If you’re considering investing in smart home technology, it’s wise to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of creating such a home before you begin the transition.
Smart Home Benefits
There are six core perks of turning your home into a smart home:
- Energy Efficiency
- Convenience
- Home Automation
- Home Security
- Save Money
- Increase Market Value
Energy Efficiency
Perhaps the most important benefit provided by most smart devices is that they can help you save energy and be more sustainable by working only when you need them. For example, advanced smart home lighting systems can be set up to function by using sensors that detect when you are in a room, and then turn off when the room is unoccupied.
Convenience
Smart devices are often designed to be hands-free and intuitive without human intervention. It’s hard to imagine anything more convenient than shades that draw themselves to keep a room cool during certain times of day, or appliances that turn on with a simple voice command.
Home Automation
After you have set up your preferences to make life more convenient, your connected smart home devices can communicate with one another to perform their functions. You are now free to kick back after a hard day of work, and let your home automatically adjust to your pre-set preferences.
Home Security
You can install anti-theft systems, cameras, and smart locks to ensure the safety of you and your family. Many of these devices include remote access and viewing so you can check on your house even when you aren’t there.
Save Money
Although the initial investment in a smart home automation system might feel significant depending on how many smart devices you purchase, it could definitely help you lower long-term costs. When your home uses energy more efficiently, you can enjoy decreased electricity bills and increased savings.
Increase Market Value
Investing in the technological functions of your home and building in smart home functionality could provide improved market value when compared to similar homes in your neighborhood.
Smart Home Drawbacks
There are four potential disadvantages to consider when you’re planning a smart home:
- Cybersecurity Concerns
- Internet-Dependence or Power-Dependence
- Installation Costs
- Learning Curve
Cybersecurity Concerns
While smart cameras and lock systems can increase your physical security, they can potentially make your private information vulnerable to malware or hacking. Just like you protect your private information online with passwords, you should take steps to do the same with your smart home. When shopping for smart home devices, it’s important to shop for brands that you trust, and those that invest in keeping your information secure.
Internet-Dependence or Power-Dependence
If everything from the locks on your doors to the blinds on your windows is controlled by electricity and an internet connection, your house could literally stop working in the event of a power or internet outage. When researching smart devices, look for options with analog or battery backups so you’re never fully dependent on electricity for your home to function.
Installation Costs
Installing hardware and software can get expensive, especially if you are going all-in on as many devices as possible. The higher the quality of the devices you buy, the higher the amount of money you will usually need to invest, so be sure you conduct a cost-saving analysis if saving money is your main goal.
