September 28, 2020 | Good to Know

Smart Home Technologies

Remember when you could turn the lights on with the flick of a switch? Or, during the 90s, when the clapper came to market – you may recall the jingle: clap on, clap off, the clapper. We have come a long way since! We the advent of the smartphone, the increase of high-speed wifi internet so much of our home technology allows for us to control the lights, TV, stereo, fridge, alarm systems, sprinkler systems, the list goes on and on – and quite frankly, there is a lot more to come!

As our modern world becomes more and more technologically evolved, we will see our homes digitize. Here are some readily available options to take control of your home, whether you manage it with iOS or Android or Amazon. If you were to listen to a modern home, you would regularly hear “Hey Siri,” “Hey Google,” and “Alexa” before the desired command – how things have changed in the home!

Smart Home Technologies

Heating & Cooling

Google Nest has long been a market leader and the brand that is most synonymous with heating and cooling the smart home. The programmable thermostat is relatively easy to hook up. The app on your phone is straightforward to operate. A bonus that Nest offers is the fact that it can learn what you like. You will find that Google has purchased Nest and has implemented the brand name into the smart home offerings. The product also looks great on the wall! Another popular option is the ecobee.

Worth noting: if you have electric baseboard heating, the above options will not work. You will need to go with Canada’s very own, MYSA! It’s a slightly more complicated wiring installation, but it works very well. As you know, electrical heating is the more expensive option.

Lights

The first thing we will say about purchasing smart lights it to ensure that you do your research about integration/compatibility, hue/brightness, colour etc..these aren’t cheap like your common lightbulb. Phillips has long been a market leader. What we suggest for many clients is to consider smart controlled switches and plugs versus smart light bulbs. It will cost a lot less in the long run, and these will provide more flexibility.

Security

Many telecommunication companies offer their smart security as an add on. Any of which are good options. Alternatively, you can look at Google Nest’s offerings for cameras and sensors. We have clients who set these cameras up at the cottages, cabins and farmhouses while there are in the city working.

Entertainment

We cut the TV cable nearly 15 years ago. In the subsequent years, there have been many options for TV, movies and gaming that have come to market over the net. Streaming has become a seemingly daily pastime. Add in the pandemic, and the number of shows streamed has skyrocketed along with the many platform’s equity stocks! The advent of the smart technology options now provides voice-controlled “remotes,” wireless TVs, wireless speakers, integrating multiple rooms and outdoor speakers. There are some incredible options to look into.

Cleaning

iRobot is best known for the Roomba and now the mop. Imagine being able to clean your home by “setting it and forgetting it”! It’s possible, and frankly, these products work pretty well according to some clients of ours. Especially households with young families and bachelors…both users are pretty self-evident as to the reasoning for their enjoyment!

It’s likely that the use of nano-technology will profoundly impact many other aspects of the smart home. Possibly paint with nano-tech that tells you when it’s time to put a fresh coat on? The world is changing very quickly; adopting the smart home lifestyle step by step will ensure that the future doesn’t feel digitally overwhelming.

We are here to help our clients with anything and everything that makes their home more enjoyable. Contact us here, and we will walk through your options and help ensure that you get exactly what you want with professional, honest and wise advice.

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