Home automation is getting more popular in the last few years because the costs involved are becoming more affordable. It is the automation of household activity. It may include centralized control of heating, ventilation, lighting, locks of doors, appliances, well, you get the idea. Basically, anything you can do in your house that can be done automatically, or you can control remotely, is possible now through automating your home.
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This is our first investment in home control and automation. Its time has come, the market is ready. Curt Nichols
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Lighting
To start things off, here's a short video of how automating your home works specifically for lighting. I guarantee you, this will amaze you.
Pretty cool, eh? It is simply amazing. We really live in a whole new world. It reminds me of a a Star Trek scene where one of the officers would ask the computer to let him view one of the quarters of a starship. That technology is supposed to be available in a few more decades in the future. However, home automation has made it into a reality in your condo or house.
How Can I Get Started with Home Automation?
“Home automation” is a category that can span really simple to extremely complex tasks depending on who you ask. It's easy to get overwhelmed by jargon and devices and standards. The simplest way to wade into home automation is eliminate the clutter and focus on what you actually want to do.
Deciding what you want will go a long way in determining your budget, your method, and how much time you'll be investing setting things up. With the right level of ingenuity, the sky's the limit on things you can automate in your home, but here are a few basic categories of tasks that you can pursue:
Automate your lights to turn on and off on a schedule, remotely, or when certain conditions are triggered.
Set your air conditioner to keep the house temperate when you're home and save energy while you're away.
Open your blinds during the day and shut them at night (or when it's particularly hot).
Feed your pets on a schedule and with pre-determined amounts of food.
Open your garage door with voice commands.
Set your coffee maker to have a fresh pot ready as soon as you wake up.
Create an emergency party button that goes from one to funky in seconds.
This is, of course, just a sample. To put it very simply, if you do something repeatedly, you can probably automate it one way or another. Just about everything that runs on electricity, and several things that aren't can be made smarter and possibly even hooked in to a central system.
What kind of system should that be, though? Well, there are a few approaches you can take. Let's begin at the beginning.
The most dead-simple way to get started with simple home automation tasks is to buy tools that are specialized for certain tasks. For some things, you can use simple timers and sensors to turn the ordinary devices you already have into smart robots from the future.
So even Jimmy Fallon promotes home automation. And he definitely likes the way that he can control his house through his tablet.
Security
Perhaps one of the features of home automation that is most needed is security. Do you remember in the earlier video of the guy entering his house using his smart phone as a key card? Another cool feature right?
The Top Home Automation Products for Monitoring and Securing Your Home
Your home is your castle, and it's one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. Keeping it safe and secure is a top priority of many homeowners.
Thanks to advances in smart home technology and home automation security products, you can now monitor your home is cameras, security solutions and more, no matter where you are in the world.
Alarms, camera, motion sensors and more ñ the options are endless when it comes to keeping tabs on what is happening in your home. You can now have peace of mind all at the touch of a button. Best part is, you can install most of this automated home security technology yourself, so you don't need to shell out thousands to a security installation company or contractor.
In no particular order, here are 50 of the Best Smart Home Security Products.
Danalock Bluetooth Z-Wave Smart Lock
You'll never have to worry about forgetting your key again after installing a smart lock. Quickly and easily installs, allowing you to open your door via smartphone and grant others access no matter where you are in the world.
Key features:
Easily installs into current deadbolt hole in just 5-10 minutes
Works with both Android, iOS and other major devices
Sleek design blends with any home decor style
SmartThings Know and Control Your Home Kit
Keep your home and family secure with this complete smart home monitoring kit. Automate your homeís electronics, lights and keep track of whoís coming and going with setup that takes as little as 15 minutes.
Key features:
Secure your home without the monthly monitoring costs of a traditional home security system
Notifications let you know who's coming and going
Monitors smoke and carbon monoxide levels to help keep your family safe
Use your iOS or Android device to control lights, appliance and electronics while on the go
Mother and 4 Motion Cookies Versatile Sensors
No one knows the importance of staying connected with your family more than moms, and this kit lets you do just that ñ and more. Keep track of the comings and goings in your home, motivate your family to do healthier activities and any other task you can think of.
Key features:
Sensors can alert you to break-ins, serve as medication or activity reminders, and let you know when the kids come home
Keep track of whoís in your home with Cookies
Batteries last up to one year
Compatible with Windows, iOS and Android devices
Dropcam Pro WiFi Wireless Video Monitoring Camera
Who hasnít wondered what the family pet is up to all day when they're not home? Sneak a peek with this WiFi-enabled device and never wonder again!
