Smart home technologies are on everyone’s lips these days. Not only can these technologies make life more comfortable, but they can also reduce your home’s carbon footprint while increasing the value of your home. But it doesn’t just happen. If you want to get the most out of your smart home upgrades, you need to be both smart and strategic.
Convenience
One of the most important advantages of smart home technologies is the convenience they offer. For example, smart technologies can give you the ability to adjust your home’s thermostat or unlock your front door even when you are not at home, with just one touch of a button on your smartphone.
Before you can fully digitize your home, however, you need to determine your real needs. Just because the technology is ‘smart’ doesn’t mean it automatically makes your life more convenient.
For example, if you work from home and are therefore home most of the time, installing a smart thermostat or door lock may not make your life that much easier, especially when you consider that these systems need to be digital behind firewalls, VPNs and / or strong and frequently changed passwords.
So if you are looking for smart technologies that are more convenient, start with a needs analysis. Consider the tradeoffs in terms of cost, safety, and maintenance, and then determine if the technology you are considering makes living at home more enjoyable.
sustainability
Another attraction of smart home technology is the profound impact it can have on the sustainability of your home. After all, many of these systems are specifically designed to reduce a home’s carbon footprint, particularly by minimizing energy consumption and wasted energy in your home.
Smart thermostats and devices can be programmed to turn off when the family is away, for example, or when the devices are not in use. However, if you want to take full advantage of sustainable smart technologies, you will likely need to do more than just install the system.
For example, installing a smart thermostat may not have much of an impact on your energy consumption or waste if your home is filled with drafts. To get the most out of your smart sustainability upgrade, you need to thoroughly search your home and seal any gaps you might find in your windows, doors, floors or roofs. This is especially true if you have an older homewhere subsidence can lead to leaks and crevices and where single-pane windows and other energy-inefficient materials are more common.
Increase the value of your home
Smart sound systems are just as at home outside as they are inside. Here the Sonos Move Smart Speaker. Image: Sonos.
Smart technologies can not only make your home more comfortable and environmentally friendly, but also significantly increase the value of your home. When it comes to adding value to your home, however, not all smart systems are created equal.
So if you want to invest in smart technology to add value to your home, you need to be strategic and do a little research. Take a look at the other properties in your neighborhood and be careful not to cheat your home so extensively that you value your home directly in the market.
Instead, to add value to your home, invest in smart technologies that are widely valued, such as: B. individual intelligent thermostats in each room or an outdoor sound system that enhances your living space outdoors without the need for a significant financial outlay.
Take that away
Smart home technologies are becoming increasingly important for today’s homeowners. These systems can significantly increase the comfort, sustainability and value of your home. However, to get the most out of your smart home upgrades, you need to do your research and invest wisely.
