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OFFICIAL RULES

 

1. ELIGIBILITY; METHOD TO ENTER; SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.

The CE Pro Home of the Year contest (the “Contest”) is only open to legal residents of the

continental U.S. and Canada, who are in the age of majority for their region at the time of participation, and is over the age of 21. Employees of CE Pro, Emerald, and advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Sponsor”), and immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Contest is void where prohibited.

 

  1. START AND END DATES

Entries will be accepted starting on May 8, 2026, 9 a.m. EST and ending August 7, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST.

 

  1. HOW TO ENTER

To enter the Contest, the participant (“Participant” or “You/Your”) must follow the entry instructions and submission requirements as specified in these Official Rules. Exhibitors in each category (listed below) must complete their submission with the following information (items marked * are mandatory) to be eligible to win Trophies, recognition in CE Pro magazine and website, and exclusive use of the Home of the Year logo.

Entry Fee:

  • $397 for the first project entered by June 11, 2026
  • $447 for the first project entered after June 11, 2026
  • $247 for each additional entry

*Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be

disqualified at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Participants may submit multiple entries per category. Each submission requires its own separate entry form and fee. No refunds of

entry fees will be issued.

  1. Project Photos*
    • Upload up to 20 photos or provide a link to the photos.
  2. Homeowner Permission*
    • Do you have permission from the homeowner to submit this project? (Yes or No)
  3. Project Location
    • City where the project was completed
    • State/Province where the project was completed*
    • Country where the project was completed*
  4. Home Occupancy*
    • Is the home currently occupied? (Yes or No)
  5. Homeowner Publicity*
    • Is the homeowner willing to be mentioned by name in the article? (Yes or No)
    • Is the homeowner willing to be interviewed? (Yes or No)
    • Name(s) of Homeowner(s)
  6. Prior Publication*
    • Has this project been submitted to other magazines for potential publication? (If yes, please name them)
  7. Participant Recognition*
    • Would you like to recognize a participant? (Recognize an employee, trade partner, or other parties in this project that made a special contribution. If yes, please provide the name of the participant and relationship to the project.)
  8. Project Cost*
  9. Professional Photography*
    • Has this home been professionally photographed? (Yes or No)
      • If Yes: Provide the photographer's name, phone number, and email.
      • If No: Will the homeowner(s) allow us to send a photographer into their home? (Yes or No)
  10. Equipment Used*
    • Write out or upload a list. Please provide a full equipment list of everything used in this installation, including controls, displays, A/V equipment, wire and

cable, power management, lighting, A/V furniture, security, phones, networking, etc. Include quantity, manufacturer, and model number.

  1. Challenges and Compromises*
    • What were the biggest challenges and compromises on this project? Explain what the challenges were, how you overcame them, and how the compromises were resolved with the client, trade partners, and other external forces. (up to 200 words)
  2. Project Standout Features*
    • What makes this project stand out? Consider technical prowess, product lines, special skills, special relationships, licensing, operations and processes, etc. (up to 200 words)
  3. Project Description*
    • Please provide a promotional description to be used in print and online. (up to 200 words)

 

  1. CONDITIONS TO ENTRY

By participating in this Contest, You:

    • agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Rules;
    • represent and warrant that You meet the eligibility requirements;
    • represent and warrant that your entry is an original work of authorship, and does not violate any third-party proprietary or intellectual property rights; and
    • agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sponsor, its subsidiary and affiliated companies, and all of their respective officers, directors, agents and employees from and against all third party claims, demands, liabilities, judgments, causes of action, suits, and all expenses and costs incidental thereto including reasonable attorneys' fees based upon or arising out of Your negligence or willful misconduct.

If Your entry infringes upon any third-party rights, You will be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor.

 

  1. DESCRIPTION AND VALUE OF THE PRIZE; ODDS OF WINNING.

The categories of the Contest are as follows:

Spaces

1. Best Whole-House/Smart Home Project over $1M: Recognizes an installation firm that delivered an integrated system with an installed end-user price of over $1 million. The entry should show how the product selection, hardware, and system

programming solved problems, improved lifestyle, and/or delivered a user-friendly experience in either a new construction or retrofit project.

  1. Best Whole-House/Smart Home Project under $1M: Recognizes an installation firm that delivered an integrated system with an installed end-user price under $1 million. The entry must show how the product selection, hardware, and system programming solved problems, improved lifestyle, and/or delivered a user-friendly experience in either a new construction or retrofit project.
  2. Best Home Theater Over $100,000: Recognizes the best-designed and installed dedicated entertainment system, including video display, surround sound, multiple sources, and control over $100K. The winning entry should demonstrate ease of use, integration with the room's environmental systems (lighting, window coverings, and temperature) and/or other house systems (security, cameras, access control, distributed audio/video, etc.).
  3. Best Home Theater Under $100K: Recognizes the best designed and installed dedicated entertainment system, including video display, surround sound, multiple sources, and control under $100K. The winning entry should demonstrate ease of use, integration with the room's environmental systems and/or other house systems.
  4. Best Master Suite: Recognizes the best designed and installed technologies utilized for comfort, convenience, privacy, and entertainment in a master suite.
  5. Best Living Room/Media Room/Multipurpose Room: Recognizes the best designed and installed products and systems in a room that accommodates a variety of activities.
  6. Best Kitchen & Bath: Recognizes the best designed and installed systems for a kitchen or bath environment.
  7. Best Outdoor Entertainment Area: Recognizes the best designed and installed entertainment, lighting, security, and other systems in an outdoor area.
  8. Best Outdoor Lighting/Landscape Lighting Project: Recognizes the best designed and installed outdoor lighting system in a residential environment.
  9. Best Strange & Specialty Area: Recognizes the best designed and installed smart home systems in rooms such as home gyms, wine cellars, garages, and other

“unusual” spaces.

