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