Smart home automation has come a long way in a short amount of time.
What used to require a professional installation and a hefty budget is now something almost any homeowner can set up on their own.
Whether you want to start with one small device or automate your entire home, there is an option for every lifestyle and every budget.
Many people just have basic technology in their homes - perhaps a home security system, programmable thermostat, or exterior lights on a timer.
There are many other home automation technologies available to make your home smart and your life easier, with either a DIY installation or installed by a professional.
Most smart home systems run off of your cell phone for added convenience.
photo courtesy of Mark Moz flickr.com/photos/106574022@N04/11449016436Lighting
If you are away from your home, you can turn on your exterior lights before you arrive.
You can also turn off lights that you may have accidentally left on when leaving the house.
Smart bulbs are a great place to start because they require no rewiring and can be changed out just like a regular light bulb. Philips Hue #ad and similar brands let you control the color and brightness of every bulb in your home right from your phone.
Window Treatments
If you are watching a movie and want certain window coverings to close and make the room darker, all you have to do is touch a button.
When you wake in the morning, you can set a time for your curtains to open and let in the morning sunlight.
Thermostats
While you are away at work or on vacation, you can set your thermostat so your air conditioner or heater are not heating or cooling your home while nobody is home.
You can press a button to start your air conditioner or heater when you are on your way home to have a perfect temperature when you arrive.
Door Locks
If you forgot to lock your door when you left the house or don't remember if you locked the door, simply press a button to ensure everything is locked and secure.
You can also give temporary access to a dog walker, housekeeper, or houseguest without ever making a copy of your key. When they are done, you simply remove their access from your phone.
Security
Take your basic security to the next level by installing security cameras that can be monitored by your phone and get text messages when doors are unlocked.
Video doorbells #ad let you see and speak to whoever is at your front door, even when you are not home. You can also set up alerts to notify you when a package is delivered or when someone enters your driveway.
Water Shut Off
There are smart home automation systems that automatically shut off water valves if they sense a water leak.
A water leak that goes undetected can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home. This one feature alone can more than pay for the cost of a smart home system.
Most Anything Electrical
Anything that is plugged into a wall outlet can be automated with a smart home system.
You can have music play at a certain time, coffee to start brewing, or the television to turn on to a certain channel.
Smart home systems are very popular in home theaters to automate different electronic devices.
Whatever you can dream up can probably be accomplished.
Voice Control
Most smart home devices today work with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri.
Instead of reaching for your phone, you simply say the command out loud.
It is a convenient option, especially when your hands are full.
Energy Savings
One of the biggest benefits of smart home technology is the money you can save on your monthly utility bills.
When your thermostat, lighting, and appliances are all working together on a schedule that fits your life, you stop paying for energy you are not using.
Over time, that adds up to real savings.
Others
There are so many other things you can automate, such as your mailbox, landscape irrigation, pool and spa heating, and even sensors that tell you when you are running low on groceries.
Getting Started
If smart home technology feels overwhelming, the best thing to do is start small.
Pick one device that solves a problem you actually have.
Once you see how easy it is to use, adding more devices becomes second nature.
Most systems are designed to grow with you, so you can add on whenever you are ready.
