For years, technology is being an integral part of our life. With the pandemic, our dependency on technology is just mounting up as the days pass by. From ordering groceries to working from home, we cannot do it without technology. Why not incorporate the smartness of the technology into our home as well?
Converting your house into a smart home is not just a contemporary thing to do. A smart home improvises your way of living by just a touch or a voice command.
Now, any renovation to your house will cost you – upgrading to a smart home is no different. However, it is not like one solution fits all. Depending on your requirement and budget, you have plenty of choices to make the upgrade. To begin with, all you need is a smartphone with internet connectivity.
Here are some simple ways to convert your house into a smart home.
Smart Speakers and Smart Hubs
A Smart Speaker is a primary investment you need to in this process. Yes, we said a smartphone is good enough to start with but, you won’t be carrying your phone all the time. When you are busy doing something, a simple command to your Smart assistant can get things done for you.
The three significant smart speakers in the market are Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, and Apple’s Siri. They all have speakers in a different price range from which you can choose as per your need. From checking the weather to keeping your house safe, these smart speakers can do a lot.
Smart hubs can be a little advanced than Smart speakers. If your house has more Smart appliances and you want to control everything using just one device, you can go for a smart hub. It has some sophisticated features like making two smart devices talk with each other and assign tasks accordingly.
Smart Lights Smart Switches and Smart Plugs
The Smart lights are wifi enabled that you can operate from anywhere by Smart assistants, and sometimes you get a dedicated app from the manufacturer for the same. You can use voice controls to switch on/ off or dim the lights. Depending on your need (party, reading, meeting, leisure), you can change the light colors. You can program the Smart lights as per your schedule to be on/off during a particular time. You can also group all the Smart lights in your home and operate them together.
Smart Lights are energy-efficient LED lights. Another energy-efficient option you can consider is motion sensor lights which light up when it senses some movement. You can fix them in your closets, garage, pathways, and even in guest rooms and bathrooms.
If changing the existing lightings at your house to Smart lights is not appealing for you, you can consider Smart switches. Smart switches can make ordinary lights into Smart lights. All you have to do is, connect the Switch with a smart device to control the lights with commands and when you are away from home.
Another smart option for you to consider is a smart plug. Connect your electronic devices like TV, air purifier, electric kettle, mobile charger, etc., to a smart plug and operate from anywhere.
Smart Thermostat
One of the vital energy-saving upgrades you can make to your home is to install a smart thermostat. You can adjust the temperature using voice commands or through your smartphone. Smart thermostats are programmable to adjust the temperature as per your daily schedule. They also optimize your energy utilization. You get to track your energy usage and can decide on how to regulate your energy consumption.
Smart locks, doorbells, security cameras
The ultimate security you can get to your home is through Smart locks, smart doorbells, and security cameras. The smart lock comes with 2-3 options – open with a pin, card, or through fingerprints. You can go keyless with Smart locks, get notified when someone enters the house, and share the key with family and friends. You can operate the lock remotely – a feature that comes in handy when you have to let someone in when you are not home.
Smart doorbells usually come with a camera/video feature that you get to see who is at the door. You can talk/listen to your visitors, and a few have an option to deliver pre-recorded messages when you don’t want to be disturbed. The person detection option should be the most useful one as it will notify you whenever there is a movement at your front door. With the doorbells that come with a video option, you get to see the entire day’s happenings at the end of the day.
If you are not up for a smart lock or a doorbell, a smart security camera can be a suitable option for you. You can install it indoors as well as outdoors to monitor when you are away.
Upgrading your house to a smart home might not look like a need of the hour, but the need for a smart home keeps growing. 81% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase a new home that has smart technology. So if you want to stay relevant in the housing market, it is time to start the upgrade.
