Why Having a Smart Home Is the Way to Go

Decades ago, sci-fi movies predicted a future filled with flying cars, cloning technology, and super-smart AI. While many of these predictions haven’t come true, the rise of smart homes comes close to capturing that future. Read on to see all the ways you can benefit from a smart home.

What are smart homes?

The term smart home refers to a broad umbrella of devices. Anything that can connect to a shared network and be remotely controlled counts as a smart home device. When a single system ties all this technology together, it creates a connected ‘smart’ home. For instance, you might have a TV, an audio speaker, a thermostat, and a security camera all on one network, with control possible from a smartphone or another mobile device. By interlinking and automating these systems, you will gain access to functionality and convenience that just wasn’t possible before. Best of all, this industry is continually expanding.

Advantages of a Smart Home

There are many benefits you can enjoy if you decide to install a set of smart home devices. Here are some of the major advantages of a smart home.

1. Convenience

Perhaps the most significant advantage is how convenient a smart home can make your daily life. Keeping all your technology in the house on one interface makes a huge difference in home management. No longer will you have to individually tweak the thermostat or connect an external hard-drive to move media to another television. Instead, you will be able to control everything from a single device, reducing wasted time and making it easier than ever to access all the functions you need to manage your home. The ability to remotely control devices is another point for convenience. As an example, consider a scorching hot day. Instead of waiting to get home to turn on the AC, you can activate it while you’re on the road back from work, cooling down the house before you even step foot inside. Or, if you’re in a rush to get dinner cooking, you can set the oven to preheat while you’re still out shopping. A smart home will also eliminate anxiety about whether or not you’ve turned everything off or locked your front door because you can check on things remotely. Finally, a smart home streamlines all your processes. A smart oven will be able to precisely control its temperature depending on what dish you’re cooking. A smart TV can assist in finding the programming and apps you want. And if you’re going to entertain guests, a well-integrated smart home theatre can make it a breeze to manage your music and movie collections.

2. Flexibility

A good smart setup will be flexible and easily able to integrate new technology. Typically, these systems are well-suited to adapt to new devices and technologies. Regardless of what model or product you’re buying, you can rest easy knowing that it’ll connect seamlessly to your existing network. Say goodbye to the days of setting up and installing every appliance from scratch, and say hello to quick connections and fast access to your newest devices.

3. Home security

Home security is another area where smart homes excel. The options in this area are limitless. You might want to get motion detectors, surveillance cameras, or even automated door locks, which allow locking and unlocking from a smartphone and will automatically shut after a short period. On top of being easily activated from your phone, you can program these security measures to send you alerts, monitor activity in real-time, or start recording when motion is detected. This added security has a hidden benefit too. If you mention these new safety systems when you’re getting an insurance quote, you may be able to get lower premiums.

4. Energy saving

If you’re environmentally conscious, this advantage will jump out to you. By enabling smart thermostats that can adjust heating as needed throughout the day, you can cut down on your utility bills and avoid wasting electricity. Meanwhile, connected lighting systems and other appliances can be turned off from a distance, reducing usage throughout the day and making it easier than ever to be green.

5. Insight

It can be hard to track your activity in a home. Without a smart system, it’s tedious and impractical to record down your activity and appliance usages. But with a smart home, you can quickly tap into insights about how you use your home. For instance, you could review what type of meals you cook in your oven and for how long. Or you could track your energy use over time. With this information, you can adjust your lifestyle to be what you want it to be.

6. Damage prevention

So much home deterioration can be avoided if caught ahead of time. Smart devices like leak sensors can let you know when water oozes into your home from the outside. These sensors can even turn off your water supply if they detect the spill from your plumbing or an appliance. Smart smoke detectors operate similarly. By catching smoke and carbon monoxide immediately, you can avoid tragic accidents. And like home security devices, having these installed can warrant another look at your insurance quote and a potential drop in your premiums.

A Smart Home is the Way to Go

Smart homes offer a bevy of advantages and are likely the direction that many houses will go, as the technology becomes ever cheaper and more widely available. A good smart setup can make your whole life easier, from tracking habits to remotely controlling all aspects of your living space. For more information about why a smart home is the way to go, call Oegema Nicholson at 613-519-0230 or contact us here.