Essential Guide to Smart Home Technology

By William Thompson, NJ Realtors® Director of Technology

Embracing smart home technology is no longer just a futuristic idea—it’s a practical, everyday reality to enhance comfort, security, and efficiency in our living spaces. Understanding these technologies is crucial to help clients make informed decisions about their home investments. Dive into the world of smart home tech and discover how these innovations can transform not only the homes you sell but also the way you live.

Smart Speakers

A smart speaker does much more than just play music; it acts as your command center, controlling every other smart device in your home with just your voice. Choosing the right smart speaker should be your first step, as it will determine which ecosystem your smart home will use. Today’s three most popular ecosystems are Amazon Echo, Google Nest, and Apple Home. While we’re working toward a world where all smart devices are interoperable, for the time being, you’ll need to ensure a smart device works with your chosen ecosystem before buying. Place a smart speaker in the most trafficked areas of your home, but for the greatest coverage, consider having a smart speaker in every room. This setup affords you smart control from anywhere and a whole-home audio experience.

Smart Lighting

We can all relate to wanting to turn off the lights without getting out of bed, which is why lighting was one of the first categories in smart home technology. Over the years, it has received quite a few upgrades. Still most popular for its ease and simplicity is the smart plug. Plug the smart plug, such as the Kasa Smart Plug or Wemo Smart Plug, into any outlet, plug a lamp into the smart device, and presto—you can turn it off and on right from your phone.

One step up is the smart lightbulb. Replace any standard light bulb with a smart lightbulb, like the Philips Hue Smart Bulb, and you’ve upgraded to control the brightness and color. For an even more seamless integration, consider smart light switches. Switches like the Lutron Caséta series replace the standard light switches on your wall to provide all the smart functionality you want while maintaining the manual operation familiar to everyone in the home.

Smart light switches come in the same variants as your typical light switches: simple on/off, three-way, dimmer, and even ceiling fan, allowing whole-home smart control with zero learning curve for your guests.

Smart Appliances

From toasters to refrigerators, every appliance in the home seems to have a smart version. This category, above all others, requires researching the features and weighing the cost versus benefit. Appliances are expensive on their own and don’t get replaced nearly as often as, say, your lightbulbs, so you’ll want to be very sure before investing in a smart appliance. However, some offer conveniences previously unavailable. How would you like a notification, and maybe even a reminder or two, about your laundry being done?

What about a digital shopping list right on the front of your refrigerator that syncs to your phone? The options around your house are truly endless. However, I recommend none more than a smart thermostat, such as Google’s Nest Thermostat or ecobee’s Smart Thermostat. Smart thermostats offer a myriad of benefits to keep you comfortable and save you money, like advanced scheduling, energy-efficient home/away controls, and easy remote control.

Smart Security

At this point, most of us have seen the benefits of a smart doorbell like the Ring Video Doorbell or Eufy Security’s Doorbell, which allow you to see and communicate with visitors whether or not you’re home, but there’s so much more out there in smart home security. Replace your deadbolt with a smart lock such as the Schlage Encode series or August Home smart lock and gone are the days of fumbling for your keys.

Unlock your front door hands-free, auto-lock behind you, and even share a temporary key with guests. Add security cameras and motion detectors like Amazon’s Blink or Google’s Nest Cam, and keep tabs on your home when you’re away. Motion detectors include the added bonus of helpful automation opportunities, including turning on lights as you approach the door or starting the coffee maker as you enter the hall.

Smart home devices are becoming integral to modern living, offering new and exciting levels of convenience, security, and efficiency. It’s essential to resolve questions about which smart devices are included in the sale and develop a clear plan for transferring account ownership. By staying informed, you can not only enhance your own lifestyle but also ensure you ask the right questions when taking on a listing or making an offer, preventing any surprises during the final walk-through.