From touchscreen GPS in our cars to budgeting apps on our phones to Bluetooth-connected smart watches, there’s no denying that technology has made our lives a lot easier. But it’s not stopping there! While we’re still waiting on some of the flying cars from The Jetsons to catch on, there are still plenty of ways to transform your home into a futuristic paradise that makes your life easier every day!

When it comes to the safety of your belongings and your family, protecting your home with a smart home security system is a no-brainer. Many security companies nowadays offer smartphone integration, meaning you can activate or deactivate the alarm from your phone, incorporate cameras with a live feed you can check while you’re away, and other bonus features like doorbell cameras, smart locks, switchless lighting, 24-hour monitoring, and integration with your other smart home devices. Contact your preferred home security service company for a quote.


 
Never come home to a dark house again! Using your smartphone, you can program your lights to turn on when you pull into the driveway. Noon Home takes that one step further and offers “layered lighting” meaning different light options--like movie theatre, night light, and ambient lighting--so that you always have the perfect light for any occasion. They also offer vacation mode, which automatically mimics your normal behavior and turns your lights on and off to give the appearance of people being home.

Finding the perfect temperature in your home is easier than ever with Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostats! There are a few different brands to choose from depending on your budget and what features you’re interested in. Many of the brands offer app integration on your smart phone, meaning you can change the temperature without ever getting off the couch! Some models, like the Nest Thermostat, also have “learning” capabilities that can help you save up to 15% on your cooling bills, meaning it can essentially pay for itself! 


Gone are the days of having to stand on a chair to reach the pull chain in order to change the speed of your ceiling fan. Today’s smart fan options let you control your ceiling fan speed with just a push of a button on your smartphone. Some companies, like Hunter, give you the option to turn your current ceiling fan into a smart fan while others, like Haiku, require the purchase of a brand new ceiling fan. Although Haiku is more expensive, it uses “Senseme” technology to integrate with your other smart products (like a smart thermostat) to create a full service experience that includes energy efficiency modes, automatic motion sensors to eliminate the need to switch your fan off when you leave the room, and auto temperature modes that keep a consistent temperature in your home all night long. 


Waking up in the morning has never been more fun! Start your morning off by singing and dancing in the shower to your favorite music as it plays through your shower head. Although there are a few different versions available, we like that Kohler’s Moxie shower head has a 7-hour battery, is attached magnetically so you can easily detach it to charge, and also features water-saving technology so you don't have to sacrifice shower performance for your water bill.


If you don’t want to spend the money on a full smart home security system, a doorbell camera helps give you peace of mind that your home and your packages are protected. Some versions start recording after the doorbell has been rung, while most versions are setup to start recording when they detect motion in your doorbell area. Many also have the ability to live communicate with anyone who rings your doorbell directly from your phone, perfect if you work during the day or are out of town for vacation. Popular brands include Ring and Vivint

You know that feeling of being at the grocery store and not being able to remember if you have any eggs? Samsung and LG have both released smart fridges that help you see exactly what’s inside your fridge, even when you’re not home. They also incorporate other features, such as shopping list creation, calendar integration, and even Netflix! Don’t want to replace your entire fridge? FridgeCam is a wireless camera that fits inside your fridge so you can check the contents of your refrigerator whenever you need to.
Cleaning your home has never been easier than in 2018. We’ve come so far since the Roomba robotic vacuum. In addition to vacuuming, you can take care of mopping your floors or even mowing the lawn without lifting a finger. 


Most of these smart products have the ability to incorporate a virtual assistant, like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s HomeKit, or Google Home, so that you can control all your smart devices from one single location, rather than 50 different apps.

Any investment you make to make your home smarter can also be an investment on increasing the value of your home! When it’s time to put your home on the market, go with the smart team at NV Realty Group!

1 Response to "Ways To Make Your Home Smarter"

Joanne Warner wrote: I love these new options in technology! Very informative and eye catching blog.

Posted on Wednesday, January 24th, 2018 at 3:48pm.

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