The Benefits of Making Your Home “Smarter” With Technology

It wasn’t all that long ago smartphones were the latest and greatest devices to catch our attention. Then came smart TVs. Now your entire home can be smarter with technology, and people are willing to spend more on homes that have it.

That’s good news and good information if you’re looking to make upgrades before selling your home. A 2020 Report published by Z-Wave indicates that 65 percent of people buying homes in the U.S. are willing to spend more if those homes include connected technology systems. The report also says smart homes, on average, contain 43 smart devices.

These are some of the hot tech items you may want to add to make your home smarter with technology while increasing its value to buyers.

Mesh Network

A mesh network, also known as “whole home WI-FI” creates a single Wi-Fi network around your living space using a base station router and a series of nodes or satellites placed around your home. If you live in a home with dead spots or spaces where the Wi-Fi isn’t quite as fast, the mesh network fixes that problem. It’s an update to the Wi-Fi boosters many homes have to address the same issue. You can purchase these from Amazon and other retailers starting under $200, depending on what generation of network you choose and how many nodes you need. Nodes are based on square footage and give you more range outside of your home for cameras and other devices.

Smart Speakers, Hubs, Displays

This category of smart devices is your Alexa, Google Assistant, and the like. You may already have one of these in your home. About one in four American households already do according to the Edison Research. These devices serve as Command Central so to speak to connect all of the smart devices in your home. Samsung Smart Things is another option, although it only responds to voice control with the help of Alexa or Google Assistant. SmartThings sells a hub, plus a range of sensors and other smart home accessories, and is compatible with many devices from other smart home devices.

Smart Light Systems

The ability to control with your voice when the lights in and around your home go on and off means you may never stub your toe, trip on the dog’s bone, or kick a piece of furniture in the dark ever again. And the beauty of smart light systems is they are one of the easiest smart devices to install both inside and outside the home – with some caveats. Smart lights don’t fit every light fixture, which means you may need some upgraded fixtures. Most smart lights are powered by smart wall outlets and smart light bulbs in your lighting fixtures so you can place them anywhere – even the garden or driveway.

Smart Plugs/Wall Outlets

Similar to smart lights, smart plugs and wall outlets are relatively simple to install, not to mention inexpensive. Plug a smart plug into a wall outlet, connect it to your Wi-Fi network with an app on your phone, then plug a device into it. That should be all you need (in most homes) to control that device with your voice. Just know that some smart TVs will only turn on in standby mode this way.

Security Cameras and Locks

This is another device you may already have, although surprisingly, less than 40% of U.S. homes actually do according to a survey conducted by safety.com. Doorbell cameras are among the most popular thanks to people who have made a career of stealing packages off people’s front porches. What’s great about the doorbell cameras is they are easy to install, and if you want to be adventurous (or extra secure), you can connect them with other cameras installed around the home’s exterior. Control them with an app on your phone and watch who is coming to your door or snooping around your home even if you’re in another state or country. Gone are the days when you had to wait for your security company to call and let you know your alarm has sounded.

The same is true of smart locks. Some can be fitted to your existing deadbolt. Others must replace the existing deadbolt. Have you ever turned the car around and gone back home because you couldn’t remember if you locked the door?  With a smart lock, you can do it from your phone. Problem solved.

Smart Thermostats

How many times have you woken up in the middle of the night either hot or cold, but you avoided getting out of bed because you were just too tired to walk across the house to adjust the thermostat? Enter the smart thermostat – a brilliant device that gives you the power to control the temperature in your home from the smartphone sitting on the nightstand next to your bed. That’s not the only benefit, of course. Adjusting the temperature remotely when no one is home helps keep energy bills low.

As you’ve seen here, making your house “smarter” comes with many benefits, including convenience, safety, and increased value in your home. Plus, none of these devices are terribly expensive or difficult to install, which means a better return on your investment in a short period of time.

If you need more information on smart devices for your home, gearbrain.com has volumes of information to help you. Also, don’t forget to check the other posts on our blog site for valuable information about buying, selling, or improving your home.