Home Automation: 6 Basics Every Beginner Should Know

Imagine you’re finishing the last leg of a long road trip, and you’re only 15 minutes away from your house. You’re tired, hungry, and anxious to get home and unwind.

When you’re ten miles out, your home starts prepping for your arrival and making sure everything is just the way you like it. The front porch light comes on, the thermostat adjusts to 73 degrees, and the front door unlocks.

We know what you’re thinking. This perfectly timed synchronization sounds like something from the future, but it’s not. It’s home automation – and it’s available right now.

What is home automation?

Home automation makes homes more convenient, comfortable, secure, and energy efficient. It automates systems, applications, and devices to control various functions of a house. Think lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, security systems, entertainment systems, and appliances.

Connecting all these systems and devices on a single network that’s tied to your smartphone is what sets things in motion. Going back to our example, as soon as your smartphone’s geolocation feature registered you were ten miles out, the pre-programming of home automation kicked into gear.

What are the main benefits of home automation?

1. Convenience: You can control various functions of your home – turn on/off lights, adjust the thermostat, lock/unlock doors, and set alarms – with just a few taps on your smartphone. You can do this remotely when you’re away, or you can even coordinate everything from the comfort of your own couch!
   
   
2. Energy Efficiency: Pre-programming thermostats to automatically adjust the temperature when you’re not home helps you save energy. Similarly, you can program smart lighting systems to automatically turn off lights in empty rooms, reducing energy waste. You can also monitor your energy consumption and adjust your usage to save money on your utility bills.
   
   
3. Security: You can monitor your home from anywhere in the world using your smartphone or tablet with a smart security system. You’re alerted when someone enters your home or when there is any unusual activity nearby. You can also lock and unlock doors remotely, which is useful if you forget to close your garage or if you need to let someone in when you’re not at home.
   
   
4. Safety: The system can send alerts and notifications straight to your smartphone in the event of an emergency. For example, smart smoke detectors can quickly notify you when there’s smoke or fire in your home, allowing you to take immediate action.
   
   
5. Entertainment: How many remotes does it take to turn on your TV, start your Blu-ray player, and turn on the surround sound speakers? With home automation, you can control your home theater system, music system, and other entertainment systems from a single device.
   
   
6. Increased Home Value: Smart homes are in high demand among buyers, and homes with smart systems are likely to sell for more than similar homes without them. Investing in home automation can increase your equity over time.

With advances in technology, home automation systems are becoming more affordable and accessible to homeowners, making it easier than ever to enjoy the benefits of a smart home. If you’re considering investing in home automation, be sure to do your research and choose a system and a network partner that fit your needs and budget.

Ready to make your home smarter with home automation? Reach out. Our experts are standing by and ready to help.