Smart home technologies are becoming more affordable and more popular with first-time homebuyers. Want the heat to turn off automatically when you leave for work? Want the lights to turn off automatically when you go to bed? Need to know the ingredients in chicken masala? You can ask your smart devices for an endless list of favors. Which smart devices would you like in your new home? 

• Speakers
• Thermostat
• Appliances
• Lights
• Outlet plugs
• Locks
• Home security
• Garage doors

Implementing smart home technology might start with a smart door lock or a video doorbell, but with so many options available today, where should a first-time homebuyer start their smart-device journey? Let’s take a look at a few smart device options to help you enjoy your new home with less stress.

Smart Speakers

85% of people own a smartphone (Pew Research), and a large number of them own smart speakers as well. As one of the most popular smart home technologies, smart speakers conveniently work with other smart devices. Smart speakers are great for reminding you about appointments, helping you find and make a recipe, answering questions, etc., just by using your voice. Some popular smart speakers options include the following:

• Amazon Echo
• Google Nest Hub
• Apple HomePod

Smart Thermostats

Having a smart thermostat can make the inside of our home more comfortable by automatically controlling the temperature. Owned by 10.3% of homeowners in the U.S., a smart thermostat can not only control the temperature settings, humidity levels, air purity but help you save on energy bills too. A few smart thermostat options include the following:

• Nest Learning Thermostat
• Ecobee Smart Thermostat
• Honeywell T5+ Smart Thermostat

Appliances: Living Room/Kitchen/Laundry

Although robot vacuum cleaners have grown in popularity, the most popular living room smart devices are speakers and televisions (Review.org). The smart fridge is most popular in the kitchen, but only 4.7% of Americans own one. Smart washing machines are gaining popularity and are owned by 5.2% of Americans. Whichever smart appliance you decide to purchase, you’ll enjoy the added convenience it brings to your life.

• TV: Samsung QN900A QLED 8K, LG G1 Gallery Series, LG C1 Series OLED
• Fridge: LG LRFDS3016D, LG Insta-View Door-in-Door, Bosch 800 Series
• Washing Machine: LG WM3600HWA, Miele WFX660WCS, GE GFW550SSNWW

Smart Lights

Smart lights, paired with a smart device, will help you control lighting without having to touch a light switch. Smart lights include bulbs, wall panels, and light strips, and they can be put on a schedule or used on-demand. Want the lights dimmed while watching a movie or turned off at bedtime? Your smart lights can do that! Popular smart lights include the following:

• LIFX
• Philips Hue
• Nanoleaf Essentials

Smart Outlet Plugs

Smart outlet plugs are one of the most affordable smart home products available today. Consider choosing a smart plug with energy monitoring features. Your smart plug can automate just about anything in your house that plugs into an outlet. Turn on a hard-to-reach lamp. When away from home, automatically turn on lights to add a great sense of security.  

• ConnectSense
• Kasa
• Wyze

Home Security

Smart devices for home security are popular among many home buyers. The video doorbell has increasingly gained popularity over recent years, owned by 14.6% of households. With 24/7 live stream surveillance, you can see what’s happening near your front door at any time. You will receive regular alerts, not only when someone rings your smart doorbell but if they’re within the vicinity of your doorbell. Some smart doorbells even come with artificial intelligence and can recognize faces and discern between animals and people.   

Smart security cameras, owned by 12.3% of homeowners, are also popular among new homeowners who want to know what’s happening when they aren’t home. You can choose indoor and outdoor security cameras, and some come with zoom lenses, audio, and panning capabilities. Some smart security cameras come with voice command capabilities that work with your existing smart speakers. Examples of indoor and outdoor security cameras include the following:

• Arlo
• Eufy
• Wyze
• Deep Sentinel

Smart Locks

Forget to lock your door? No worries. Smart locks allow you to check on the status of your door lock using your smartphone, remotely controlling the lock from anywhere. Wonder if your child left for school on time? Your smart lock will send you an alert any time the door is unlocked or locked. Ahhh, peace of mind. Forget the keys and try one of these popular smart lock options:

• The August
• Yale Assure
• Schlage Encode

Garage Door Opener

The most popular outdoor smart device is the good ol’ garage door opener, owned by 13.8% of homeowners in America. Homeowners never have to worry about whether or not they closed their garage door because today’s garage door technology allows them to check the status and close it from anywhere.

• Chamberlain
• Tailwind IQ3
• iSmartPro

Conclusion

Incorporating smart devices into your new home can save you money, solve problems, provide security, give you peace of mind, and overall, make your life a whole lot easier. Before purchasing smart devices, make sure they work with your existing smart devices (ex. smartphones, smart speakers). Enjoy your new home and smart home technology!

Let us know which smart home devices you’re using and what you like or dislike about them. Your comment may be included in a future article!