Technology is headed to a point where home automation will become a standard in households in the near future. We have seen the inventions of Smartphones, Smart TVs, and now you can very easily find Smart Kitchen Appliances and other such home devices on the market.
Having a Smart Home or transforming your home into one is definitely something exciting, where you get to play around with the new technology and cool gadgets – not to mention all the advantages that come with having automated or Smart devices around the house. However, there is the question of whether going forward with such a decision is a good idea or not.
Sure, it may be quite nice to have automated and smart things around the house – like smart door locks, smart lights, a smart thermostat even, but there is always a downside to everything. We gathered a little information on what exactly are the pros and cons of having a Smart Home, and it is not to discourage anybody from it but only to give a clearer picture of what you will need to be prepared for.
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What Makes Smart Home Technology So Great?
Smart Homes used to be something of the future that are now a reality. Your home does not need to be entirely automated to be considered a Smart Home – having a few devices around can be enough. The best feature of every Smart device is that almost all of them can be accessed and controlled from our smartphones and tablets. For instance, you can control your Smart Lights or even the Smart Thermostat from your phone, and you don’t even have to be home in order to do it.
1. Convenience
Smart devices are synced to the home Wi-Fi and come with their very own apps that can be downloaded onto our smartphones – it is what makes it easier for us to control these devices from our phones.
They can be compatible with other devices as well; like the Samsung Family Hub refrigerators can sync to smart cameras making it much more convenient for you to watch your security camera footage on the LCD of the refrigerator while in the kitchen. Or even syncing your smart lights to the Voice Assistant so that with a simple voice command you can easily control the lights without having to get up or picking up your phone either.
Certain smart devices can even come in handy for disabled persons. Controlling the main home appliances, like the lighting, thermostat, door lock and even sprinklers from your phones or through voice commands would aid in their convenience.
2. Saves Energy and Money
Smart devices were built with the main purpose to be energy-efficient. These devices work toward minimizing energy use and in the long run, save money too by cutting down on the utility bills. Here is a simple explanation: smart devices, most of them, come with built-in motion sensors so that they may switch on and off according to movements in the designated areas. Smart lights for instance are a great example – they can switch off when there is no movement in a room reducing unnecessary electric power wastage. So even if you forget to turn off the lights before leaving home, they can automatically turn off, or you can simply do it from your smartphone.
3. Can Increase Property Value
Adding certain aspects of home automation features to your household can most certainly increase its property value as it categorizes as a grade above. Hence if you were to sell your home, you would enjoy a significant return on your investment.
What Else to Expect?
Smart Homes are quite the new deal, and rightly so because they come bearing great advantages for people in the house. Though it may be a great investment, there are certain factors however, that must be taken into consideration. People may tend to overlook them and focus on how convenient and easy their home lifestyle will become.
1. Price
Smart devices don’t come cheap – there’s a reason they are considered an investment. There are several companies with their own line of Smart products but none that are cheaper, it is something that not many people can purchase without having a certain amount of savings.
To give you an example, a single Google Nest Smart Cam costs about $129.99, and a 2-bulb pack of the Phillips Hue Smart bulb costs $44.95. You wouldn’t want to just work with two bulbs or just one camera, because it seems pointless. Sure these products are packed with amazing features but in reality, it is the price that always deters one from their decision to make a purchase.
2. Strong Internet Connection
The thing about Smart home technology is, is that they work by connecting to the home Wi-Fi. For that, you must have a reliable, high-speed internet connection with strong coverage around the house. And in order to do that you must invest in good, high quality – read: expensive – internet routers to place around the house. This only further adds to the cost factor.
Key Takeaways
Smart Home technology is a great thing to invest in and add to your homes, but at the same time, it may not be something that is affordable for many. However, we would let you be the judge of that. If you’re looking to do your research or even purchase any Smart Home products, then head on over to First Engery Home’s website and you will find a plethora of Smart devices, along with installation services.
