With the help of technology, a lot of work is accomplished easily. In this era, humans have been replaced with machines. Life is in a rush and everyone looks for ways to be calm and have an easier life. Thus, people want to incorporate smart home technology into their homes to build a comfortable lifestyle. Smart homes are now becoming a necessity and the evolution in the past few years fortify the notion even more. Nonetheless, smart home tech has made life more convenient, easier, secure, and comfortable. Smart home devices are not time-consuming and are a great way to upgrade your living standard.

To start a smart home experience, all you need is to get some smart gadgets, a steady internet connection, and a basic layout of your home.  We recommend getting Optimum Packages, which allow you to obtain smooth-sailing internet and affordable packages for residential use.

We will discuss some of the basic smart home devices for new homeowners or for tech-savvy people who have just moved to a rented one. These smart devices are easy to install and use, so you will be saving a lot of money on professional installation.  

1. Smart Plug

Smart Plug is the best smart device as with the help of smart plugs, you can control your different appliances. It is very convenient as now you can switch off or on lamps, fans, or any other appliance while sitting in your bed or anywhere.

Schedules can be made and appliances can be controlled by voice commands. Generally, Alexa or Google Assistant are used for this purpose. They are very handy and reliable and their sensor works on its own if the temperature drops. TP-Link Kasa and WeMo Mini smart plugs are the most popular smart plugs available.

2. Smart Doorbells

Having smart doorbells make tasks easier for guests, delivery people, and everyone. It has the feature of recording video in 1080p HD video. It allows you to have conversations with the visitor as well as you can ask Alexa to see. In addition, it offers motion sensor technology through which you stay secure by getting updated about what’s going on in front of your apartment. It is easy to use with clear video and sound. Mostly they have chargeable batteries or wireless system so there is no hard-wired system.

3. Smart Security Camera

Safety is the most important concern for every individual. It offers continuous recording for the whole day with great video quality. When you are at work you can look into every detail, can look after kids, pets, and the movements that are taking place.

You can see the delivery people or guests who came in your absence. It alerts you when it senses unusual sound or motion. You can speak through smart cameras that can scare intruders. Nest Cam is the most popular one.

4. Smart Thermostat

The smart thermostat is a popular device that allows you to save money as it understands you and adjusts the temperature according to your need. It offers you to set schedules and adjust them with a tap on your phone. It has a voice command feature to be controlled.

It updates with the weather conditions and has a built-in air-quality monitor. It evaluates the air quality in your apartment. It is a great feature for the ones with allergies.

5. Smart Lightning

Smart lights are a must when we talk about smart home devices. It is controlled by smartphones and is very responsive to voice commands too. It has a feature for brightness and for changing colors. They are trustworthy and very simple to use.

It offers a wide range of features that include dimming, cool scenes, and automation. It saves energy to the fullest and has the option to turn on lights when it is needed for safety concerns. Today, the Phillips Hue System is the most popular one.

6. Smart Locks

For security purposes, smart locks are essential for your apartment. It has the feature of locking and unlocking the door automatically from a distance. It is so handy and the best if you forget the keys.

It also offers to make virtual keys for the workers, guests, or family members and you will be notified when they enter or leave the apartment. The August Smart Lock Pro and the Schlage Encode Smart Lock are popular ones.

7. Smart Vacuum

Smart Vacuum is the best smart device that saves your time. It has powerful suction and adds the right amount that is needed. It has great efficiency as it filters out dirt and allergens through a built-in AI sense.

It adjusts automatically to clean the floors and carpets as per requirement. You can sit back and relax once it has started. It takes voice commands through Alexa and Google Assistant.

Final Words

To make your life more convenient and efficient it is important to shift to technology. Smart home devices are getting adopted so rapidly.

For newly owned apartments it is important to invest in some devices according to the living space and taste to have security, controlled temperature, managed lightning, and enhanced air quality. To automate the apartment and transform it into an efficient and functional space, it is very important to have the above-mentioned smart devices.

Photos By: Unsplash

The advent of ultra-high-speed broadband and the Internet of Things (IoT) has reinvented our homes in ways we could have never thought of. Together, these two inventions provide a gateway to other technologies that make life in a smart home easier and more enjoyable. 

In today’s post, Betterhousekeeper looks at five reasons you should consider automating your home. 

The Convenience Factor

The top reason people prefer smart homes today is the level of convenience afforded. In a recent study on users’ perception of smart home technologies, over 90% of the respondents said that convenience was their main reason for embracing this technology. 

An intelligent home is an ecosystem of smart components- thermostats, bulbs, cameras, speakers and sensors, e.t.c- that connect and communicate with each other via a hub. The hub then allows you to communicate with the smart systems via an app on your tablet or smartphone. 

Essentially, this gives you total control over the gadgets and devices in your home, wherever you are. An automated home allows you to lock/unlock your windows and doors, adjust the thermostat, turn the lights on/off and even summon the vacuum right from your smartphone. 

The kitchen has also received its fair share of this technology. For example, thanks to smart coffee machines, hardcore coffee lovers can now wake up to consistently good coffee each morning. The market also has smart refrigerators that will let you know when there’s a need to adjust the cooling power and when the door is open. 

