Home Automation Buying Guide

Voice assistants can be used via cell phone apps or home hub devices like Amazon Echo or Google Nest to remotely control lights, thermostats, doors and security cameras, all just using simple voice commands.

Voice assistants can also provide entertainment by playing music, showing videos, telling jokes, giving the weather forecast and more.

With an automated lighting system, you have the ability to turn lights on and off, dim them, and even set lights to turn on or off at a specified time. These features can be controlled through a personal voice assistant or an app on your smartphone.

More advanced options include incorporating other home automation items like motion sensors to program a light to come on when the motion sensor is tripped (for example, when you walk in the door). Or you can set lights to come on gradually as you wake up to your alarm in the morning. There are endless possibilities with automated lighting and incorporating it in your home is very simple.

Newer wireless automated home security devices help maintain peace of mind, often while reducing traditional monthly fees and complex installation requirements that can be associated with older wired in whole home systems.Because many do not require any drilling, they can be an ideal security upgrade for renters and apartment dwellers who may not have an option to have their landlord alter their unit or drill holes in a wall to install a traditional system.

Doorbell cameras allow users to answer their door remotely with a smartphone app or a voice assisted device, and talk to visitors through a doorbell speaker.They can also store recordings of motion detected within a certain set distance of wherever they are installed.

Motion sensitive wireless entryway, porch or back door lighting can make climbing the porch stairs at night or finding your keys in a dark hallway a bit less stressful. You can also turn on smart exterior lights with a phone app shortly before you arrive home, so it's bright and easy to navigate when you get there.

Some smart outdoor lights also come equipped with built in security cameras that can be set to record any motion within a certain range of your front door, garage or back yard.

Wireless door and window sensors can help you keep tabs on what’s happening in your home at all times by alerting you when a specific door or window in your home has opened or closed. Installing a basic wireless surveillance camera is another effective home security option that can often be set up by the average person without a handyman or specialized installation technician.

Saving money on bills is appealing to everyone. That’s why the masterminds behind home automation decided to figure out a way to use as little energy as possible in your home while still maintaining a comfortable temperature.

The way they do this is by finding out when your home doesn’t need to be at the perfect temperature, or, when you aren’t there. Automated thermostats have the ability to learn your schedule and habits, then adapt accordingly. These learning thermostats can also be programmed just like most modern thermostats. What’s different, however, is the ability to program them from anywhere. For example, if you wake up in the middle of the night feeling warm, you can just reach for your phone or call out to your voice assistant device, and turn your thermostat down without stepping a foot out of bed.

Disasters like house fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, and flooding can all leave your home and family in a state of desperation. All of these tragedies have a common characteristic: with prompt notification, significant harm can be avoided. For instance, if the basement starts to leak, a sensor can alert the homeowner with a text message or app notification. If there is a fire, the smoke alarm will notify the homeowner as soon as it sniffs out the smoke. Carbon monoxide is another home hazard that can be detected using a connected sensor in an automated home. These devices can literally be life savers.