Homeowners learn how to stretch their audio/video dollar in more ways than one.
Just about everyone loves movies and music, but unless you've recently struck it rich, you probably can't afford the bevy of equipment necessary to enjoy top-notch entertainment in every room of your house. That's why it's so important to prioritize before you start integrating systems into your home. Jeff and Linda Talling of Swansea, Massachusetts, did just that, and their plan really paid off. "I've always wanted to have structured wiring, a whole-house music system, and a theater," says Jeff. "And sure, we considered other features such as lighting control. But when it came down to it, we found out we simply couldn't afford those extras." Surprisingly, Jeff and Linda spoke with the designers of several home-systems-installation firms before they discovered that. "The first few companies we considered hiring didn't even bother to ask us how much we wanted to spend," Jeff recalls. "I think our budget should have been one of the first things they asked us about." The Tallings continued their search for a firm that would keep their budget in mind, eventually hiring Hingham, Massachusetts-based Advanced Communication Technologies (ACT) for the job. After reviewing the budget, ACT confirmed that, yes, the recent empty-nesters could afford a modest home theater and a whole-house music system as well as a network of high-speed wiring. See this slide show

 To see more Hot Houses such as these, subscribe to