Turning your House into a Smart Home
Smart Upgrade: The Benefits of Smart Home Technology
When our parents and grandparents talked about upgrading their homes, they meant things like slapping on a fresh coat of paint in the front hallway or refacing the kitchen cabinets. However, things are a lot different these days. Today, when Gen-Xers and millennials talk about upgrades, they mean things that the older generation would swear came right out of Star Trek or maybe even the Twilight Zone.
Smart home automation improvements add to the value of your home and create a nice level of convenience. They are increasingly popular among millennials because they’re energy-efficient and convenient, not to mention the “cool” factor. As people spend more time at home because of COVID-19 lifestyle changes, smart tech has become an improvement that homebuyers look for, making it a must-add for sellers looking for a healthy ROI.
If you’re not sure how a smart home upgrade could benefit you, keep reading! This article brought to you by Amy Collett and NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals.
Appliances
Smart appliances are one of the most popular high-tech home upgrades you can make. A self-regulating, programmable smart refrigerator can help you save on energy costs, as can smart water heaters and washer/dryers. Security features like automatic locks and home monitoring systems, which allow you to look in on the homefront through a phone app, are even more popular among homeowners than appliances.
Smart Locks
This is another smart feature with a definite “cool” appeal. There’s no need to fumble with your keys in the dark or risk being locked out when your doors can be upgraded with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled automatic locks. What’s more, they’re programmable, which means you can arrange to give certain people (family, friends) access to your home, so no need to worry about paying to change the locks when someone loses their keys in a bar or restaurant.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting can make a tremendous difference in your electric bill each month. Smart LED light bulbs can save you up to 75 percent on energy costs. They can be installed with a dimmer switch, light intensity control, and motion sensors that allow for lighting to switch on and off depending on whether or not anyone is in the room. One of the most appealing features to young homeowners is voice control using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Homekit.
Smart Sprinklers
This may not be near the top of your “gotta have” list, but for homeowners who have a green thumb, it’s a definite favorite. With built-in wifi, you can program your smart sprinkler system while you’re on the road, at work, or anywhere, for that matter. It’s an environmentally friendly upgrade that could save up to 50 percent on annual water expenditure.
Hiring Help
Consumers, especially young ones, are into improvements that will benefit them right now. Smart home security systems allow homeowners to see who’s ringing the doorbell, which helps them to stay in control of their environment — who wants to open the front door to a guy selling magazine subscriptions? These smart home security systems can be surprisingly affordable; just do your research so you get one that has all the features you want!
Many smart home improvements can be made easily, without the need for an expert. For example, if you can screw in a lightbulb and use a smartphone you can set your house up with a money-saving smart lighting upgrade. However, if you’re looking at something more extensive or more technologically sophisticated, consider hiring an electrician who has experience with smart home technology.
Adding value to your home is always a good idea, especially if it involves saving money using popular new applications. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier and help us live more efficiently, so it makes sense to upgrade a home with the latest smart technology.
A big thanks to Amy Collett for guest writing this article! Check out her website here: http://bizwell.org
National Spoil Your Dog Day
National Work Like a Dog Day
Dogust 1st – Universal B-Day for Shelter Dogs!
Liven Up Your Lawn
Image Courtesy of: Pexels
Resources to Help You Liven Up Your Lawn
Is your lawn looking shabby or is it the envy of the neighborhood? If it’s more on the shabby side and could use a little TLC, you can create that carpet of green you’re dreaming of without a full-time service. The following resources will guide you through the tools, tips and techniques you need for a luscious lawn and landscape.
Grow Great Grass
A beautiful lawn begins with healthy grass. With the right TLC, your lawn will flourish!
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Tidy Up Your Yard and Repair Those Ugly Bare Spots!
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When to Fertilize for a Greener Lawn
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Hire Tree Removal Services to Cut Down Old Trees and Trunks from Your Property
Hone in on Hardscaping
Hardscaping provides functionality as well as aesthetically pleasing structure. Make the most of your yard with great hardscaping.
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31 Tips for Designing, Repairing, and Updating Your Deck
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How to Clean a Concrete Patio
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How to Build a Retaining Wall
Tips for Tool Usage
The right tools will make your job easier, but make sure you use and care for them correctly.
- Tools for Good Lawn Care
- How to Care for Lawn and Garden Tools
- A Simple DIY Waste Bin Enclosure
Reap Big Benefits
A thriving lawn is more than just a beauty to behold. It can benefit your life in many key ways.
- Yard Work Is Basically Strength Training—Get Stronger While Mowing the Lawn
- 16 Ways Green Space Improves Your Life
Are you ready to liven up your lawn? From your pavement to your grass to your toolshed, the resources listed here will help you do just that!
Are you planning a move to the Colorado mountains? Then turn to the expert services of NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals. Reach out today to find out more! 970-507-8655
This article was guest written by Tina Martin, Author of Ideaspired. Don’t forget to check her website out here!
The Path to Homeownership
Refresh Your Home Post-Pandemic
3 Rooms To Refresh in Your Home as the Pandemic Ends
If you’ve been social distancing for the majority of the past year and are now slowly adjusting to the new normal, you’ve likely spent a lot of time staring at the walls of your residence. As the events of the past year and a half slowly phase out, choosing to spruce up your décor and alter the look of your home may change your mindset as well. Below are recommendations from NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals on the three rooms that may need a refresh as we move out of the pandemic.
- Your Home Office
According to Pew Research Center, 71% of employed Americans worked remotely during the pandemic. If you fall into this category, you may have begun working with a laptop on the kitchen table at the beginning of the pandemic and slowly transitioned into the spare bedroom, claimed the corner of your kids’ playroom, or even cleared out an unused closet to make room for a tiny workstation. Regardless of the size of your home office, it could probably use a change in lighting and decoration if you plan to keep working remotely.
If you haven’t already installed full-spectrum lighting that mimics the color temperature of sunlight, now is the time to do so—or better yet, move your desk so that you work near a window. Research shows that being exposed to natural light can help people focus and stay awake during the daylight hours. Invest in ergonomic upgrades such as a high-quality chair with back support, a good desk, and a headset for virtual meetings.
- Your Living Room
We’ve replaced going to the movies with renting new releases on streaming services, and many of us have grown to enjoy staying in, ordering in, and spending a good deal of time in our living rooms. Perhaps you moved into a new house during the pandemic to make room for your family’s new work-from-home, attend-school-from-home life, or maybe you just started looking for a new residence. Consider updating the main living space to reflect your current tastes.
You may want to wallpaper the entire room, but you don’t have the budget to hire a professional. Choosing peel-and-stick wallpaper that you can apply by yourself may be the solution. It’s affordable, simple to apply, and it features adhesive backing that can be easily removed so that you don’t have to worry about making costly mistakes. Measure the dimensions of your room ahead of time and order your paper to be printed on-demand to ensure that you have exactly the right amount.
- Your Kitchen
The pandemic has led to an uptick in cooking at home due to social distancing. If you spend more time in your kitchen making food for your family than you did before, think about giving it a much-needed upgrade. You don’t have to splurge on granite countertops and tile floors to make a lasting change. Consider painting your cabinets an on-trend color or using backsplash tiles (or even adhesives!) for a fun, affordable change.
As we move into a year filled with hope for the future, it can be fun and spiritually rewarding to decorate your home to reflect the change. Consider attractive and budget-friendly options that reflect your personal taste to create a space that you and your family can enjoy every day.
A HUGE Thank You to Tina Martin for guest writing this blog post! Visit her website Ideaspired for more great articles!
4th Of July!
Take Your Dog To Work Day
