6 Budget-Friendly Smart Home Features

BY ERIN McFEETERS

1. Amazon Echo Smart Speaker

$99 • amazon.com

Use Amazon’s Alexa to play music, check the weather, turn on appliances, and more for just under $100. The fourth version of this device features Amazon’s best speaker yet, and it can open your clients’ eyes to what’s possible with smart home features and appliances. Alexa makes life easier by keeping track of routines, grocery lists, and Amazon purchases. Once your Echo is set up and ready to go, enable NJ Realtors ® Flash Briefing and Alexa will read you NJ Realtors® Weekly.

2. Nest Thermostat Smart Thermostat

$129 • store.google.com

Google has two thermostat products, however, the Nest Thermostat is the more economical option. Decide on a home heating and cooling schedule, and you’ll be well on your way to reducing costs on your next energy bill. Establish your temperature preferences for the morning, afternoon, and while you’re sleeping, plus the Nest will provide temperature suggestions to help you save even more money. The Nest will keep system tabs on your HVAC system to ensure everything is working, and if it’s not, it’ll notify you on your smartphone. Consider contacting your energy provider to see if you’re eligible to save even more with rebates.

3. Wyze Cam v3 Smart Security Camera

$35.98 • wyze.com

If your clients are looking for an affordable added layer of protection when they move into their new home, look no further than Wyze. The camera has low-light capabilities and can be mounted inside or outside. It’s also built for extreme temperatures between -4°-113°F, features twoway talk and a mini siren.

4. Echo Show 5 Smart Home Display

$84.99 • amazon.com

Bring up recipes, manage your smart home devices, watch your favorite shows, and more with the Echo Show 5. While the product is smaller, it’s the more affordable smart home display from Amazon’s lineup but has everything your clients could need. Use it in the bedroom on the nightstand to set up your morning routine, in the kitchen to video call while cooking, or in the living room to display all your photos.

5. Philips Soft White A19 LED Smart Light Bulbs

$29.99 for set of two • phillips-hue.com

Countless smart light bulbs are on the market, but Philips is the most widely available at brick-and-mortar stores, and it is compatible with both Google and Amazon smart home devices. Philip’s A19 bulb features a dimmable light and is easy to set up. Use them through the Philips smartphone application or connect them to a smart home device.

6. Meater Plus Smart Kitchen Tool

$99.95 • store-us.meater.com

There are countless kitchen gadgets available on the market, and the Meater Plus is the item no one knew they needed. Meater Plus connects to your smartphone and will help you cook perfect and consistent meals every time. From smokers to ovens to gas grills, the Meater keeps track of meat temperature and notifies you when cooking is complete. The accompanying application takes the guesswork out of cooking and helps determine your perfect doneness.