Starting your SmartHome transformation
With the aid of modern technology, it’s now
possible to convert virtually any ordinary house
into a smart home filled with features that make
daily tasks more convenient. These technologies
allow for greener living, customization of your
living space to personal tastes and the peace of
mind that you can control key home systems with
your smartphone. Converting to a smart home
may seem like an intimidating task at first, but if
you break the process into manageable steps you’ll
find it’s not so hard to choose and install the best
smart devices for your home and lifestyle. You can
begin turning your house into a smart home by
following these three simple steps.
1. Set a budget.
All of the technology and gadgetry that
comprise today’s smart homes were once viewed as
luxury, reserved for the rich and famous and those
whose lives played out on the big screen. What
once seemed impractical for the average
homeowner is now quite attainable. When you
consider that some smart devices, such as light
bulbs, have a life span of up to 25 years, in the
end you may end up even saving money.
How much money you’ll ultimately spend to
create your smart home depends on numerous
factors: the size of your home, number of
systems and appliances you wish to automate
and the level of integration you desire are
significant considerations. Assuming that your
home is already wired for a high-performance
broadband connection, you can get into the smart
home game for under $100 with a thermostat that
you can manage remotely. On the other hand,
adding smart-home technology throughout the
whole house will likely cost in the thousands.
Pay attention to the levels of integration
various products offer. Purchasing products from
brands that partner with many other smart-home
device makers will help ensure the products you
add in the future will work with those you install
now. Selecting highly integrated products will save
you time during the installation process, help you
avoid unnecessary expenses down the road and
improve your overall smart-home experience.
2. Brainstorm ideas for each room.
Once you’re past the nuts and bolts of practical
considerations, it’s time to start imagining. The
key about designing the perfect smart home for
you is to remember that the very essence of smart
devices is their ability to make your life more
convenient. Choosing the products and how you
connect them is all about you and your lifestyle –
there’s more than just one way to build your smart
home.
Go room to room in your home and think about
the activities that occur in each space. Consider
which of these can become easier or more
enjoyable with the support of smart technology.
The living room, where you likely have a host of
entertainment and audio equipment, offers plenty
of obvious benefits, but also look at the kitchen,
for example. Did you forget to start the
dishwasher on your way out the door? Initiating a
wash cycle remotely will let you come home to
dishes clean and ready for dinner.
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3. Prioritize what you install.
When it’s time to begin the actual transition to
a smart home, it’s a good idea to start with the
most important products first. For most
homeowners, those are the devices that you use
every day. Opening and closing the garage door is
so much a part of your daily routine that it is
often hard to remember if you closed it on the
way out. This technology allows you to control
and check the status of your garage door from
anywhere, at any time, so you know if your garage
was left open or if it’s being opened while you’re
not there.
With the all-important lead-in to your home
covered, you can turn attention to devices that
help manage your home’s operation and efficiency.
Thermostats that auto adjust to designated climate
settings are a popular option for many
homeowners because they bring immediate returns
in reducing your overall energy usage. Irrigation
systems and power management products are also
wise investments when it comes to optimizing
your home’s use of natural resources. Stepping
across the threshold to a smart home may feel like
a big step, but once you get settled and experience
the convenience and control, you’ll likely find
yourself exploring ways to incorporate smart
technology every place you can.
The number of devices that can be integrated
into a smart home is growing at an accelerated
rate, but not all are complex gadgets and gizmos.
Some of the simpler options for every room in
your home include:
Livi ng Room: Outlet A dapters
Walk into your home late at night and flip on
the lights, the TV or both without searching in the
dark for a switch or remote. After your smart
outlet adapter is plugged into the wall, appliances
can be plugged into the adapter and controlled
from a smartphone.
Bedroom: Mot ori zed Dra pes
Adding motorized drapes to your bedroom
allows for an easy way to adjust lighting and
privacy – all without leaving the comfort of your
bed. Properly adjusting drapes, which is easy to do
with smartphone control, can also help manage
energy consumption by regulating solar heat.
Kit chen: C of f ee Mak er
Wake up to your favorite morning beverage
without drowsily scooping and pouring. A smart
coffee maker can make the right amount of coffee
at just the right time through simple settings on
your smartphone.
Garage: Remote Garage Door Acc ess
Open, close and monitor your garage door
anywhere, anytime. With remote access to one of
the main entry points to your home, you can
ensure the garage door is shut when you’re out or
ready to open when you return.
Big Bend Real Estate Guide • January 2020