Added Layer of Security and Safety 

It’s often argued that connecting your home to the internet increases your risk of being hacked. This is true, like other devices connected to the internet, your residence is vulnerable to cybercriminals. In most cases, this risk is due to insecure Wi-Fi networks and outdated software. 

However, if you can stay on top of your Wi-Fi security and passwords, home automation will improve your home’s security in more ways than one. 

One way automation boosts your home’s security is by letting you monitor your home remotely. The advent of smart cameras means you can keep an eye on every part of your home when at work and traveling. Cameras with Wi-Fi create a constant live feed complete with notifications to see all movements around your home. 

Premium home automation kits also include smartphone-controlled sensors. Sensors can detect your presence in various areas of your house to hit the lights ON and OFF. You can also activate them to alert you to any movements in the house when you’re away. 

Smart locks are another benefit of a smart home when it comes to security. These locks have a traditional deadbolt, meaning they are just as secure as traditional locks. However, because they are locked and unlocked wirelessly from a smartphone, you don’t need to carry a physical key.

Insurance Companies Reward Intelligent Homes  

Smart home tech is shaking up the relationship between property owners and home insurance companies. Because some smart devices are all about improving the security and safety of your home, they could qualify you for significant discounts on your monthly insurance premiums. 

Today, most insurance providers offer discounts to smart-home owners with systems that help prevent theft and water and fire damage. These include motion detectors that help detect the presence of burglars, smoke alarms and water leak detection systems that alert you to leakage before the damage gets worse. Some home insurance providers also reward homeowners with security cameras and smart locks. How much you save on home insurance will vary by state and between insurance providers. But most home insurance companies offer a two to five percent discount, although others take it up to 15 percent. Using the national average home insurance cost of $1,383 annually, smart-home owners could save up to $200 per year. If you’re about to automate your home, check with your provider for systems that are eligible for discounts. 

Greater Control Over Energy Use 

Besides making your home more convenient, automating your home can make a massive difference in your annual energy bills. Although the figures vary, smart home technologies could cut your power bills by 30% to 40%. One way automation reduces your energy bills is through intelligent temperature regulation. Heating and cooling account for more than half of the electricity expenditure in a typical American home. Thanks to smart thermostats and temperature sensors, homeowners can slash their power bills by up to 12%. With these two technologies, you can remotely control your HVAC, so it starts heating or cooling your home just before you get home. 

Smart appliances are also providing better methods of saving on electricity bills. For instance, smart ovens have efficient energy consumption systems, cooking faster while saving more energy. Likewise, smart refrigerators will notify you when the door is not properly locked, increasing energy savings. 

Automation Adds Value to Your Home 

As the demand for smart homes grows, automating your property can make it more appealing to potential buyers. Thus, you can sell your home faster and at a competitive price tag. 

The key is automating your house before listing it because buyers are looking for ready-to-move-in smart homes. Another crucial consideration when automating your home for sale is going for smart devices and systems that buyers are looking for. 

In Conclusion

Today’s society favors convenience and a leisurely lifestyle more than anything else. It’s important to consider smart home technologies that promise this, including smart thermostats, smart lighting and smart garage door openers.

Security is another top concern for potential smart home buyers. Smart security systems, such as smart smoke detectors and alarms, smart thermostats and smart door locks and doorbells, will easily bring the “wow” factor to home shoppers. 

While it’s evident that home automation adds value, it’s challenging to pin down the exact figure. But provided you make well-informed decisions when selecting smart home technology upgrades, you could fetch at least 5% higher than non-smart homes.

It is a brand called “obode”, designed in Cyberpunk and co-branding with the National Gallery. Let’s find out more.

Behind the scenes

Obode’s parent company Robozone is an innovator in smart cleaning technology that develops various cleaning solutions across the US, UK, Germany, Russia, and 100 other global markets. 

With Midea Group’s R&D and industrial global supply chain advantages, Robozone has announced the launching of its new brand: obode, and the first flagship product, the P8 auto self-cleaning mopping robot vacuum, in the US and UK on February 9th, 2022.

What is special about obode P8?

• Self-cleaning and drying mop is a guarantee you’ll never have to clean by hand again!
• Obode automatically completes self-cleaning and refills the water, then resumes mopping from the exact spot it stopped.
• 4 cleaning modes in one device provide the best combination of sweeping and mopping.
• Intelligent main brush lifting control protects the floor and keeps it from dust.
• Powered by smart home ToF LDS navigation, obode can create and memorize up to 3 maps, so one device is enough for a large house.
• Automatic carpet detection helps obode understand your home environment and save time.

Bringing the future closer

Through cooperation with the National Gallery, obode will invite Finnish Artist Janine Rewell to create a pattern for home decoration. Obode believes that art and technology will last forever, making way for a new wave of tech life.

“Obode wants to bring the life-enhancing home technologies and bold aesthetics found in “cyberpunk” stories into reality,” said Alice Shaw, Head of Global Marketing Center at Robozone.“Today, we present this robot vacuum cleaner as a combination of smart home tech and work of art.”