If the thought of a smart home still conjures up images of Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons, allow me to shed a little light on the subject for you. Because—like it or not—smart home technology is showing up more and more in homes. And since these devices offer a wide range of benefits, from convenience and security to energy efficiency and peace of mind, you might just like it!

What is a smart home?

A smart home is a home that is equipped with devices that can be controlled remotely, either by voice or through a mobile app. These devices can be used to automate tasks, such as turning on the lights, adjusting the thermostat, or locking the doors. Smart home technology can also be used to monitor your home for security purposes.

Why are smart homes becoming so popular?

There are a lot of reasons why smart homes are gaining popularity, but the main three (right now) are about convenience, security and energy efficiency.

Convenience: Smart home devices can make your life more convenient by automating tasks and allowing you to control your home from anywhere in the world. For example:

• Worried about a freeze at home while you’re in the Bahamas? A smart thermostat allows you to adjust your home’s temperature from your phone—anywhere in the world.
• Are you the kind of person who always loses your keys? Now with a smart lock, you can just let yourself in with your phone or a numerical code.
• A smart garage door opener can sense when your car is approaching and automatically open the garage door for you.

Security: Smart home devices can help to improve your home’s security and give you peace of mind by monitoring your home and preventing unauthorized access. Some examples include:

• Would you like to be able to see what’s going on inside and outside of your home at all times—even when you’re not there? Security cameras can help you do just that.
• Worried about water leaks in your basement? Smart sensors can now alert you when they sense a water leak so you can address it right away.
• Smart door locks prevent unauthorized—or grant authorized!—access to your home and can even alert you when doors have been opened, which is great while you’re away but also helpful if you have young children who have figured out how to open doors they’re not supposed to.

Energy efficiency: Smart home devices can help you save money on your energy bills by automating your home’s energy usage based on your location. Here are a few examples:

• If your day-to-day schedule has you in and out of the house a lot, you can use a smart thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperature to save on heating and cooling costs while you’re not there.
• If you (or the other people who live with you) often forget to turn lights off when leaving a room, smart lights can sense when the room is empty and turn off for you.
• If there’s rain in the forecast, a smart sprinkler controller can make sure you don’t unnecessarily water your lawn that day.

There are a LOT more examples in this super helpful video:

What are some of the most popular smart home devices?

Some of the most popular smart home devices include:

• Smart thermostats: These devices allow you to control the temperature of your home from anywhere in the world.
• Smart locks: These devices allow you to lock and unlock your doors without having to use a physical key.
• Smart lights: These devices allow you to turn on and off your lights, adjust the brightness, and change the color of your lights.
• Security cameras: These devices allow you to monitor your home for security purposes.
• Voice assistants: These devices allow you to control your smart home devices with your voice.

How do I get started with smart home technology?

If you’ve gotten this far and are still interested in getting started with smart home technology, there are a few things you need to do:

1. Choose a smart home platform. There are a number of different smart home platforms available. Some are more hands-on, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. If you’re not a DIY-er and you’d rather have your system professionally installed and maintained, the best options right now seem to be Control4, Crestron, and Savant. I found this video to be extremely helpful in learning about each of those different platforms. No matter which platform you choose, each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you’ll need to think about the pros and cons of each and choose one that’s right for you and your home.
2. Purchase some smart home devices. Once you’ve chosen a smart home platform, you can start purchasing the devices that will fit your needs. There are a wide variety of smart home devices available these days, so you should be able to find devices that fit your needs and budget.
3. Set up your smart home devices. Once you’ve purchased some smart home devices, you’ll need to get them set up. This process will vary depending on the devices you’ve purchased and the smart home platform you’re using.

What do I need to know about buying/selling a smart home?

If you’ve jumped on the smart home wagon, there are just a few things you need to know when it comes to selling and/or buying:

• Sellers: Make sure to remove any smart devices that don’t convey with the house BEFORE showings start (and repair any damage done during removal)! That’s much easier than having to explain to the buyers which items do and don’t convey with purchase. If you decide to leave any smart home devices behind after moving, you should make sure to reset the device to factory settings if possible or at least delete your data/history from the device. This smart home checklist is helpful for making sure you don’t forget anything!
• Buyers: If there is a particular smart device or system that you want included in the sale, be sure to take pictures and SPECIFY that device or system in your purchase agreement. Otherwise, it’s up to the discretion of the seller which devices stay or go since many of them are not fixtures of the property.