Hi everyone, I’m from India and we’re in the process of building our new home. I’ve been exploring the idea of integrating smart home automation—not something too extravagant, just practical scene-based tasks like lighting, curtain control, etc. Now here’s the dilemma: Most Indian vendors I’ve contacted are quoting ₹2–3 lakhs (~$3,500 USD) for full-fledged automation solutions. They come with flashy demos and client testimonials, but I’m starting to question if it’s worth that price tag—especially after discovering Home Assistant and considering that I come from a technical background. Some say they will do with Zigbee others use wifi and explain their own advantages. I’ve read multiple threads here where people suggest not going with vendor-locked solutions and instead recommend a DIY approach. That’s honestly where I’m leaning—but I’m also aware that diving into home automation without proper planning can turn into a mess especially if we are in midst of construction. So far, I’ve figured I can hire a local electrician to install smart relay modules behind traditional switches—but is that really all there is to it? I’m looking for guidance on: * Where exactly do I start? * What devices should I consider ordering (that work reliably in India)? * Which protocol should I build around—Zigbee or Wi-Fi? * How to plan and future-proof the system during the construction phase? Here’s my preliminary checklist of what I’d like to automate: 1. Passive lighting zones – like the main staircase, parking, entrance, etc. 2. Scenes/routines for outdoor façade lighting and terrace lights. 3. Curtain automation for morning routines and natural light control. 4. Dimmable COB lights in rooms + downward-facing motion sensor bed lights. 5. Fan automation with app control (ideally not IR-based). 6. IR blaster control for TVs and air conditioners. 7. Geyser automation with geofencing (turn on when I’m nearing home). If anyone here has walked a similar path or has experience with this kind of setup, I’d truly appreciate any step-by-step guidance, product recommendations (especially those available in India), or even cautionary tales to avoid pitfalls. Also, if I’m missing any useful automations you’d recommend from experience—please do share! Thanks in advance to this amazing community 