5 Smart Home Technology Tips

There are many smart home technology devices, and the list grows longer as technology evolves. The following are permanent tech features that will stay with your home long after you have moved.

See these five technological advances that will increase the value of your home, make it more appealing to renters and make it a more comfortable place for you and your family.

Wire a smart home

Make sure your builder or electrician runs a neutral wire to each wall switch location. It is often omitted unless you ask. Insteon switches, keypads, and enhanced wall switches require a 3-wire connection. One each for hot, neutral, and load. For in-wall remote control panels throughout your home plan for in-wall transmitters to be placed at specific points in the house. A hot and neutral wire to a J-box will be necessary.

According to Max Real Estate Exposure, “When installing several powerline automation components in your home make sure you add a whole-house surge protector to prevent damage to delicate electrical equipment. Choose a central location for the main wiring hub; this is where cables from different rooms come in and where external wiring feeds from.”

Smart doorbells

Smart doorbells function like an around the clock sentry. Most smart doorbells alert you to anyone standing on your porch, have cameras to record movement, and include microphones/speakers that allow you to converse with the person at the door from many miles When synced with your mobile device, you can utilize these around the globe. Smart doorbells are a must for families and people who are gone for long periods of time.

Smart lighting

Smart light platforms are a first-line security device. You can turn lights on inside and around your home, so you and your kids never have to walk into a dark house. Using your mobile device, you can turn exterior lights on and off easily to discourage theft or burglary. Lighting throughout the house can be controlled using both Alexa and Google Assistant.

Light bulbs

Although light bulbs can be removed when you change residences, some light fixtures are inconvenient to get to, like recessed light fixtures in 20-foot ceilings. Smart lights have many advantages over standard incandescent bulbs.

They use less energy, have a longer life span, contain no mercury, and provide superior visibility. CFL and LED bulbs create no heat, a bonus if you leave lights on for protracted periods of time. Smart bulbs paired with smart outlets allow you to control the lighting in your home from any smart assistant device.

HVAC at your fingertips

Heating, ventilating and cooling devices have been in existence since the 1800s but you now have the luxury to set up a system that recognizes our schedules so accurately that once set, you may never have to adjust it again.

Smart thermostats can give you an ROI in as little as two years by saving energy and can be controlled from almost anywhere; even better, they will alert you to any malfunction or performance issue with your heating and cooling system. HVAC systems built with sensors can monitor external and interior functions of a home so it can run at peak efficiency.

Bonus tip: A wireless garage door opener is old technology but for added security a mobile app that replaces your old garage door opener will alert you to a garage door left open, allow you to manage who can access your garage and monitor the garage via a video stream.

With an almost endless variety of toys and gadgets available through the ever-growing tech industry, you can add value to your home to offset realtor fees with relative ease.