  1. Best Rack/Equipment Room: Recognizes the best designed and configured equipment room, including well-dressed equipment racks.
  2. Best Showroom: Recognizes excellence in design and use of a custom showroom.
  3. Best Home Office/Gaming Space: Recognizes the best design and installation for a dedicated home office or gaming space.

Functions

  1. Best Lighting & Shading Control Project: Recognizes the best residential lighting and shading control project.
  2. Best Integrated Security Project: Recognizes the finest integrated security systems.
  3. Best Audio Project: Recognizes the best residential audio project.
  4. Best Health & Wellness Project: Acknowledges a home that best uses technology to facilitate the health and/or special needs of customers.
  5. Best New Technologies Project: Recognizes innovation and creativity in the design and implementation of systems in a residential setting.
  6. Best User Experience: Recognizes the project that delivers the most seamless, intuitive, and impactful user experience.

 

Features

  1. Best Combo Design + Tech Project: Recognizes the best demonstration of how design and technology can work together.
  2. Best Before/After Retrofit Project: Recognizes the ingenuity of an integration project where a new system has been installed into an existing residential structure.
  3. Best Budget-Compromises Project: Recognizes the best-designed and installed systems on a budget.
  4. Best Infrastructure Project: Recognizes excellence in the design and implementation of

a home’s foundational technology systems.

  1. Best Commercial Project: Recognizes the best-designed and installed technology solution in commercial areas.
  2. Best Multi-Dwelling Project: Recognizes the best-designed and installed technology solution in a multi-dwelling environment.

 

Prizes:

The winner(s) of the Contest (the “Winner(s)”) for each category will receive:

  • Trophies
  • Recognition in CE Pro magazine and website
  • Exclusive use of the Home of the Year logo

The approximate retail value (“ARV”) of each prize is USD $1,000.00. All taxes, duties, and fees associated with prize receipt and use are the sole responsibility of the winner. No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at Sponsor’s discretion. The prize is non-transferable. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Sponsor to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

 

6. JUDGING INFORMATION AND CRITERIA

The Contest will be judged by several industry experts and members of the CE Pro editorial staff. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

- Project creativity and innovation - Equipment incorporated - Obstacles overcome during the project - How well homeowner priorities were met - Aesthetics and design - Lifestyle benefits provided by the installation

All aspects involved in the installation will be considered when selecting the winners.

 

  1. NOTIFICATION OF WINNER(S).

Winner(s) will be announced on or before September 3, 2026 on CEpro.com, cediaexpo.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram. Winner(s) will also be notified

by email within five (5) days following selection of Winner(s). Sponsor shall have no liability

for any Winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail or other security settings or for any Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If a Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize within ten (10) days from the time award notification was sent, or fails to timely return a completed and executed declaration and release as required, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate Winner may be selected. Receipt by Winner(s) of the prize offered in this Contest is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

 

  1. WINNER’S OBLIGATIONS

Each Winner grants (and agrees to confirm said grant in writing upon the request of

Sponsor) to Sponsor, and those acting pursuant to Sponsor’s direction or control, the right to print, publish, broadcast and use, worldwide in any media now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to the Internet, at any time or times, Winner's name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness and biographical information for advertising, trade and promotional purposes without additional consideration and without notice, review or approval.

Further, Winner will be required to complete, sign, and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, a Publicity Release (where lawful), and provide evidence of identity and age with a valid state or federally issued identification (i.e. driver’s license or passport), all within fourteen (14) days of prize notification. If said documents are not returned timely, or if prize or prize notification is returned as non-deliverable, or if such Winner is found not to have complied with these Official Rules, declines the prize for any reason, or is ineligible for any reason, the prize will be forfeited and may be awarded, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, to an alternate Winner.

 

  1. RELEASE

By participating, You release and agree to hold harmless Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents from any and all liability for any claims, injury, loss or damage of any kind to persons (including, without limitation, death) or property, arising directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from or in connection with the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, participation in this Contest, or any Contest-related activity. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, IN THE EVENT THAT THE PRECEDING RELEASE IS DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE INVALID OR VOID FOR ANY REASON, THE PARTICIPANT AGREES THAT, BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, (I) ANY CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, BUT IN NO EVENT ATTORNEYS’ FEES; AND (II) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY PARTICIPANT BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND PARTICIPANT HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO CLAIM, ANY OTHER DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

 

  1. PRIVACY POLICY

All entry information collected in connection with the Contest shall be accessible by Sponsor. Such information may be used by Sponsor and its partners to contact each entrant directly with marketing or other information. By participating in the Contest, You hereby consent to such use. Subject to the foregoing, all other uses of entrant information will be in

accordance with the Emerald X’s Privacy Policy in effect as of the date of entry. The privacy policy may be revised from time to time at Emerald’s sole discretion.

 

  1. GOVERNING LAW

By entering, You agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Contest Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participants and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of California without regard

to its conflicts of law provisions. All participants hereby consent to the jurisdiction and venue

of the federal or state courts located in Orange County, California.

12. WINNER LIST

For the names of the Contest winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your

request to: CE Pro, Emerald, 31910 Del Obispo, Suite 200, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Winner list requests must be received by Sponsor by April 1, 2027.

 

13. RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST

If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned due to causes beyond the control of Sponsor that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If Sponsor elects to cancel or terminate the Contest, Sponsor will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs and will return the entry fees.

14. SPONSOR.

Emerald X, LLC, 100 Broadway, Floor 14, New York, NY 10005.