One of the biggest questions today: are smart homes worth investing in? There are plenty of contradicting opinions when it comes to smart technology and smart homes. Some people think that it’s great and convenient. Others say it’s unnecessary, and it’s only there to make you look cool and trendy. The answer will vary depending on whom you ask. In this article, we will weigh the different pros and cons of investing in a smart home. Hopefully, by the end of this, you’ll get to decide for yourself if it is worth it.
Convenience
The main reason why smart technology was created was to make our lives at home more convenient. With smart technology, you will control your lights, doors, temperature, and different appliances, all with a tap of a button. Even if you’re outside of the home, at work, or even in another country. How? Through the internet, of course. All your appliances will be connected to one central hub, which is controlled through your phone. Some smart devices don’t require being connected to a hub. They could function on their own. And if you are at home, you could even use voice control.
It’s easy to learn how to use smart technology, as well. You won’t have to go through the difficult task of explaining to other people (children or elderly) how certain appliances work. You have to teach them to call Alexa (or whatever virtual assistant you’re using) and get them to do their bidding. This is also great for assisting people with disabilities.
Installing your smart technology isn’t that difficult, either. Certain devices require you to get a professional to install it. And depending on the number of apps and devices you have, it can take a few hours to install.
There is a chance for smart technology to malfunction, especially if you get different smart devices from various companies. Some of them aren’t compatible with each other. And when your internet gets cut off, your smart technology will be affected by it, too.
Cost
Upfront, smart technology seems expensive. If you’re buying an entire ecosystem, it can get pricey. It’s also unclear whether building a house with smart technology is covered by home loans. However, smart technology is very cost-effective. In the long run, having a smart home can save you tons of energy. That’s why older millennials are so drawn to smart homes because it’s environmentally friendly. By helping you to save energy, it also helps you save money by cutting down your electricity bills.
Smart technology can help you save energy by controlling when your lights turn on and off. You won’t have to forget about leaving another light on overnight or while you’re at work ever again. You can program your lights to turn on and off at certain times or turn it off once you get to work. Installing smart thermostats to control your heating and cooling systems at home can also save you tons of energy. Forty-two percent of an average American’s electric bill is spent solely on heating and cooling. Smart thermostats can help lower that percentage and lessen the amount of money you spend on your electricity yearly.
Safety and Security
You can make your home safer with smart technology. By installing a camera outside your house and connecting this to your device, you will see who’s outside your door. Your devices can even identify the person for you. You can also install motion-detecting lights outdoors. This will alert you if something is outside your home.
A lot of people are worried about their smart homes getting hacked and their privacy getting invaded. You can’t deny that there is a possibility of this happening, and it is scary. But for the most part, the reason why people get hacked is that they place such weak passwords on their devices. You can avoid getting your devices hacked by simply creating more complicated passwords for your devices.
When technologies in the past were being created, people were skeptical of it at first as well. The fact is, technology continues to evolve, and as history has shown, people will continue to be skeptical of new things just as they are skeptical about smart technology now. In the end, it just boils down to your preferences. If you’re willing to go through the installation process and the troubleshooting for the convenience and other benefits that smart technology provides, you should think about investing in it.
And If you’re concerned about your privacy and aren’t willing to go through the installation process for the benefits, then don’t. You can always find other ways to make your home energy-efficient without having to use smart technology.
