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How To Make Your Smart Home “Smarter”

How To Make Your Smart Home “Smarter”

Make Your Smart Home "Smarter"

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With the way technology works these days, owning a smart home has become even more exciting. From your home’s lighting, temperature control and even safety, the devices you can add are almost limitless. These things can easily make you want to keep adding more. If you already own a smart home and currently thinking of upgrading it, here’s a quick rundown of what you need to do to make your smart home “smarter”

Add voice-controlled devices

Back then, voice-controlled devices can only play music. Now, there are voice-controlled devices that can act as your assistants. They can set your alarms, control your lights and even give you directions even without pressing any buttons. Some of these devices can even alert you if anything unusual happens at home.

Install smart lighting

Automating your lights can slash a huge portion of your electricity bill. Pair them with sensors, dimmers and wireless control and you’ll be able to save even more.

You can set your lights to turn on and off depending on your personal schedule or add motion sensors so you won’t waste energy. You can even use your smartphone to control the brightness, color as well as the ambiance of your home.

If your smart phone isn’t enough, you can install a smart device that can notify you when you have left your lights on. One good example is Neurio. Apart from the alerts, this device can also give you an estimate of how much energy your home has already consumed.

Secure your router

When you’re building a smart home, your concern shouldn’t be limited to the kinds of devices you’ll invest in; you also have to take proper measures on how you’ll secure everything inside it.

Your router is one of your home’s weakest spots. Much like your front door, you should strengthen it to keep intruders out.

Start by changing your password. As soon as your receive your router, change its default password with something that can’t easily be guessed. Refrain from using your birth year or the last digits of your phone number. As much as possible, create a lengthy password and make sure to use alphanumeric characters to make it even harder to crack.

It’s also a good idea to constantly upgrade your security software to decrease your devices’ vulnerability to new threats, like spying tools and viruses. Install a malware protection to prevent suspicious and malicious programs from running on your computer.

Upgrade your smoke detector

An ordinary smoke detector that gets activated can cause confusion, especially if you have several units at home. If it isn’t monitored, there’s no way you’ll get alerted about a possible fire- unless you have some friendly neighbors looking after your home. For your safety and security, it’s best if you can upgrade your smoke detector to something smarter.

Most smart smoke detectors today are industrial grade and can last really long. Some of them even come with dedicated apps to help make monitoring a lot easier. Apart from battery life, they can also tell you exactly which area of the house is showing increased temperature. They can even connect you to your local police and firemen for quick resolution.

These extra features can mean a higher price tag. However, considering that they can augment your home security and initiate a faster response, they can be considered as valuable investments.

If you are on a tight budget and investing in new devices seems not feasible at the moment, your next best option is to invest in a device that can turn ordinary devices to smart ones, like Weebee Home Automation. It’s a scalable system so you can add as much devices as you want.

Get a smart doorbell

As home automation becomes even more sophisticated, you’ll find yourself being able to do the things that seemed impossible before. Take, for example, answering your door even if you’re not physically at home.

You’ll be able to tell the delivery man where to leave your parcel or check on someone who’s been showing interest on your front gate for several days. Burglars favor houses that are unoccupied. By being able to answer the door and show that you can see what’s happening around your property, you’ll be able to make your home a lot less favorable for burglary.

Smart doorbells can do so much more than that, especially when they are equipped with the right features. With night vision capabilities, live streaming and two-way talk feature, you’ll be able to detect intruders and burglars even before they execute their plans. You can even record videos to serve as hard evidence in case someone managed to get inside your property.

Also, by monitoring your feed, you can check on your kids if they had arrived safely from school. You can also get alerts whenever they leave the house without your permission.

Over To You

How Smart is your Home? Have you upgraded all your security devices and installed new ones available in the market? Have you made your home “safe enough”? I would give this a second thought and re-visit all the points mentioned above to have a stress-free life without having to worry about your home safety. Leave a comment to share your thoughts.

About the author

Praveen Rajarao

Praveen Rajarao is an Entrepreneur and in his spare time blogs on his website –http://www.dailymorningcoffee.com and http://www.pbgeeks.com. His topics range from blogging to technology to affiliate programs and making money online and how-to guides. Daily Morning Coffee is also accepting Guest Posts from Professional Bloggers at this time, take a look at “Write For DMC” page for more details on the same.

