1 Specialists: use an electrical contractor that specialises in home automation.

2 Multi-skilled: the electrician should be skilled in all works associated with the project, such as telephony and data, the ability to work with and under the guidance of a home automation designer, computer literacy and good communication skills.

3 Experience in similar projects: seek a contractor who has installed the electrical, lighting, audio-visual, communications and data cabling and infrastructure for projects of a similar scope and complexity.

4 Accreditation: appropriate accreditation includes an electrical licence, Australian Cabling Authority accreditation, State security industry licence, manufacturers’ accreditation for all lighting and other products installed.

5 Adequate staff and resources: the electrical contractor must have sufficient trained staff and resources to keep up with the construction program. Farming out parts of a project to subcontractors can lead to inconsistent quality, and responsibility issues during maintenance.