Smarter homes are on the rise, with one-third of homes owning one or more smart device. Technology is finally becoming affordable and user-friendly enough to start mimicking The Jetson’s lifestyle. No flying cars, yet, but robotic assistants are making our lives easier.
We finally are getting to the point where normal household chores and upkeep requires less of our direct involvement. Do you know how much of a time-saver a robot vacuum or smart thermometer is? Well, you should, along with all the other high-tech home upgrades out there.
This is just a few examples of how cool home technology can change your life.
Upgrade Your Speed of Doing
No high-tech home is possible without proper internet speeds. You may think that your complete, all-in-one cable bundle is the best it gets. Is it, really?
Have you ever tested what you’re actually getting? Is your $100+ per month bill reflective of what your speeds are? It’s important to check, as it’s not uncommon for tested speeds to show 1/2 or lower speeds of advertised rates.
This is often a small technical issue that never gets caught by the customer. Unfortunately, some companies rely on ignorance to underdeliver and force you to upgrade because your speeds are slow. Call up your internet service if you’ve checked your internet speed and found that you’re paying more for less.
Ideally, you should look into getting fiber optic services in San Antonio. This will provide the fastest, most reliable connection for your smart home devices.
High-Tech, Smart Energy
Your home isn’t very smart if all it has are TVs and computers that require your input to do everything. The way you really start to change your environment is with smarter appliances and wireless controls. Turn on a light or device by remote or voice commands.
You can do this with virtually any home by installing wireless-controlled outlets and power strips. Wireless power outlets allow remote unplugging of devices. This can result in a ton of savings on your light bill, as idle devices still draw power.
Speaking of savings on your average electric bill, a smart thermostat prevents the tug-of-war of temperatures. Your air conditioning unit is a big item on a home maintenance checklist. The best way to extend the life of your A/C system is with a smart thermostat, like the Nest.
These thermostats gauge temperature better, adjust to your daily habits, and won’t cool an empty home unless told to. Smart thermostats can lower your yearly energy costs by 10-15%.
At Your Service
While the Nest can pull up weather reports and account for these changes automatically, you may still want to give commands. The easiest way to control other smart devices is with a virtual assistant. The Amazon Echo or Dot are great examples of smart home technology done right.
You can check the news, queue your favorite playlist, and learn new things before getting out of bed. You can kind of have a conversation with “Alexa” if you live alone, just don’t expect her to be receptive of personal, prying questions. Virtual assistants can do a lot and save you hours of playing with apps on your phone.
Tell your virtual housekeeper to check your savings balance, upcoming dates on your calendar, turn on the coffeemaker, or ready a Lyft. While you’re at work, if you’re getting off early, tell Alexa to turn on the heater or A/C at a specific time. Unlike humans, your robot assistants will never forget to do what you told them to.
Lights for Every Mood
Getting the house ready for company is a tiring process. You have to vacuum the floors if you don’t have a Roomba, wipe everything down, put everything in place, set up the snacks, games, etc. All you want to do when guests leave is relax.
Thankfully, your home lighting is also pretty smart, too. With smart lights, you can adjust the lighting for individual rooms at any time. These special lightbulbs are WiFi-connected, which allows remote control via your smartphone.
Set the brightness and choose from different colors, each enhancing your mood for different occasions.
Doorbell Camera
A smart home is a secure home, thanks to security cameras like Ring. You can see who’s at the door without even being home. These smart doorbell cameras are motion-activated and will record any movement in front of your door.
Answer the door via a smartphone app so you don’t miss any important deliveries. Or, dodge family/neighbors you don’t want to mess with. If they’re selling and you don’t want to hear their pitch, avoid them altogether.
Installing a video doorbell will increase the value of your home, just like any other security system. It will deter would-be robbers as soon as they notice, “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera!”
Living in a High-Tech Home
As you can see, you’ll save a lot of time and money living in a high-tech home. Each individual tech upgrade will allow you to do more. We all have busy lives, so that extra couple of minutes you spend each day doing routine chores ads up.
Increasing your internet speeds will lower the number of stressful instances of buffering/disconnections. Investing in a virtual assistant will improve your ability to control and thrive in the digital world. You’ll improve your breadth of knowledge and mobility.
If you enjoyed these tips and are looking for more ways to upgrade your home, visit the Blue Bell Inn. You can find a list of recommended home renovations and smart technology reviews. The future is now.