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  • I love my smart door bell. I can see anyone who comes to my door even when I’m not at home. It makes my wife feel a lot safer and I just think it is really cool that I can answer the door from work. Comes in handy when I’m expecting a package!

  • Smart plugs like the Wemo and TP-Link are also great.

    You can turn lights on and off and also control many home appliances like a coffee maker with an on/off switch.

    Saying “Alexa Make Some Coffee” is really cool!

  • When home automation first hit the market a few years ago, a lot of real estate professionals were very interested to see what kind of staying power it would have. It’s certainly come a long way, and whole system integration has become a very strong selling point for tech-savvy buyers. My only concern is long-term security, and the prevalance of new owners ignoring existing home features. I can’t tell you how many homes I show that have multiple cable/satellite setups that have not been uninstalled by whatever the new service provider is. I’m a little worried that this might be the same with home automation, and networked systems may stay active on homes long after the owners have moved on. It will be interesting to see what new developments arise over the next 5-10 years.
    Elaine recently posted…How to Prevent Soil Erosion in North TexasMy Profile

  • Technology is making our lives even better but we human should not be dependent entirely on the gadgets.
    for smart homes, there are a lot of cool gadgets like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomePod, Logitech Harmony, Smart Switches, Philips Hue Smart LED Bulbs and what not. By installing all these kits, we can control our home’s lighting, Appliances, Thermostat, Doorbells through our voice. These all integrations would be super interesting and create something like we watched in Iron Man movie. Everything controlled by voice.
    Anyways, Thanks for the post. Enjoyed the read.
    Jayant Gosain recently posted…How to Hide Snap Map location on SnapchatMy Profile

  • If your un-password-protected smartphone fell into the wrong hands and you hadn’t logged out of the app that unlocks your front door. So it’s more critical than ever to keep smartphones secure. Before purchasingproducts or installing apps, even those to control your connected home, read the Privacy Policy to see what types of data the app will access from your smartphone, what data it will collect, and what will be done with that data.

  • Really nice article. With the introduction of home automation, most of the devices nowadays can be controlled remotely. Even I am upgrading my house with latest automation gadgets .

  • I’m loving how tech is going. I’m really loving the smart doorbells. Never heard of them before and think it’s a neat idea!

    Can’t wait to see what the next 30 years will bring.

  • Hi,
    Thank you for sharing valuable information. Now a days many people build own houses , but they don’t know how make house smart. For that, people spending more money. So, Am referring to all. Every body read this blog. Then, you can get gud idea for how make smart house

  • Technology is certainly helping to make a difference in home security. You pointed out some great opportunities to strengthen our home’s defenses, especially the section on routers. It seems that many folks are still sticking with the small and simple passwords that are easy to crack. Thanks for your article.

  • Really nice article. With the introduction of home automation, most of the devices nowadays can be controlled remotely. Even I am upgrading my house with latest automation gadgets .

  • Thanks Praveen for your valuable info.
    Your article is very helpful to identify the benefits of smart home.Before reading your post I was not aware of these systems.Thanks a lot to draw my attention by pointing out some great feature of the said fact.

  • Hi Praveen,

    This is a great read, with the current month be towards full smart home automation, I found this detailed and full insights.

    Keep up the excellent quality posts.

  • I would like to point out that securing Wi-Fi by using complicated password should be enough, but restricting foreign MAC addresses is your best bet if you want to be really secure.
    Also raspberry pi solutions promise so much potential to make your home truly unique.

  • Everyone wants to make their home smarter by using latest technology appliances in their homes. The tips shared above for making the home smarter are very good and effective. Anyone can follow the given tips. Among all the tips, I like the smart lighting very much, hope to install them very soon.
    Thanks for sharing this important article with us.

  • Hello , Really nice article. With the introduction of home automation, most of the devices nowadays can be controlled remotely. Even I am upgrading my house with latest automation gadgets .

  • I have always wanted to take full control of my home but I never thought I could do it remotely. Thanks for letting me know that having a home automation service can definitely make my home smarter. Much appreciated!

