Smart home features and technology are popping up everywhere, and many consumers are embracing these upgrades for greater convenience, energy efficiency, and safety. But is it worth adding smart home upgrades to your current home to increase its value?
Ultimately, that depends on your needs, the costs, and other factors. If you’re considering jumping on the smart home bandwagon, read on to learn more about it and see if it might be the right option for you.
When Is a Home Considered a Smart Home?
A home can achieve smart home status when it is equipped with products that connect it to a network through WiFi, Bluetooth, or another connection means, allowing homeowners to control it, optimize functions, or automate their appliances. Some people use this feature for heating and cooling or to have lights come on at specific times, especially if they are traveling. Smart home features can usually be controlled remotely by smartphones or other connected devices. Some are even connected through a separate system within the home.
By definition, homes aren’t considered smart homes unless they use a smart security feature that controls access or monitors the home, or it uses a smart temperature feature. It will typically need to have two or more smart features equipped to be classified as a smart home. These features can include smart washers, dryers, refrigerators, TVs, HVAC systems, outdoor watering systems, fire and carbon monoxide detectors, night lights, security locks, alarms, or thermostats, to name a few.
What Makes a Home’s Feature Smart?
Smart appliances give you greater access. In previous generations, you could not control your laundry room, adjust your thermostat, or turn on the lights to welcome yourself home before going inside. There are a few things that distinguish smart home features from everyday appliances:
Connection to Devices
Smart homes have a variety of devices connected to a network, usually using Wi-Fi. If your home has a smart thermostat, lights, cameras, doorbell, locks, speakers, or appliances, it is definitely a smart home.
Automation
Smart features will typically be automated to perform tasks on your behalf, or they may be set to complete them when certain conditions or schedules are specified. You can set motion sensors to turn lights on or off, or even program them to a specific schedule. For example, if you get home from work after the sun sets, you can program your lights to come on just before your arrival so you don’t walk into a dark home.
Thermostats are another common smart feature that you can automate. They can be programmed to adjust the temperatures based on how many family members are home or to fit your preferences. Even window blinds that are part of a smart package can be automated to open or close as you wish.
Remote Controls
You may wish you have a smart home if you frequently worry about leaving appliances on. These features can be controlled and monitored from afar using your smartphone, computer, or tablet, letting you take control no matter where you are.
Voice Controls
Voice controls for smart features are also gaining traction with incorporation through voice assistants. You can connect appliances using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri to give commands verbally and control your devices.
Interoperable Capabilities
One of the most fascinating things about smart home features is that they often work together in your smart home. Since they use shared communication protocols, it’s easy to connect them to integrate their capabilities in your home.
Security Measures
One of the first things people think about with smart homes is keeping their property secure. Smart locks, video doorbells, and security systems with motion-activated cameras are all part of an integrated system that can give you peace of mind by allowing you to monitor and control them from afar. From greeting the package delivery driver through an intercom while you’re in your office to checking in on your property when you’re traveling, this is one upgrade many people desire in their homes.
Improving Energy Efficiency
Upgrading to smart features can also help you improve your energy efficiency. Smart thermostats can help you take control of heating and cooling, while smart lighting can help you avoid wasting energy.
Entertainment and Wellness Assistance
A home that integrates seamless control and automation for entertainment makes life more enjoyable at home. It can also monitor health, which is a great way to stay alert to the health conditions of you or your family members.
Get Data About Your Usage
Was your last electric bill too high? Smart homes can collect and analyze data that gives you a bigger picture of how much energy you’re using. When you see which appliance uses the most energy, you can make adjustments to accommodate your needs and lifestyle without sacrificing your comfort.
Which Smart Home Upgrades Should You Consider Adding to Your Home?
Many new construction homes are being built with smart features included, but if you’ve owned your home for a while, you may be dreaming of getting some of the smart benefits. Luckily, there are some smart upgrades you can make to your home that can increase its value.
Smart Thermostats
You can have a smart thermostat added to any home, and it is one of the best renovations you’ll invest in because it gives you immediate and noticeable savings on your energy bills. Smart thermostats learn your habits through analyzing data and then adjust the temperature automatically to enhance your comfort and energy efficiency.
If you are thinking about potentially selling your home in a few years and want to attract buyers, a smart thermostat is one of the most desirable additions. Buyers love being able to keep their energy costs low, and it could give you the edge when you list your home on the market.
Smart Security
Your home should feel safe and secure, and if you feel like it is not, you will not enjoy being at home. Many buyers find smart security to be an advantage in a home they want to purchase. There are a variety of smart security systems that provide real-time video streaming, motion detection, and remote access from your smartphone, allowing you to enhance your home’s security and your peace of mind. Smart locks and keyless entry are becoming more widely available, and they’re fairly simple to install, allowing you to increase your home’s value fast.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting provides convenience, ambiance, and energy conservation all in one. You can adjust brightness, change colors, and even set schedules, saving electricity. Program the lights to come on just before you get home from work or turn on and off at certain intervals while you’re traveling. This will give the illusion that the home is occupied, deterring would-be criminals.
Smart Appliances
Smart or not, homebuyers consider kitchens to be one of the main focal points in deciding whether to purchase a home or keep looking. Kitchens have historically affected a home’s resale value, and by having smart appliances, you can attract buyers to your home. Wi-Fi-enabled refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens are a huge asset for those who want greater convenience and energy efficiency. Smart refrigerators can track your groceries and let you know when you’re running low on essentials, making the future you may have dreamed about as a kid within your reach.
Smart Sprinklers
If you feel like you have a brown thumb no matter what you do, smart sprinklers can help. They’ll also be a huge asset when you sell your home. These sprinklers use weather data to optimize watering to keep your lawn beautiful with barely any effort on your part. You’ll keep the home’s curb appeal strong while also reducing your water consumption, making your home more sustainable.
Smart Windows
While many homebuyers are excited for the future of smart appliances, there are some other smart features you can incorporate in your home to increase its value. The windows can be upgraded to provide better energy efficiency, noise reduction, and improve the overall look of your home.
Some windows can even have integrated blinds within the panes, which can further assist with energy efficiency. When you replace old windows, you’ll be on the fast track to improve your home’s value and prevent wasted energy that seeps out of drafts and cracks.
Along with contacting a Knoxville window replacement contractor for this smart home upgrade, you can also have window treatments like curtains and blinds that you can control through devices. Set them up with voice activation and your home won’t just feel futuristic; it will feel in tune with your needs, and when preparing to sell it, these little things come at a minimal investment on your part while kicking up a buying frenzy for those looking for a new place to call home.
