Having a new home built? If so, you’re likely going to a lot of trouble to make sure you get the all the details just the way you want them. However, what many people forget to consider is built-in smart home technology.
In most cases, the reason for this is that people are completely unaware of the super cool smart home technology that’s already available to them. Therefore, they have no idea that they should even be seeking these things out, let alone which devices are the best and most useful.
Lucky for you, we’ve already done the research on what’s out there and hand-selected our favorites. Read on to learn which tech items we believe should be a part of every home.
#1: Nest Hello Doorbell
Why settle for a traditional doorbell when you can have one that gives you a crisp video feed of everything that happens on your doorstep? The Nest Hello Doorbell is a super cool doorbell and security camera that gives a constant live-stream video of your porch and even allows you to go back and look at what happened earlier in the day.
#2: Lutron Light Dimmer and Shades
Once upon a time, there was no way to adjust how bright your light bulbs were. Fortunately, that problem was solved by light dimmers. These dandy light switches are easy to install even after a house has competed. To take it a step further, you can install the Lutron Caseta Light Dimmer. This nifty device can be controlled using a smartphone, meaning you can dim the lights from across the room or even across the country.
The same company also makes remote control shades. Just like the light dimmer, these shades can be used from anywhere in the world, meaning raising the shades midday to give your plants some sunshine is a cinch no matter where you happen to be.
#3: Gogogate Wireless Garage Door Sensor
A smart garage door opener might seem like a silly thing to invest in. That said, the Gogogate Wireless Garage Door Sensor is actually a lot handier than you might realize.
This super cool upgrade gives you a live video feed of what’s happening in your garage via your smartphone or smartwatch. It allows you to open or close your door from wherever you happen to be, and can even use your phone’s GPS system to automatically open your door when you drive up to your house.
#4: August Smart Lock
Do you hate fumbling with keys every time you return home? Are you always in need of an extra key to hand over to the babysitter or family members? The August Smart Lock can solve these problems and more.
The device is attached to your deadbolt. It then connects to the internet and “learns” to recognize your phone in order to recognize your comings and goings, and thus automatically unlock and lock your door. You can also give digital keys to friends, family members, and anyone else who needs in and out of your home, meaning you’ll no longer have to worry about keeping track of physical keys.
#5: Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats were one of the first devices to be introduced to the general public. Since then, these gadgets have only been improved upon.
Currently, the very best smart thermostat on the market is the Ecobee4. This device has built-in Alexa Voice Service. It can respond to voice commands, tell you the news, and more. It can also detect hot or cold spots and heat or cool them accordingly. Finally, this gadget is also capable of recognizing when nobody is occupying a space and adjusts the temperature for energy savings.
These are our favorite smart devices for use around the home. However, this is far from an exhaustive list. Therefore, it’s best to shop around to make sure you choose the tech that best suits your lifestyle.
