Advanced technology has created a digital revolution in the home automation industry, resulting in the “smart home,” a term used to describe a home that contains a communication network which connects various appliances and allows them to be remotely controlled and monitored while providing savings on utility bills.
Statista research reveals that some one-third of houses today are considered smart homes, but by 2023 that number is expected to be at nearly 54 percent. While you could look for a smart home available for purchase, if you recently bought one of the San Diego homes for sale or anywhere else in the country and it wasn’t already “smart,” you can turn it into one. Just imagine being able to let someone in to check on your dog when he’s all alone, or even adjust the temperature so that it will be nice and cozy when you return?
You can make your home smart by installing a network that allows you to link your devices and appliances, or you can purchase individual products that connect to your phone.
A Voice Assistant
One of the most popular smart home devices is the virtual voice-controlled assistant, like Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. They live in your phone, tablet, streaming box, speaker or other internet-connect devices that makes it easy to control smart home products. All you have to do is speak a simple command like “Alexa, turn off the lights.” The Echo products by Amazon are especially easy to set up and plug in and Alexa currently has over 10,000 “skills” which makes it the most widely supported smartphone hub. Plus, the smartphone apps to set up Echo products will work with both Android and Apple devices.
Ring Video Doorbell
By installing the doorbell and the Ring Video Doorbell app you’ll be able to see, speak and hear anyone that comes to your door right from your laptop, tablet or smartphone. You’ll get an instant alert and a live-cam link right when a visitor arrives. It’s great for those who get frequent deliveries as you’ll never have to miss one again.
Smart Lights
Smart lights are a must for a smart house, and the Philips Hue Starter Kit is a great option that allows you to control the intensity of light in every part of your home as well as the color. It works seamlessly with Siri and Alexa and can be a lot of fun to sync the brightness level and/or color with music. It comes with various apps with features like selectable themes, such as Disco or Christmas.
Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to automate the temperature throughout your home. Many are compatible with Google Home and Amazon Echo or can be controlled with apps on your smartphone.
Smart Plugs
These are ideal for managing electrical appliances and the amount of power consumed in your home. Smart plugs allow you to group and schedule electrical devices from Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa or your smartphone.