The impressive rate at which technology is becoming more accessible and affordable has also made it possible today to incorporate these innovations into your home. These smart devices bring in a higher level of convenience to a property with their state-of-the-art features.
But aside from convenience, did you know that they also raise the value of your home?
Energy-saving Smart Tech
Smart home devices don’t just add a futuristic edge to your home. They also give you significant savings on your electricity bill.
1. Smart Thermostats
The United States Energy Information Administration says that 51% of the energy a household consumes regularly comes from heating and air conditioning. Using an inefficient HVAC system causes you to incur large energy costs every month.
Smart thermostats are responding to this problem by controlling the centralized temperature of your home. They also take note of your routine use of the system and help make efficient energy-saving plans with these in mind. You can also control them remotely with your phone, saving you the trouble of having to get up to adjust the thermostat.
2. Smart Lighting
Your light fixtures are the first things you turn on in the morning and the last things you turn off before heading to bed. As they are such a necessary part of your day-to-day routine, smart lighting should be one of the first smart investments you make for your home.
These conserve energy through features such as motion sensors and light dimming capabilities. Some bulbs also have options to change their hues, so you can choose from warm yellows to bright whites and sometimes even neons for your at-home celebrations.
3. Smart Bathroom Fixtures
Normal showerheads don’t allow you to moderate water temperature and intensity easily, resulting in a lot of wasted water daily. Smart showerheads, on the other hand, give you increased control of these settings.
The Environmental Protection Agency states that households can save at least 20% of water by using efficient water fixtures. In addition to showerheads, sensor-activated faucets in your sinks with aerators help prevent wastage. There are also smart toilets in the market today that have automatic flush functions that keep track of water usage on your behalf.
Smart Tech for Your Safety and Security
Aside from energy efficiency, smart home devices also keep you and your family protected at home. These systems are simplifying safety and security for every household.
1. Smart Surveillance Systems
Many brands today sell a wide range of home security products to address the many security concerns that come with owning a home. Today, many indoor and outdoor cameras have been produced to monitor every area of your home easily.
Smart cameras today allow you to check on your home even when you’re away through live streaming functions that you can access on your smartphone. Some cameras also go with your doorbells so you can see who is at the door before letting anyone inside.
If you buy your surveillance products from the same brand, you can easily access them all through one app.
2. Smart Locks
Increase the control you have over your home security by kicking your locks up a notch. When connected to your phone via Bluetooth, you can lock and unlock as needed with your device. There are locks that also keep an activity log and provide alerts should anyone attempt to tamper with them.
Shifting to smart locks also lets you say goodbye to the days when you would forget your keys inside and have trouble getting inside the house. Aside from phone lock-unlock functions, smart locks usually have digital touchpads that you can unlock with a passcode.
3. Smart Smoke Detectors
A smoke detector is not usually among the things people buy for their home’s protection. Consider it today because every home has more fire hazards than you may think.
While a smoke detector that sounds off an alarm while you’re at home is already immensely helpful, a smoke detector that notifies you through your phone is even better. This helps you respond immediately should an emergency occur while you are out of the house.
Don’t Overcomplicate It
Smart technology is a great investment for your home, whether you’re living in it or renting it out for passive income. However, only get the devices you need. Too many could make life more complicated instead of easier for you or your tenants. Moreover, it is of utmost importance to have homeowners insurance to protect the structure and contents of your home. That way, you can safely install new gadgets to make your life easier as well as increase the value of your property.
