Two businesses, one location for home design, technologies
Home building and renovation can be a daunting process. Pairing high-end choices, the newest technologies and years of know-how, Prestige Home Design & Cabinetry and Virtua Home Technologies aim to make that process as customer friendly as possible.
Located off Route 1, behind The Crab House, the two businesses are separate, but share office space.
There’s a huge need for services like this and there’s a shared passion for customer service, said Shawn Ballard, Prestige Home Design & Cabinetry owner, on why he and Virtua Home Technologies owner Ramiro Ramirez have decided to set up shop next to each other, sharing space.
Ballard, a contractor by trade with decades of experience, said Prestige Home Design & Cabinetry was created because homeowners he was dealing with were getting frustrated with having to run around and figure out things on their own. People budget certain amounts for certain aspects of the build, but the designer can’t price the materials, he said. Then when choices are made, all of a sudden a project is $200,000 over budget, he said.
“We want to be the go-between for the uneducated customer,” said Ballard. “We want customers to stay within budget, but still get what they want. We have the experience to be able to do that.”
Ballard said they’ve hired home design experts, and, with his background in construction, he has contacts in the trades industry that gives Prestige a leg up on the competition.
“We’re going to help a homeowner pick what they want, and then meet the delivery truck to make sure what they ordered is what shows up. If we can’t install the product, we’ll be on hand to make sure it’s done correctly,” said Ballard.
Virtua Home Technologies’ Ramirez said his business is about the latest technology available being seamlessly integrated into a home. It’s about offering a great home entertainment experience, without the big, showy sound system, he said.
“It’s a cutting-edge company,” said Ramirez, pointing to voice-activated controls and smart home systems.
A licensed electrician, Ramirez said he knows new technology like this has the potential to scare customers, but he said it’s coming, and his business is well suited to help with the transition. Technology is always evolving and Virtua stays on top of those changes with continued industry education, Ramirez said.
“Customers want to hit a button and have things happen. We can do that because that’s who we are,” said Ramirez.
Prestige Home Design & Cabinetry and Virtua Home Technologies are located at 19621 Blue Bird Lane, Rehoboth – Prestige in Unit 1, Virtua in Unit 2.
Prestige’s hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and weekends by appointment. For more information call 302-278-7369 or go to prestigehdc.com.
Virtua’s hours are by appointment only. For more information call 302-278-7614. A website – virtuahometechnologies.com – is under construction.
