There are so many advantages to having a smart home. But, a lot of people mistakenly think that it is for new homes or that it is going to cost a fortune to install the hardware to make it happen. The reality is that not only can you retrofit an old home with smart home technology, but it can be done while maintaining a budget.
Luckily, the technology has come a long way over the last few years so it costs a fraction of what it would cost even ten years ago to install the devices now. And, the best part is that they can often be upgraded or updated so you can always have the latest technology without it getting dated in a few years.
In this article, we will go over how you can make your home smarter without spending too much money.
Home security
You can secure your home these days to suit any budget. For those with some extra money to spend you can do your entire house with an advanced system that covers every inch. Or, you can piece things together if you are on a budget and still enjoy a more secure house.
Protecting your home has never been easier and cheaper than it is today. You can simply place a few cameras around your property that are connected to an app on your smartphone so as soon as they detect motion you get an alert. Then you can watch the video in real time and alert the police if there is a problem. This is a much cheaper way to go than to have a silent alarm that is connected to the local police.
You can install a doorbell camera so you can catch any would be porch pirates in the act. Or, install a smart lock that can be locked and unlocked remotely from your phone. Do you have somebody that comes by to walk your dogs or water your plants? No need to risk them having your key. You can simply let them in remotely when they arrive.
Lighting
It is very easy to forget to turn a light off when you’re not in the room. Now you can install smart bulbs for just a few dollars per bulb that can help you save money on your electricity. They can turn themselves off if there is nobody in the room, or you can turn them off manually from your smartphone if you are away and realize you left them on.
They are so smart that you can download a report of your usage over time to make sure that you are being efficient with how you light your home.
Climate control
For just a few hundred dollars you can install a couple of smart thermostats that will help you control your home temperature in the most efficient way possible. They use AI to determine the ideal temperature, which rooms to heat or cool based on your habits, and when to turn on the heat or A/C depending on the weather forecast. They pay for themselves quickly with the money you save on your energy bills.
