The term “smart home” has been thrown around a lot lately and that is no surprise considering that almost half of Americans have some type of smart home tech in their home. However, most of us have barely scratched the surface of all the smart home gadgets out there. Many of these smart home upgrades can appear useless and it is often hard to figure out where to start. No worries we are here to help!! So let’s take a step back and highlight all the ways smart products can make your home a better place. Plus you get to save money, time, and headaches.
Safer Homes
Our home is our sanctuary and it should be protected as such. Luckily there are a vast amount of smart home devices that can help ensure your home stays safe. One of the more obvious options is to use security camera that detects break-ins. These cameras can also be hooked up to companies that can further assess the danger and send the police, fire, and/ or ambulance. You can also have smart detectors that will pick up on smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, moisture levels, radon, and so much more. Smart locks are another smart home feature, this allows you to lock and unlock your doors with your phone. Plus this can be done from afar, so if someone locks themselves out there is not issue letting them in.
The best part is most smart home products won’t drain your wallet. According to Houzz’s 2016 Smart Home Trends Survey, the majority of smart home security upgrades make up about 76% of all smart home upgrades and they spend $1,500 or less.
Smart Homes Save Money
If you are wanting to slash your energy bills, having a smart home can make that happen. Companies like Nest, Honeywell, and Ecobee are all smart thermostats that perceive how many people are in the room and adjust the temperature accordingly. They also allow you to make adjustments remotely with your phone.
According to a Nest Study, the company’s smart thermostat saved consumers on average 10% to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling. Based on typical energy costs, that translates to an average savings of $131 to $145 a year. Which means this smart device, which costs $250, will pay for itself in about 2 years.
If you are ready to broaden your home’s budget-friendly amenities, consider smart lighting, smart dishwasher or laundry machines. Now, these items are more expensive but they will save you money down the road by conserving heat and water. According to consumer reports, water-efficient laundry machines use about 13 gallons or less for an 8-pound loan, which is half the 26 gallons sucked down by a regular washer.
Smart Homes Save Time & Stress
A lot of people these days don’t want to lift a finger around the house. For instance, rather than needing to stroll across the living room to turn on the stereo, you can just tell a smart speaker, like the Amazon Echo, to play your music for you. Since these speakers also work as personal assistants, you can ask them for the forecast, or how many teaspoons are in a cup in the midst of cooking, or to add toilet paper to your shopping list.
All these little tasks might not seem like much hassle individually, but they add up, and they’re just the beginning. These WiFi enabled smart speakers can also act as smart home hubs, enabling various smart gadgets to speak to one another. For example, your smart alarm clock can wake you up and turn on your smart coffee maker, while your smart fridge can sense you’re out of eggs and add that to the grocery list. It’s no wonder that according to the 2017 Houzz & Home Survey, one-third of Americans who recently purchased a home plan to add some form of automation.
Smart Homes Gadgets Are Easy to Install
Luckily you don’t have to be tech savvy to install most smart home products. They are made to be user-friendly. Many of them offer online instructional videos, and you may not even have to pick up a power tool since many operate wirelessly.
Smart Homes Are Easier to Sell
When you eventually sell your home, smart devices can pay off in a number of ways. According to Consumer Reports, smart home features can boost your home’s resale value by up to 5% that’s $15,000 on a $300,000 home. Research also shows that home appraisers are beging to factor in the value of tech features.