install | R2,314 - R5,619 |
| Smart home hub setup (SmartThings / Hue / etc) | R1,570 - R4,628 |
| Voice control setup (Alexa / Google, per assistant) | R1,322 - R2,975 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Home consultation is short but valuable. 20 to 40 minutes walking the home, discussing ecosystem choices (Apple Home vs Google Home vs Alexa), and planning device placement. Charge R992 to R2,314 and credit it back on signed install. Free consults attract clients who want to pick your brain and then buy on Amazon.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Quote device installs fixed price per device. Use hourly (R1,240 to R1,818 per hour) for troubleshooting existing smart-home setups, Wi-Fi optimisation, and ecosystem migrations (e.g. moving from Ring to Nest). Configuration time is often the real cost and should be its own line.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's a clean smart-home starter quote. Every cost is visible. Devices, hub, install labour, and voice-control setup. Clients can compare the device costs on Amazon but your labour and configuration value is itemised. That's how you hold margin.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Smart home starter package: doorbell, 8 bulbs, 2 plugs, hub
Video doorbell (Ring / Nest / Eufy class) supply + install
Smart bulbs (Hue / Tuya / Zigbee class) supply
Smart plugs with energy monitoring
Smart home hub (SmartThings / Hue Bridge)
Install labour, app setup, device onboarding (3 hrs)
Voice control setup and routines (Alexa)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video doorbell (Ring / Nest / Eufy class) supply + install | 1 | R4,628 | R4,628 |
| Smart bulbs (Hue / Tuya / Zigbee class) supply | 8 | R463 | R3,702 |
| Smart plugs with energy monitoring | 2 | R694 | R1,388 |
| Smart home hub (SmartThings / Hue Bridge) | 1 | R1,570 | R1,570 |
| Install labour, app setup, device onboarding (3 hrs) | 3 | R1,570 / hr | R4,710 |
| Voice control setup and routines (Alexa) | 1 | R1,983 | R1,983 |
| Subtotal | R17,981 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R1,798 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R19,780 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Hub power supply, spare neutral conductor for smart switches, in-wall plaster-over for doorbell cable, Wi-Fi extender if signal is weak at the doorbell, 15-minute user walk-through, and the post-install support window. Template these every time.
Peer snapshot
How Smart Home Installers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Smart Home Installers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
15
Quotes sent per month
47%
Average quote acceptance
3 min
Median time to send quote
R19,780
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Smart Home Installer jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
Smart home installers compete against DIY and self-install. The winning move is clarity, configuration, and support, not low prices. Fix these mistakes and you'll hold margin against Amazon comparison and build a referral pipeline.
Mistake: Not itemising configuration time
Better: Setting up 12 devices across 2 apps takes 2 hours. Always list 'App setup and device onboarding' as its own labour line. Without it, the client sees only the 45 minutes of physical install and thinks you're overcharging. The configuration is where the expertise lives, show the time on the quote.
Mistake: Missing the neutral wire on smart switches
Better: Most smart switches need a neutral wire in the wall box, and older homes often don't have one. On the site survey, open one wall plate and check. If there's no neutral, quote either a no-neutral-required switch model (fewer options) or the extra labour to run neutrals. Discovering this on install day means return trips and apologies.
Mistake: Ignoring Wi-Fi coverage
Better: Smart devices need reliable Wi-Fi. If the doorbell is 15m from the nearest router through two brick walls, it'll disconnect weekly. On every quote, note the router location and recommend a Wi-Fi extender or mesh node if needed (R1,322 to R3,636). This fixes 80 percent of support calls before they happen.
Mistake: Mixing ecosystems without warning
Better: Hue bulbs with Ring doorbells with Nest thermostats means 4 different apps. Discuss ecosystem choice on the consult and recommend one master platform (Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings) that unifies them. On the quote, name the master platform and the devices that integrate with it. Saves the client from 3-app-fatigue.
Mistake: No warranty window explained
Better: Smart home warranty has two layers: the device manufacturer (usually 1 to 2 years) and your install workmanship (typically 3 to 6 months). State both on the quote. Without clarity, a device failure in year 2 becomes your problem, not Ring's. Make the split explicit: 'Device warranty via manufacturer; install workmanship 6 months from commissioning'.
Mistake: No training on handover
Better: Clients don't know how to add a guest to the doorbell, create a 'goodnight' scene, or silence the doorbell at night. Quote a 20 to 30 minute training session (R992 to R2,314) as part of commissioning. Clients who know how to use the system tell their friends. Clients who don't call you weekly for support.
Mistake: Not quoting remote support
Better: Smart home devices fail randomly (firmware updates, Wi-Fi drops). Offer a monthly remote support plan (R413 to R1,322 per month) for clients with 10+ devices. It's recurring revenue for what's typically one 15-minute remote session a month. Seeds a support relationship and stops the 'can you pop by' free-work requests.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote smart home installation jobs
Walk the home and run a Wi-Fi survey from your phone at every intended device location. Smart doorbells 15 metres from the router through two brick walls will disconnect weekly, and clients blame the device rather than the network, so catch the coverage gap before you quote. Open one wall plate at a proposed smart-switch position and check for a neutral wire because most smart switches need one and older homes do not have it. Ask the client which ecosystem they already live in (Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings) because mixing Hue, Ring, and Nest without a master platform creates four-app-fatigue. Count existing devices, log what works, and decide whether to consolidate or add an abstraction layer.
