From speakers and doorbells to thermostats and bulbs– modern-day houses in Austin are getting smarter day by day. In your very home, you can control lighting and ambience with your tablet or smartphone remotely. Imagine letting guests in your house with a simple click, or changing thermostat settings while you’re sitting in your office.
Smart home upgrades don’t just make your life easier; they also lead to cost savings. The best reason to upgrade your abode smartly is to manage energy consumption, bringing down your energy bills in the process. Given that Austin Energy has increased energy rates for customers by 5% in 2024, choosing these smart home solutions will help you save money in the long run.
This blog covers some of the most value-adding and cost-saving smart home upgrades imaginable. Follow these tips and transform your dwelling into a space that offers unmatched comfort and convenience:
Consider Smart Showers
Did you know that the median sold price of homes in Austin, TX, has decreased by more than 16%? And that happened in just the last 2 years or so!
If you want to increase the resale value of your residence, a simple solution is to remodel it with smart elements. For instance, smart showers will personalize your bathing experience and introduce the following benefits:
- Let you prefer your preferred water temperature
- Prevent scalding with advanced safety features
- Monitor water usage and discourage wastage
- Enhance your bathroom’s aesthetic appeal
- A spacious new shower is also beneficial if you have a family member who finds independent bathing difficult.
Hire a company that specializes in bathroom remodels in Austin to install a new shower. Professionals can also advise you on the kind of shower that will complement your space and ensure a job well done.
Remember, smart home upgrades aren’t always about shiny new technology but also about improving comfort.
Install Smart Lighting Systems
Smart lights are yet another obvious example here. In fact, this trend has gained traction at such a speed that 13% of US households today have smart light bulbs installed. If you want to drastically boost the ambiance and energy efficiency in your home, smart lighting is the perfect solution. It lets you:
- Control the color, brightness, and schedules of your home with voice commands
- Adjust brightness and have your bulbs turn off on their home when not in use
- Creating specific lighting scenes for different occasions (imagine spooky Halloween lights or jolly Christmas ones!)
Get Smart Thermostats
Considering that 16% of homes in America have smart thermostats now, you should give them a chance, too. They provide you with advanced control over heating and cooling systems. Also, smart thermostats will learn your schedule and preferences. This way, they figure out the best ways to maximize the comfort of occupants, i.e., you and your family, while lowering energy use.
What’s better than the ability to control your home’s climate from anywhere in the world with a single smartphone app? Imagine being on vacation in Paris and suddenly remembering that your HVAC system is still on. You can simply turn it off with a smart thermostat, saving money.
Smarten Up Your Security
A survey shows that 6 in 10 burglars avoid breaking into homes with smart alarm systems. That’s because smart security solutions give you:
- Real-time monitoring of the residential area with motion cameras and infrared cameras
- Facial recognition and package detection (security without deterring Amazon delivery guys)
That’s why almost 61 million North American households will switch to smart home upgrades in 4 years!
Enter the Premises Smartly
Did you know that most people misplace their car/house keys at least twice in a single week? Yikes! It’s more than enough reason to get smart locks that don’t let you feel the embarrassment of getting locked out of your own home. Keyless entry is simply more convenient than trying to insert a weirdlyshaped key into an even weird-looking lock in the middle of the night. Keyless entry also allows you to grant temporary access to your friends and family, keeping house parties free from uninvited guests.
Give Your Windows the Smart Treatment
Did you know that your windows can also benefit from smart technology? For instance, you can set up automated controls to open/close windows based on sunlight levels; they will close on their own during the daytime and open after sunset. This way, you can regulate indoor temperature. It can be done via smartphone apps. So, you can reduce heat gain in summer and retain warmth when it’s winter, contributing to overall energy savings.
Invest in Smart Speakers
The popularity of these smart speakers is apparent from the fact that over 35% of Americans today own one. These voice assistants can help you manage various functions around the house hands-free, such as searching for the nearest restaurant, booking flights, calling a friend, or looking up an obscure tip. These smart devices can do anything – from playing music to contacting emergency services. That’s how they add to your smart home experience.
Irrigate Your Lawn Conservatively
It’s a no-brainer that a well-trimmed lawn adds heavily to your house’s total value. How about automating lawn care? You can do that by:
- Adjusting water schedules with smart irrigation systems based on real-time weather forecasts and soil moisture levels
- Maintain a healthy lawn effortlessly by optimizing water usage (especially help if you live in New Mexico)
- Showcase your eco-conscious home maintenance routines to potential buyers (if you’re selling the house)
Welcome Home Smart Hubs
A smart home hub lets you manage your smart devices from a single interface. It’s like remote-controlling all connected devices in your house from a central command station. Even more exciting is the IoT (Internet of Things) technology that practically allows your smart devices to talk to each other. Electronics in your home – usually embedded with an IoT chip for this purpose – communicate with each other. This sharing of information enhances their functionality, making the home a hub of comfort & relaxation. Also, IoT devices increase your residence’s resale value by 5%!
Incorporating these home upgrades will improve your living experience while increasing your home’s appeal and market value. Today, more and more homeowners are learning to appreciate how easy your life becomes with these smart upgrades. Each upgrade contributes to improved comfort, convenience, safety, and energy efficiency qualities that modern buyers highly value.
