SMART LIVING WHAT MAKES A SMART HOME SMART? STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TRANQUILITY SMART HOMES
F
or all of us who remember the days of car phones whose portability was limited to the actual car and computer systems so clunky that they could not be moved without the help of three men with good muscles, the concept of smart homes is pretty farfetched. Today, you can control your temp, your sound system and your laundry all with an app. In fact, it all seems downright Jetsons-esque. And yet, it’s happened. But what actually makes a smart home “smart?" “The term ‘smart home’ can be a very open and loosely interpreted concept,” says CEO of Tranquility Smart Homes & Security, Nick Grillo. “We consider a residence to be a smart home when we see three or more permanent style devices installed in a home or business. However, this can be a wide range of things, such as security systems, lights or even thermostats.” Really, the whole point of a smart home is to add whole-home convenience to your life at the touch of a screen. Need to adjust the thermostat? There’s an app for that. Forget to close the garage door or lock the back door? There’s an app for that. There are apps for everything from turning on locks, to setting the pre-heat function on your oven and even turning on the washing machine. Doorbell cams can be monitored. Systems can be programmed. If you think it, chances are, it has been reconceptualized with smart home technology. It’s the epitome of modern living. “Smart homes provide incredible flexibility and convenience,” Grillo notes. “Each item we install allows our clients accessibility 72 • VIP ALEXANDRIA MAGAZINE
to their home from anywhere. That can be something as simple as customized automated lighting all the way to being able to check your security cameras and alarm from anywhere in the world. These items can greatly set your home apart not only from an aesthetics feel but also in terms of increasing your home’s resale value.” With all the pros to having a fully integrated home, surely there must be some cons? “Technology can be pricey, but
