Smart Home Advisory
Why make your home smart?
Setting up your smart home is easier than ever. Smart speakers, ecosystems and voice assistants help you control your connected tech easier. The good news is you don’t really need to choose a smart home system and stick with it. This isn’t iOS versus Android, or Mac versus PC, all over again. There are plenty of smart home kits that work with multiple ecosystems and you’ll even find native devices from one major platform that sync up and plays nicely with different systems.
Confused? You needn’t be. If you’re starting from scratch – or thinking about interchangeable platforms – we are glad to help you bridge the technology gap together. Smart homes may make life easier and more convenient. Who wouldn’t love being able to control lighting, entertainment and temperature from their couch? Whether you’re at work or on vacation, the smart home will alert you to what’s going on, and security systems can be built to provide an immense amount of help in an emergency. For example, not only would a resident be woken with notification of a fire alarm, the smart home would also unlock doors, dial the fire department and light the path to safety.Below is are some considerations in smart home tech.
Voice control is here to stay: Smart speakers are no passing fad. The question is, will homeowners use them primarily for basic functions, like checking the weather and setting timers — or will they turn the speakers into smart home hubs, activating entire suites of connected devices, including lights, locks, cameras, and more?
Hubs are solving the “inter-operability” problem: Confusion around inter-operability has been a major barrier to entry for many consumers. The fact that people can now confidently walk into a store and know that this or that connected device will work with their hub is a big deal. It’s become part of the edge hubs have over smart speakers when it comes to controlling the smart home.
Smart technology is becoming a major selling point: Getting a home ready for market now includes technology. At the very least, I always tell sellers to add a smart lock to their front door. It will create a “smart” first impression, while making it easier for the real estate agent to come and go with prospective buyers.
Older homeowners seeing value in smart tech: Smart technology is helping Americans stay in their homes longer, instead of moving in with family or to an assisted living facility. Smart lighting, security systems, and smoke alarms were among the most popular connected products with homeowners in the 55-to-75 and 75-plus age groups. By 2035, one in five people will be over 65 years old. With the overwhelming majority planning to stay in their homes.
Smart kitchens are heating up: The kitchen is often regarded as the last frontier in the home for smart technology, but that’s starting to change. The kitchen is where Americans spend the most remodeling dollars. Manufacturers who invest in smart home technology — we’re seeing smart refrigerators with built-in connected cameras and cooking appliances that can be controlled remotely — stand to capture the largest share of this growing market.
Smart thermostats are getting cheaper: Thermostats that automatically adjust the temperature when homeowners are asleep or away can save hundreds a year in energy costs. Only about a third of U.S. broadband households currently consider smart thermostats an affordable smart upgrade. But new, less expensive ones on the market should help to change that perception, leading to broader adoption and significant energy savings.
Your Home in the Age of Technology
The phones we carry around in our pockets are powerful tools that make life easier, and every advancement in technology enhances their impressive capabilities. The next big step forward for this type of “smart” technology is into our homes. Utilizing integrated technological systems in your home is one of the most significant new trends in digital innovation. Right now is the best time to start reaping the benefits of these capabilities.
Transitioning to a smarter home can improve your control over every aspect of how your house operates, and increase the safety and accessibility of it as well. Additionally, you can reap the benefits of a more efficient home, leading to savings in your energy and upkeep costs!