Key features:
Complete setup in under a minute
Night vision, zoom and 130 degree diagonal field of view ensure nothing escapes your sight
Secure offsite recording (additional cost) allows you to review and edit footage up to a month old
Oplink Connected CMPOPG2204OPL01 Alarm Shield
Get peace of mind your home and belongings are secure with this affordable home security system. Get real-time alerts and notifications for multiple locations no matter where life takes you.
Key features:
Includes door and window sensors, motion sensor, remote controls and siren
Arm or disarm the system via your smart phone
Enjoy free self-monitoring or upgrade to premium monitoring (monthly fee)
Belkin NetCam HD Wireless IP Camera
Get peace of mind your home is safe and secure no matter where you are in the world. See and hear whatís happening in your home even when youíre not around thanks to a live video monitoring feed.
There are a lot of gadgets that you would need for home automation. The beauty about this is that you can customize It, meaning, you can just buy the devices that you would want to be in your home or condo. The decision to invest more in home security than in automated lighting would be up to you.
Excited about getting home automation? But wait, there's more.
Ways to Utilize Your Smartphone to Control Your Home
Your smartphone is only as good as the apps you have, right? Of course I know there are other components to a quality smartphone than just applications. Things like cameras, Internet connectivity,file storage, or whatever you want to use it for, but when you get ahold of the right applications you can do more then you think. In fact, with the right tools your smartphone might even pay for itself.
Let's explore some ways we can use our devices to manage our homes. You see, we live in an age where home appliances are becoming smarter everyday. That means they have more powerful computer chips installed within their plastic/stainless steal bodies and they can talk to each other and to your smartphone via Wi-Fi connectivity. Here are 10 ways you can utilize your smartphone to control your home.
Smart thermostats
The cool little device called, Nest, is getting a lot of buzz lately. Remember the iPod? Yeah well, the guys who designed the iPod created a really neat thermostat. This thermostat has Wi-Fi, and it comes with an iPhone application. That means you can control the temperature of your home from anywhere! Do you want to save money by turning the temperature down while you're gone, but you don't want to come home to a freezing house? No problem. Use your smartphone to turn up the temperature before you get home.
Once you start using Nest it will learn your schedule and program itself to optimally save lots of money on utilities. That means it won't be long before, Nest, is already changing the temperature automatically for you when you leave, and turning it back up when you get home.
2) Motion activated security cameras
Having a motion surveillance system for your home is almost better than cable TV. There are nifty applications on the market coupled with compact, yet high-quality security cameras which allow you to be aware of anyone in your home. These cameras don't record everything, they simply wait for motion to be detected and then switch on. It can alert you on your phone that itís turning on and you can be anywhere in the world and still watch live footage from your home. Talk about a vacationers dream! You can also adjust the security settings with your smartphone, and if you couple that with some other home automation systems, you can control almost everything from your phone!
3) Security system
Remember that home security system you had installed a few years ago with the control panel strategically placed by the garage door or master bedroom? Now with the availability of mobile computing, you can ditch the old control panel and program everything through your smartphone. You will also be able to receive instant notifications of any foul play.
If you have the newest smart key technology on the market called Lockitron, you'll be able to lock, un-lock, and send time sensitive smart keys to your family and friends if they need to get in your house. Not only does this make life more hassle-free, but it also takes the worry out of giving your neighbour the key to your house while you're on vacation, so he can feed your dog. All you do is give him a digital key that only works during the time you designate for it and your house locks up once the time expires.
That guy in the above picture doesn't seem very happy. It's really an added benefit to know that your family will be more safe should you get these security features in your house.
Should you be interested in getting a new condo or house so you can start setting up home automation, you can find good deals here: Luxury Homes in Winnipeg
Energy conservation is huge in the Smart Home Automation world. Smart gadgets that monitor and control energy use allow us to conserve energy all the while saving on our energy bills. If you're currently looking more into energy conservation, a great place to start is with the Nest Learning Thermostat! The Nest Learning Thermostat gives you the power to control your heating and air conditioning remotely through your smart phone.
Well, the obvious benefit is ease. Imagine a house where you can say, “Living room light's off!” while you are in the bedroom. And the house obeys you.
Bo Kauffmann is a residential real estate agent with over 18 yrs experience in helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals. Inducted into the REMAX Hall of Fame in 2010 and receiving the REMAX Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Bo has sold over 500 houses and condos in the Greater Winnipeg market. He is an accredited buyer representative (A.B.R.) and a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. Bo provides exceptional service to First-Time Home-Buyers, Seniors looking to downsize and Home Sellers of all ages. He can be reached easily By E-Mail or call/text him Call/Text Here Our Latest Web-Stories Never miss an episode of our real estate podcast. Install our FREE Podcast App available on iOS and Android. For your Apple Devices, click here to install our iOS App. For your Android Devices, click here to install our Android App. Check my videos on Youtube
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