Quick Answer: A legitimate AV integrator will show verifiable certifications (Elite Pro Crestron Dealer, HTA Luxury Certified), documented completed projects with specific details, a physical business address, and Google reviews that reference long-term system performance. Restrepo Innovations makes every credential verifiable and every project reference available to prospective clients.
A well-designed website does not make a company legitimate. Neither does a large Instagram following or a high number of five-star reviews. The signals that actually matter when researching a custom AV or home automation company online require a bit more attention than a quick scroll through a homepage.
Here is a practical approach to online due diligence that will separate credible integrators from the ones you should move past.
<.-- BEGIN newsletter inline block (proxy v2) --> <.-- END newsletter inline block (proxy v2) -->The Website: Specificity Over Polish
Look for specificity. A legitimate, experienced integrator will name the brands they install, describe the types of projects they complete, and show actual work. not stock photography of generic smart home scenes. If a website shows only polished lifestyle images with no equipment, no project details, and no evidence of real work, it tells you something. The company may be real, but the website is not giving you information.
Look for certifications that are verifiable. HTA Luxury Certification and Crestron Elite Pro Dealer status can both be confirmed through third parties. A company that lists certifications but cannot be found in the relevant certification directory either misrepresents its status or has an outdated website. Both are concerning.
Social Media: Real Work vs. Aspirational Content
A company that posts actual job site photos. rack builds in progress, cable management, equipment installations, finished rooms. is showing you its work. That takes confidence and transparency. As we explain in our post on why we show our work on social media, this kind of transparency is a meaningful differentiator. A company that posts only marketing graphics, manufacturer promotional content, and lifestyle imagery is not showing you anything about its actual capabilities.
Look at the consistency of posting and the nature of the comments. Real client engagement looks different from generic likes. A company with hundreds of posts showing actual project work across a range of project types has an authentic operational history. One with sporadic posts and no project documentation does not.
Google Reviews: Volume, Recency, and Content
A legitimate integration company will have Google reviews that describe specific experiences. Clients mention specific project types, specific staff members, specific challenges that were handled well or poorly. Reviews that are vague, brief, and uniformly enthusiastic without detail warrant skepticism.
Pay attention to recency. A company with twenty reviews from three years ago and two from the past year is either no longer active at the same level or has stopped following up with clients for reviews. Both versions suggest something worth understanding before you hire them. For a deeper look at what Google reviews can and cannot tell you, see our post on what Google reviews tell you about an integrator.
“The best integrators online look like they have nothing to hide — because they don’t. They show their work, name their clients when permitted, describe their process, and let the evidence speak for itself.” __EMDASH_PROTECT_0__
Red Flags Worth Taking Seriously
No physical address or a P.O. box as the only address. No named principals on the website. Certifications listed that cannot be verified. No photos of actual project work. Reviews that all arrived within a short time window. No response to negative reviews or a pattern of defensive responses to criticism. Any of these individually may have an explanation. Multiple together should give you pause.
A company that is easy to verify online, shows real project work, has certifications you can confirm, and has a pattern of detailed client reviews is a company worth talking to. Restrepo Innovations is a Crestron Elite Pro Dealer and HTA Luxury Certified integrator based in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Everything on our website reflects actual work. If you want to discuss a project, reach out to our team directly.