Today, adding smart features to your home is easier and far less expensive than when the trend began.
“If someone wanted to make their home smart 10 years ago, they would have had to hire a home-automation specialist and purchase an incredibly expensive system, such as Crestron or Savant,” says Collin Bond, an agent with online real estate brokerage Triplemint, in an email.
Today, a handful of affordable devices can be used in concert to address specific functions in your home. Here’s what to know about creating a smart home without busting your budget.
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Play nice. Gallen Tsui, president of Skylink, a provider of connected home-safety solutions, says in an email that many manufacturers work with multiple platforms such as Alexa and Google Home. Using products that adhere to the same standard or work on the same platform will ensure that they work well together, making for a more seamless experience for the user.
Step one is already done. Countless devices will easily connect with Siri, Google Now and Amazon’s Alexa, which many consumers already have access to via their smartphones and tablets. “You have great capabilities already in devices you own that you might not know about,” says Rob Martens, futurist and vice president of Strategy and Partnerships at Allegion, maker of Schlage smart locks, in an email. Smart locks, like those from Schlage, can be controlled by your phone or tablet, which comes in handy when you have forgotten your keys or wish to grant remote access to your home. Martens says that many smart devices are compliant with Apple HomeKit, which means that you can control the devices via the Home app on your iPad or iPhone instead of having to buy another device to serve as a hub.
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Favorite devices. So you have Siri, Alexa or Google Now. What next? Martens suggests starting with something simple. “Smart devices don’t have to be complex,” he says. “I usually suggest starting with a smart plug. The iDevices Switch product can do a lot of great things for the money, and it’s only about $30. It can be set to work on schedules, report on your energy usage and it even works as a customizable multicolor nightlight.” Smart plugs, like those from iDevices, TP-Link ($27.28) and the Belkin Wemo ($29.99), allow you to control lights, fans or other devices that are plugged into outlets with your voice, using Siri, Alexa or the Google assistant.
Although some devices will work without a hub — a central unit that controls everything — having a hub or connected app will keep things automated. Martens’ favorite hub is Yonomi. “Yonomi is a free app that allows you to use your phone or tablet to control your devices instead of having to buy a home automation hub,” Martens says. “It controls lights, thermostats, locks and many other devices, and gives you great suggestions on what you can do — all for free.” Other smart hubs to consider are the SmartThings Hub ($49.99) or the Wink Hub 2 ($88), both of which can control numerous smart devices from one place.
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Try Lutron switches for lighting, says Jason Ballard, co-founder and CEO of TreeHouse, a home-improvement company in Texas that specializes in sustainability, in an email. “The Lutron Caseta family of light switches can be easily installed on your own or with a little help from their tech support,” he says. “These switches only cost about $50 each and give you control over a whole room of lights for a fraction of the cost of the professional services.” Lutron and other smart switches, such as Philips Hue ($59.99 and up) and Belkin Wemo ($49.99) work with some combination of Amazon Alexa, Siri, Google Home and Apple HomeKit, making them easy to control from almost anywhere.
Ballard also recommends the Rachio Sprinkler Controller. “This bad boy factors in a bunch of variables for each and every zone of your yard to calculate exactly how much water that zone needs before every single cycle,” he says. Ballard adds that it’s easy to install yourself and will save you water, and as a result, money. Smart sprinklers are also helpful for those looking to automate the watering process, particularly if you travel frequently.
For keeping your house clean with minimal effort, try iRobot, says Triplemint agent Greg Moers, in an email. “The iRobot automatic vacuum allows you to keep your floors and carpets spotless without ever having to lift a finger,” he says. “You can schedule it to vacuum while you are at work or out of the house.” Robot vacuums can be more expensive than traditional vacuums (iRobots start at $299, and a highly rated competitor, the Neato Botvac D5 is $499), but if you’re of the mind that your time equals money, the expense can balance out.
Other smart home products to check out are security-related: The Canary Flex ($199) indoor/outdoor HD security camera lets you view what’s going on at home via your smartphone, and the ilumi smart lightbulbs ($29.99 and up) allow you to schedule when your lights turn off and on, mimicking when someone is home.
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