Moving is reckoned to be one of the most stressful life events, finding the place you want to buy, finding the money, liaising with lawyers, vendors, estate agents, banks and lenders, packing up all your worldly possessions and shipping them, only to unpack them, hoping that none of them have been too badly damaged or lost along the way. You’d have to be mad to do it! And yet millions of us do, every year.
Once you’re in your new home, unpacked and things have calmed down you might want to think about how you can use Smart Home Technology to make your house more efficient, with added convenience all round. There are a plethora of different Smart devices available on the market today, many are handy, many are the Automated version of the toasted sandwich maker: a fun invention which does its one job well, but is soon relegated to the proverbial cupboard under the sink.
That’s why it’s wise to look at what you’re investing in and look coldly at the features and benefits each device offers, and assess whether it’s something you really need, of if it’s simply a fun gadget with no real purpose.
First Steps
The first Smart device to invest in would be a Smart Speaker. Because it’s capable of being a stand-alone device it’s the natural entry level product for your home. If you have other Smart home technology synchronised with it, it can be used to control and operate them, or you can simply use it to listen to media and ask it questions. Add Echo Dots and you can chat to people in other rooms or on your contacts over the internet, or send announcement and broadcasts through the home.
The next thing homeowners like to try out is home cameras. If you have pets you want to keep an eye on during the day, or kids who get home from school before you’re back from work you’ll find these devices handy. Sync them with your TVs, Echo Dots and other cameras and you can have face-to-face interaction with anyone in your home or among your contacts. They’re also a handy, if subtle security device. They won’t keep burglars out but they will capture high quality footage if there is a break-in.
Keep An Eye On Your Home Security
If you’re interested in keeping people out then Smart CCTV security cameras are what you’re looking for. Opportunists will see them when they walk past your property and be put off from breaking in. Thanks to the low cost, the ease with which they can be installed, operated and footage stored they’re a great way to protect your home. They carry the added benefit of having the option of alerting you when they’re activated so you can see when anyone comes onto your property.
Another security option which is good for people moving into new homes is access control and door monitors. These act in much the same way as an intercom security system, but again the Smart home technology means they can alert you to people at your door wherever you are, provided you have an internet connection. You can talk to people, let friends and family in remotely if they’re visiting and while you’re out, or tell unwelcome visitors that you’re not interested in seeing them.
Fire And Smoke Detectors
A further addition to your safety and security array is Smart detectors. Smoke, fire can carbon monoxide detectors can send you notifications when an emergency is detected, what the nature of the problem is, and even turn the lights on and unlock the doors to aid rapid evacuation. If there is a fire and it knocks out your wifi router they will still behave in the same way as a traditional detector, making a screeching noise and flashing a light, but hopefully that’s something you’ll never see.
In order to have the lights come on, you’ll need to have Smart LED light bulbs. As well as being controlled by emergency devices, you can also use them for a range of purposes far beyond simply lighting a room. You can change the colours and brightness, sync them with home audio to create a disco experience in the lounge, or you can have them dip momentarily whenever you get an email, Tweet or mention on social media. See our other article for a better idea of what Smart lights can do in your home.
Control Any Device From Anywhere In The World
Smart plugs allow you to control any electrical item you currently own from anywhere in the world. As well as being able to turn things off if you’ve forgotten when you left the house you can use them to turn things on ready for you when you get home. You can use them to time when items come on or off when you want or, as a result of something else happening as part of a If This Then That protocol. You can also monitor power consumption, helping you make your home as energy efficient as possible.
Smart home thermostats are a real boon for busy families who are always coming and going with no set routine. If you’re regular as clockwork then a traditional thermostat and timer will be all you need, but if you never know when you’re going to be in or who’s going to be home at any particular time then the Smart thermostat is going to help you heat the home efficiently and save money.
This is because you can turn the heating on in a particular room or rooms when you’re expecting to get home, even when you’re not there. You can adjust the timing if you’re not going to be home when expected, or when you’re going to be in and it’s unseasonably cold.
Protect Your Privacy
Other handy devices which are Smart enabled include blinds which can come up and down depending on the time of day, room temperature, activity and light. You can also control it via control panel or voice, making it incredibly easy to use.
If your new property has a garden you can take care of a lot of the mundane, routine tasks via home automation too. Sprinklers can be automated so they water the garden when it’s dry, so you don’t end up watering the garden in the rain as happens with a timer. There are also Smart lawn mowers which can trundle around the lawn unsupervised, monitoring for obstructions and hazards so they cut the grass safely without you.
If you’re moving and you’re interested installing any Smart Home Technology, why not give Briant Communications a call on 01273 465377? We supply and install a range of different Smart Home Automation technology which saves labour and makes home-life more efficient. We give free, no obligation estimates and can really help you get the most out of the latest technology.