What Is a Smart Home? (2024)

FAQs

What does having a smart home mean? ›

A smart home allows homeowners to control appliances, thermostats, lights, and other devices remotely through an internet connection using a smartphone or tablet. Smart homes can be set up with wireless or hardwired systems. Smart home technology provides homeowners with convenience and cost savings.

Here are some more examples of smart home technology: Smart lighting that can be asked to turn on and off, control brightness, or dim the lights. Smart appliances such as smart ovens, smart dishwashers, and smart refrigerators. Smart security devices such as smart door locks, smart alarms, and smart cameras.

Smart home technology offers a range of benefits, including convenience, energy efficiency, safety, accessibility, and increased home value. However, it's essential to consider the potential drawbacks, such as compatibility issues, internet outages, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, complexity, and initial startup costs.

Smart homes allow you to have greater control of your energy use, all while automating things like adjusting temperature, turning on and off lights, opening and closing window treatments, and adjusting irrigation based on the weather.

Most custom installations start at around $10,000 and easily go as high as $100,000, depending on the size of your home and desired level of automation. Your bill will be divided into three primary costs for any professional installation: devices, labor, and wiring.

Unlike the TV remote, these devices can collect and store information on your usage, habits, and preferences — either on the device or on the network. All that data makes your smart home a potential privacy risk, and every device you add to the network adds a new privacy concern.

Does a Smart Home Increase a Home's Value? Smart home technology can definitely add to market value. Appraisers make what they call “adjustments” when they compare tech-enabled homes with similar but tech-deficient houses. Smart homes command higher prices and may be easier to sell as a result.

Yes, smart devices can help you save energy. But, no, not all of them will. While smart power strips, smart bulbs and smart thermostats can curb your energy use, other smart devices like speakers and cameras will increase your household energy use.

While some devices don't need an active Wi-Fi connection to work, most of them do. To sum up, most smart home devices need an active internet connection to provide you with the best possible experience.

Here are just a few components you can add to your home: Smart assistants – Google Home, Google Home Mini and Google Home Max. Smart switches for lighting and small appliances – Belkin Wemo Mini Smart Plug. Thermostats – Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E.

What do you need for a smart home? ›

Does a Smart Home Increase a Home's Value? Smart home technology can definitely add to market value. Appraisers make what they call “adjustments” when they compare tech-enabled homes with similar but tech-deficient houses. Smart homes command higher prices and may be easier to sell as a result.