Mistakes To Avoid in Smart Home Automation
Smart home automation is growing year by year. You have smart speakers like Alexa, smart doorbells like Ring. And then you have smart thermostats
and smart burglar alarms. In fact, you even now have smart ovens, refrigerators and much more. Smart home automation is definitely here to stay.
Now there are ways to get very complicated with smart home automation. However, this will be written for those that aren’t so tech savvy. Perhaps this is “smart homes for the dumb owner” (myself included).
Smart Home Automation – Genius Level
The first mistake to avoid is getting too complicated with your smart home automation. Yes, there are techno wizards that can program custom actions. However, 99% of folks just plain don’t need that. So avoid that smart home mistake and keep it simple.
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Change Everything – NOW!
The next mistake to avoid is changing 50 things in your home all at once. Remember, there is a learning curve along the way. Therefore, take it a step at a time. In fact, before you buy your first device, check out your Internet bandwidth. After all, these smart home automation devices will communicate through your Wi-Fi. I have seen recommendations of at least 30 Mbps. Personally, I would say at least 60 Mbps – preferably more. To have a slower speed would also be a huge mistake.
Next, start with your hub. Your hub is the way that you will communicate with your devices. Personally, I use Amazon Alexa. Alexa is easy to use and has a wide integration. Now, I can tell Alexa, “Play ‘Nada Como El Sol’ by Sting” or tell Alexa, “Lower temperature 5 degrees” and so on. Once you have mastered your hub, then start adding to it. Now mind you, your smartphone can be your hub as well, I just prefer speaking to the device.
Smart Home Automation – Smarter For Free
As you add devices, remember that the best price is FREE! So this mistake is the mistake of paying more than you have to. Did you know that
some utility companies have a service that will give you a smart thermostat for free? And so check with your local utility companies and see what they may have available. Not available for free? Look to places like Amazon and search for smart devices that are refurbished. Often you can find like new devices for 20 to 40% off.
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It’s A Bright Idea
After I mastered Alexa and my smart thermostat, I started adding smart bulbs. They come in just about every size these days. You will find that
there are two types of smart bulbs. One does a basic white light bulb. The other type does any color you can think of.
Why use color light bulbs? Well, I have read that blue light stimulates the brain and keeps you from getting to sleep. So, I tell my Alexa that I am going to bed and Alexa starts changing the colors and brightness so that they allow me to fall asleep faster. When the lights go out, I even have a smart speaker down the hall play a few hours’ worth of wave sounds. In the morning, I use these colors to gradually wake me up as well. My lights also come on automatically at sunset to deter intruders. Which reminds me . . .
Smart Home Automation – For Safety
When making your home a smart home, avoid the mistake of overlooking your safety. Your smart home can lock your doors, turn on and off your
burglar alarm, turn cameras on and off and much more. My smart camera starts a live video feed, the moment it detects motion. Smart apps can also remind you that windows or doors are open as you go to sleep.
My favorite security feature is the Amazon Key. I bought it for $30. Amazon Key allows Amazon to deliver packages into your garage instead of on your front porch. Amazon uses this app to open and close your garage door. I even use a smart camera to monitor the package delivery. Even better? When you buy it, Amazon gives you a $40 credit towards your first Key delivery. In other words? This is a program that Amazon will pay you $10 to use.
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Where Do We Go From Here?
Again, this is only the beginning. Smart home automation improves all the time. There are so many more things you can do with smart
technology:
Be notified to your phone of smoke or carbon monoxide in your home
Use smart technology to increase or decrease irrigation to your landscaping
Start the oven cooking dinner before you even get home
Start the laundry while you are away from home
Be notified if a flood or water leak occurs in the home
And so much more…
Smart home – the state of where we are
Where are we now? Believe it or not, these are some of the recent statistics:
53% of people own a smart home device
33% of people said they will buy a smart home device in the next 3 years
20% of all households plan to buy a smart lock in the next year
And did you know that smart technology is so important that many MLS areas require special forms for smart home technology in the sale of a home. The purpose of this is to make sure that the new owners can operate the technology as of the first day.
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