Should Your Home Be Smarter?

Guest post by Lance Cody-Valdez

Everywhere you turn, there are products promising to make your home smarter, safer, and more convenient. But is smart home technology worth the effort? If you’ve been debating taking the plunge into home automation, read this to decide if a smart home is right for you.

Home Automation Makes Life Easier for Everyone

Smart home technology is more than just cool gadgets to show off to friends — they make homes safer and more convenient for everyone. Home automation gives seniors and people with disabilities the option to control lights and appliances without moving across the home. Parents will enjoy having information available at voice command, no hands required, as well as the ability to monitor kids’ activities and respond to emergencies remotely. Busy professionals benefit from a home they can control from anywhere. Whether you forgot to shut off the lights, need to let a handyman in, or want to turn on the slow cooker before getting home from work, you can do it all with smart home technology.

As a bonus, homebuyers have started adding smart home upgrades to their lists. So if you’re looking to sell your home, it will serve you well to get it fitted with smart features, as well as work with Realtor Krispin Watson to get the best possible ROI for your property.

Smart Home Solutions Are Easy to Install

Many homeowners shy away from home automation because they’re worried it’s expensive or difficult to install. In truth, many smart home products can be installed wirelessly, making installation a simple DIY task. Smart light bulbs, smart plugs, smart locks, and battery-powered smart smoke detectors can all be installed without accessing your home’s wiring.

While wireless functionality is an option for several smart home devices, it’s not always the best choice. Wireless products rely on WiFi to operate, which means an interruption in internet service affects your home’s operation. Even when WiFi is up and running, too many devices on the same network could result in slow-downs. Battery-powered devices are also less reliable than wired devices.

Smart light switches, thermostats, outlets, and video doorbells all require hardwiring to function. A hardwired system is also a better choice for smart security systems as wireless cameras are vulnerable to hacking. Hiring a professional to hardwire smart home products adds significantly to the final cost, so factor in the price of installation when planning your smart home.

Smart Home Automation Is Flexible

You don’t have to fully automate your home to make smart home improvements worthwhile. Homeowners can choose the smart home solutions that make their lives better and skip the products that don’t.

Security is the primary driver behind home automation, Forbes reports. Homeowners who want to make their homes safer and more secure should consider these home automation products:

● Smart doorbells.

● Smart smoke and CO detectors.

● Smart security cameras.

● Smart locks.

● Smart light switches.

If it’s a more environmentally-friendly home you’re after, these products can help you achieve your goal:

● Smart thermostats.

● Smart light switches with motion detection.

● Smart home sensors.

For homeowners who simply want the fun and convenience of home automation, these smart home solutions should make the list:

● Smart speakers.

● Smart light bulbs.

● Smart plugs.

● Smart home intercoms.

● Smart irrigation.

Keep in mind that home automation products work best when paired with a hub, which consolidates controls for all smart home systems into a single device and app. A hub isn’t the same as a smart speaker, but a smart speaker can perform some of the same functions as a hub. To learn more and decide if you need a hub, a speaker, or both, read this overview from The Ambient.

The bottom line? Smart home technology benefits homeowners from all walks of life, and you don’t have to fully automate your home to enjoy the perks. When you do invest in home automation, hire a pro to install the technology properly. While professional installation adds to the cost of a smart home, it’s worth the peace of mind knowing your home is operating exactly as it should.

If you’re looking for real estate and other professional services, reach out to Krispin for an online consultation.

Article provided by Suzie Wilson from HappierHome.net.