How It Works
From application to deployment - here's the complete process for your home or property
Application & Discovery
Timeline: Immediate
Submit an application telling us about your home or property and what you're looking for. We'll schedule a discovery call to discuss if Somni is a good fit.
- • Complete online application (~10 minutes)
- • Initial review within 3 business days
- • 30-minute discovery call if selected
- • No obligation, completely free
On-Site Assessment
We visit your home to understand your space and needs.
We'll visit your home or property to assess infrastructure, layout, and requirements. This helps create a detailed deployment plan.
- • 1-2 hour site visit
- • Network infrastructure assessment
- • Room layouts and sensor placement planning
- • Discussion of specific needs and goals
- • Photos and measurements taken
Proposal & Decision
Timeline: Within 5 days of assessment
You'll receive a detailed proposal with timeline, costs, and specific recommendations for your home or property.
- • Detailed deployment plan
- • Specific hardware and device recommendations
- • Timeline and milestones
- • Total costs breakdown
- • No pressure - take time to review and decide
Installation & Setup
Timeline: 2-4 weeks | Setup fee: $2,000 (Somni Home) / $2,790 (Somni Multi)
Professional deployment of all hardware, smart devices, and complete system configuration at your location. Setup fee covers 15-20 hours of professional configuration. Equipment quoted separately—yours to keep forever.
- • System hardware installation - ~4-6 hours on-site
- • Smart device installation (locks, sensors, thermostats, etc.)
- • Network configuration and connectivity testing
- • Complete system configuration and automation setup
- • Integration with existing devices where applicable
- • Comprehensive testing and validation
Go-Live & Owner Access
Included in setup
Your system is now live and fully managed by Somni. We'll show you how to view reports and access your dashboards.
- • Dashboard access and walkthrough
- • How to view reports and system status
- • System capabilities Q&A
- • Direct line to Somni for questions
- • System is live and managed by us
Ongoing Care (Optional)
OPTIONALAnnual Care Plans from $500/year or pay-as-you-go
Choose how you want to be supported. Annual plans include automated alerts and direct team access.
- • Automated health alerts when something needs attention
- • Direct line to Somni Labs team (response by tier)
- • Configuration changes included (amount by tier)
- • Automatic software updates (zero-downtime)
- • Proactive issue detection via automated alerts
- • Pay-as-you-go option: $125/hr when you need us
What Gets Installed
System Hardware
At your location
- • Small form-factor mini PC (silent operation)
- • Size: ~5" x 5" x 2" (tucked away in closet/basement)
- • Power: 15-25W (less than a light bulb)
- • Connection: Ethernet preferred, WiFi capable
- • Controls all your smart devices locally
- • Works even if internet goes down
- • You own this hardware
Smart Devices
As needed for your home/property
- • Smart locks (Z-Wave/Zigbee)
- • Multi-sensors (temp, humidity, motion)
- • Leak detectors
- • Thermostats, door/window sensors
- • Optional: Cameras, smart blinds, etc.
- • Professional installation included
- • Typical: $800-1,800 per unit (varies by scope)
Note for property owners: Your small multi-unit building (2-4 units) gets a single mini PC that manages all units. All hardware is sized appropriately for your specific property.
For the Technically Curious: What Software Gets Installed?
Your mini PC runs these open-source services:
Core System (Always Included)
- • Home Assistant - Smart home control center
- • Automation Engine - Your custom routines
- • Device Communication - Connects all your devices
- • Secure Connection - For our remote support
Optional Features
- • Smart Cameras - With person/pet detection
- • Personal Cloud - Your own file storage
- • Document Scanner - Paperless organization
- • Password Manager - Secure credentials
- • Ad Blocking - Network-wide
- • Multi-Room Audio - Music everywhere
For Property Owners Only
- • Tenant Management - Access codes & logs
- • Inventory Tracking - What's in each unit
- • Maintenance Scheduling - Task management
How We Support You
- • Secure Connection - Encrypted, separate from your network
- • Health Monitoring - We see if something needs attention
- • Automatic Alerts - Problems notify us immediately
Your Access Options
- • Home Network - Always available (included)
- • Remote Access - Control from anywhere (optional add-on)
How Updates Work: We push updates remotely through a secure connection. Your system installs them automatically without interruption—your lights keep working while we upgrade software. If anything goes wrong, it rolls back automatically. Your network access and our management access are completely separate.
Want Dashboard Access? We can give you read-only access to see every running service, resource usage, and system status. Complete transparency into what's running in your home.
Total Timeline
Stop Fighting Your Smart Home
Now booking for Q1 2026 in Chicagoland