Itemise per device with supply and install on the same line ('Video doorbell Ring, Nest, or Eufy class supply plus install'), then break out smart bulbs per bulb, smart plugs with energy monitoring, and the hub (SmartThings, Hue Bridge) as its own line. Critically, quote 'App setup and device onboarding (3 hrs at $ 95 per hour)' as a visible labour line because setting up 12 devices across two apps is the real cost and clients assume it is free. Add voice-control setup and routines ($ 80 to $ 180 per assistant) and a short 20 to 30 minute training session ($ 60 to $ 140). Where Wi-Fi is weak, quote a mesh node or extender ($ 80 to $ 220) as a named line before installing smart devices that will fail on it.
Set a 14 day validity because consumer smart-home device pricing moves weekly on Amazon and local retail, and stock on popular items like Hue bulbs and Ring doorbells cycles fast. State clearly on the quote that device warranty is via the manufacturer (typically 1 to 2 years) and your install workmanship is 3 to 6 months from commissioning, so a failed bulb in year 2 routes to Philips not you. Ask for payment on completion for small jobs under $ 500, or a 40 percent deposit on hardware for larger packages. Offer a 'Smart Home Care' monthly support plan of $ 25 to $ 80 per month for clients with 10 or more devices as a named optional line so the recurring-revenue conversation starts on the quote.
Send the quote within 30 minutes of the consultation because smart-home clients compare against Amazon in real time and a slow quote loses to self-install. Build the quote on your phone during the walk-through, share the WhatsApp link before you leave, and follow up the same evening with a short message confirming stock on the specific models. Keep the quote structure tight so the configuration and training lines are visible against device cost, because that is where your margin lives against DIY comparison. Any additional device added after acceptance ('can you also do the garage lights') goes out as a numbered variation quote using the per-device and hourly rates already established.
FAQ
Common questions from smart home installers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Add each device as its own line with supply and install. Clients expect per-device pricing on smart-home quotes.
Yes. Share the quote as a link via WhatsApp from your phone. Fast quotes close smart-home jobs.
Yes. Always itemise configuration and app setup as its own labour line. It's real work that's otherwise invisible.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. The client accepts online.
Yes. One click converts the accepted quote to an invoice.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required.
Don't compete on device price, the client can always beat you on Amazon. Compete on time saved, Wi-Fi troubleshooting, app consolidation, and ongoing support. On the quote, show the configuration and training hours explicitly so the client sees where your value lives. Quote an ecosystem recommendation ('We suggest Google Home as your master platform because you already use Android and Nest') so the client feels advised, not sold to. Offer a support plan as a follow-up line. This turns a one-off install into a relationship. Clients who self-install become your support customers when they get stuck, if you stay visible.
Audit the existing devices on the consult: what's installed, what ecosystem, what's working, what isn't. On the quote, propose either consolidating onto one platform (quote the migration as a separate scope) or keeping the current platforms and adding an abstraction layer (like Home Assistant or SmartThings) that unifies them. Be honest about the effort involved. Clients often want to keep their Ring doorbell but add Philips Hue, which is fine but requires routing through Alexa or Google. State what's possible and what isn't on the quote, with specific limitations. Honesty now prevents disappointment later.
Home Assistant is powerful and flexible but needs ongoing maintenance. Quote it only for clients who either want to self-manage or who are signing up for a support plan. Hardware-wise, a Home Assistant Green or similar is R2,314 to R4,628 plus your setup labour (6 to 12 hours for a meaningful initial config). Quote Home Assistant as a premium tier above basic consumer ecosystems, with a note that 'automations and integrations evolve over time, ongoing support recommended'. It's not for every client. For most, a simpler Google Home or Apple Home setup is enough and less support-intensive.
On every quote, add a note: 'Smart home performance depends on stable Wi-Fi. If Wi-Fi gaps are identified during install, remediation (extenders, mesh nodes, router replacement) will be quoted separately'. On the install, run a quick Wi-Fi survey from your phone at each device location. If signal is poor, stop and quote remediation before proceeding. Installing smart devices on bad Wi-Fi guarantees call-backs, and the client always blames the smart devices, not the network. Fix Wi-Fi first, then the smart-home magic works.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Explore more
Related trades in Electrical & Energy
QuoteGenio is built for a whole family of trades. Explore other pages that might fit how you work.
Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Monthly statements for my office clients go out and they pay faster. Chasing invoices used to eat my whole Friday. Now it takes 10 minutes."
Rebecca Taylor
Cleaning Services · Leeds
"I like how simple it is. No learning curve. I created my first quote in a few minutes and sent it straight away."
Chris Botha
Carpenter · Bloemfontein
"Wedding packages have so many variables. Sharing a quote on WhatsApp and getting acceptance in the same hour has won me bookings I would have lost."
Elena Ortiz
Wedding Photographer · Barcelona
Guides
Guides for Smart Home Installers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
Free forever plan
Start quoting faster. Win more jobs.
Create professional quotes in minutes, send instantly, and stay on top of your work without the admin slowing you down.
Free to start. No credit card required.