It’s inevitable that the home of the near future would be a connected one. But before you take the plunge today, here are some things to think about before outfitting your home in smart tech.
Pros
- You can make your home comfortable even before you step inside. We’re talking about turning on the air-conditioning remotely and switching on the lights before you get home.
- You can add a layer of security to your home. You can do this by installing cameras in your home and monitor your young ones or elderly parents remotely.
- You can save time by carrying out everyday tasks remotely. Things like starting the washing machine, timing your robot vacuum to run and even cooking a meal in a Wi-Fi enabled oven can all be accomplished while you are at work or running other errands.
- You can manage your time and your family members’ time more efficiently using smart-enabled tools like timed lighting and even allocated Wi-Fi usage.
Cons
- You may have to fork out a large sum of money to switch to connected appliances. And when you do, it may take a while for all members of the family to adapt to using them.
- You need a reliable and strong Wi-Fi network in your home. This means that you may have to get a mesh networking system to get good Wi-Fi coverage even in spots like the bathroom and kitchen.
- Even if most of your devices are Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled, you may need to manage all your devices and machines via multiple apps.
- You have to be sure to set up secure connections so that your smart home network is not hacked. While connected devices like security cameras and locks may add a layer of security to your home, they may also make your home vulnerable to hacking.
This was adapted from an article originally published in the January 2018 issue of SquareRooms.
