Smart home tech gadgets come in all shapes and sizes. From automated coffee makers to smart energy monitors, there is a smart device to address every desire or need throughout the home. But are these smart home tech upgrade really worth the extra expense?
The answer is: yes and no. Some smart tech upgrades mostly provide personal benefits, making them worthwhile or not, depending on your personal preferences. Other smart home tech upgrades, meanwhile, can Boost The Value Of Your Home in the long run, making them a clever investment overall.
According to surveys, 40% Of Realtors suggest that no matter the price, home equipped with smart tech upgrades sell faster than those without. Smart tech upgrades can up your home’s selling price by nearly 10%, and will make your home more attractive to millennial homebuyers, who are just beginning to enter the home search market.
Let’s take a look at a few of the best smart home tech upgrades that are indeed worth the investment.
Smart Energy Monitor
A smart energy monitor connects directly to a home’s electricity meter, providing homeowners with an in-depth analysis of how much energy is being used daily, weekly, and monthly in the home. A Smart Energy Monitor provides accessible information about which gadgets, devices, and areas of the home consume the most energy, so homeowners can adjust their usage accordingly.
Smart energy monitors are a great investment, and definitely worth the price tag. Not only do they help improve the energy consumption levels in the home, reducing a home’s carbon footprint and making it more environmentally friendly, but they also significantly lower monthly utility bills. The smart energy monitor receives updates every 10 seconds, so you can actively monitor how your energy usage changes throughout the home as you turn on and off devices, or unplug certain appliances.
You can receive messages and notifications directly on your smartphone from the device, alerting you to any unusual energy consumption and providing recommendations to help you save energy in the home. Since the smart energy monitor connects to your circuit breaker you can trace your energy consumption with great attention to detail, making wise choices about where to reduce your impact.
Smart Lock
Investing in the safety and security of your home should be of prime importance, not just for your own security but also for that of future homebuyers. A smart lock is a great choice- a smart home tech upgrade that won’t break the bank, but will provide a huge boost to your home’s security system.
When choosing a smart lock for your front door, there are plenty of options available as far as the amount you want to spend and the kinds of features each smart lock provides. Some Smart Locks come with multiple entry capabilities, so you can program them to recognize dozens of sets of fingerprints, as well as providing alternative access options, like touchscreens and unique key codes. Smart locks can also recognize specific smartphones, making them easily accessible for children and teenagers, while providing restricted access and boosted security against strangers.
As with most smart tech home gadgets and upgrades, a Wi-fi enabled smart lock relies on your internet connectivity to function, so you will want to be sure you have the fastest internet connection available. You don’t want to be locked out of the house if your Wi-fi suddenly glitches or drops.
Smart Thermostat
For further home energy management, A Smart Thermostat is the way to go. A smart thermostat can be programmed in advance to automatically adjust the temperature in each room of the home, minimizing energy consumption and optimizing convenience. Top tier smart thermostats include automatic sensors that can determine whether or not someone is in the room and adjust the temperature accordingly.
A smart thermostat can reduce monthly energy bills by a significant amount. In most homes, nearly half of the average monthly energy bill comes from thermostat-controlled atmosphere adjustments. Using your smart thermostat, you can save on energy consumption and adjust the internal temperature based on your daily routine, the weather forecast, and the best temperature for saving energy while maintaining a cool and comfortable atmosphere.
Wi-fi enabled smart thermostats can also be adjusted remotely via smartphones and tablets. The smart thermostat syncs with your devices through a Bluetooth connection and allows you to adjust the temperature from outside the home. That way you will never leave the A/C on full blast, consuming useless energy while no one is in the home. And you can program the thermostat to activate, so as soon as you arrive at home the temperature is warm and cozy, even in the midst of winter, but without wasting excess energy.
Choose Upgrades That Work for You
While the smart home tech upgrades outlined above are useful and widely beneficial, as you consider whether or not to invest in smart home tech upgrades you will want to consider a few key factors relevant to you. Smart tech prices and features vary widely, so just as you would take time to Compare Cable Companies And Packages or shop around for insurance rates, but sure to do your research on your home tech too. Smart homes are also constantly changing, so bear in mind that whichever gadgets and tech you install today may become obsolete in a few years’ time. You may also need to pay more to maintain a smart home, buying a monthly premium package to cover the increased demand on the internet and ensuring that all your gadgets are synced at the same level.
In the end, choosing which smart home tech upgrades you want to install in your home, if any, should be based on your budget and home needs. Spring for upgrades that will increase the overall value of your home, and make your life more convenient. When the whole point of smart tech upgrades is to improve your quality of life, you will not want to waste loads of time adjusting, repairing, or deciphering complicated devices. Shop around, take your time, and find the smart home tech upgrades that suit your needs.