The SmartHomePlanner.com was created to help consumers understand the complex evolving world of smart homes.
Contributors include:

George McKechnie

George’s perspective on smart homes combines expertise in residential construction, home electronics, and the psychology of how people think about and use residential environments.

He grew up wiring houses in the family electrical contracting business, while building home audio electronic components and speakers for fun. Over the years, he has renovated nine homes, doing most of the work himself.

He studied Environmental Psychology at UC Berkeley. His PhD dissertation, A Study of Environmental Lifestyles, explored differences in how people understand and relate to residential and natural environments. Later, while a visiting professor at Berkeley, he helped create the Environmental Simulation Laboratory in the College of Environmental Design.

In 1976, he launched Audio Excellence, a San Francisco audiophile retail business. Clients included Francis Ford Coppola, Ray Dolby, and Boz Scaggs. He later founded Axiom Audio Theater in Monterey, CA, which evolved over the years into Axiom Home Tech, a Smart Home technology specialist and licensed low -voltage contractor.

Ben Heinrich

Ben has been active in residential real estate sales since 1976. He founded Ben Heinrich Real Estate in Carmel, California in 1982, and managed it for 20 years, when it was acquired by Coldwell Banker Del Monte Realty. Recently, The Heinrich Brooksher Team moved to Carmel Realty, a prominent local real estate firm.

He has also served in important leadership positions, including President of the Carmel Board of Realtors (1987, 1988), and Director of the California Association of Realtors (1991-2005). Ben has gained a deep knowledge of the field from his extensive experience with all types of real estate transactions and investments.

In recent years, he has become particularly interested in studying how people make important real estate decisions in the context of incomplete information and uncertain outcomes—especially with regard to the new and constantly evolving Smart Home arena.

Robert Daunt

A recently-retired attorney, Robert specialized in working with website-based businesses, and those that created computer software. In recent years, he has developed a deep interest in residential solar energy systems—from a consumer perspective.

James Perry

James has worked with George McKechnie at Axiom Home Tech for many years—as a project manager and, more recently, as General Manager. He recently became a licensed low-voltage contractor.