  • Great list. One day you will have everything available on your mobile. Heating and cooling is a good one to automate via smart home for saving money on power.
    A bit worrying though as I imagine in 30 years everyone’s house will be entirely smart, which could turn into a disaster if you got hacked!

  • And also keep checking the sensors time and again because they may stop working under rainfall or during snow fall. Love your post you have shared nice pieces of information.

  • Smart Door Bells are where it’s at! It’s gotta be so nice to check on your house when no one is home! Really am considering one of these. Smart lighting is cool, but some of this stuff is too much.

  • Hello there Praveen,

    I have to get one of those brilliant doorbells. Much obliged for these awesome tips. I secured my wifi. I do have a carbon monixide finder and it proved to be useful this previous year when it went off. Thank heavens! A debt of gratitude is in order for the tips !

  • Wow. I am definitely going share this with a few of my friends. Very cool information. Technology really rocks and it gives more options to the people i love how it incorporates with human living in homes and how it makes life easier and safer.

  • This really helps a lot. Now a days we’ve got this successful technology to upgrade our home. Not only for ease but also for other aspects like security, mobility and efficiency. Nice article. And also I think this would be very useful for Placentia Real Estate, check it out here placentiarealestate.com, great houses.

  • Hey!

    Thank you so much for this great article about make smart home smarter. Each headings are so informative. I was also thinking about to make my house more smarter and i got your article and i found that i was looking.

    I belong to real estate industry and i Sell and Buy houses fast with fair offer as well. So if you need my help ever so contact me!

    Thank you for the article.
    Michael Blythe recently posted…How To Avoid Running Into Mortgage Paying Trouble for cincinnati HomeownersMy Profile

  • Thank you for sharing informative article, making your home is always smart. This would keep burglars or strangers trespass your home sweet home.

  • The smart home is a very new topic in the technology field. So smart home basically is anyone’s home is how much do anything autonomously. So it can be done by installing smart lighting, by installing fast routers etc. So to get much more ideas anyone can visit our site.

  • Great Article. I swear, in our current generation, Every new house hold technology can be talked to. One day we’ll all will start talking to different robots LOL!

  • You’ve shared some really great tips here. It was a great read. I belong to real estate industry and have been hearing this topic (smart home) from last 3-4 years. I didn’t know much about it but today after reading your article, I got to know very much about smart home. Thanks for sharing this amazing article!

  • I have worked for Home Automation and always make better by doing decoration and adding smart devices to it. Make your access more easy by installing your smart device to control on your finger tips.Nice Article.

  • eally cool post and good tips Praveen, it was a lot of fun to read. I’m sure most of the people who read this are now dreaming of a voice-activated coffee machine and water boiler or light dimmers. Smart homes are becoming more and more common, with all these features, why shouldn’t they be?

  • Praveen Rajarao, you explained this smart home concept very well. Especially smoke detectors are very crucial for safety everyone should install it in their home to avoid any mishaps.

  • Praveen Rajarao I think you have explained this smart home concept well. When you talk about detectors Especially they are very crucial for safety everyone should install it in their home to avoid any mishaps.

  • Its incredible how far the smart home tech has come really. If you think ten years ago, a Philips hue light bulb would have been way out of reach…
    Good article.

  • Real nice tips for first time home buyers. People shouldn’t get too excited and look the place thoroughly from every perspective and think twice before buying it.

  • This is amazing although the products here might sound a little painful to the pocket. I’ve always thought the Clapper one was a fraud, maybe it is, but the smart features nowadays are simply astounding.

  • Thank you, you have shared such a great piece of information. The idea of using smart doorbells is quite amazing as it offers multiple benefits. But I think if you apply smart devices in kitchen, then it would be more helpful for managing daily tasks. Best smart devices for kitchen are meater + thermometer and many similar items that can increase the resale value of your home.

  • Great list. One day you will have everything available on your mobile. Heating and cooling is a good one to automate via smart home for saving money on power.Great Article. I swear, in our current generation, Every new house hold technology can be talked to

  • I’m currently using Video Door Bell by Hogar Controls and I love it. My brother dropped by without a message. And guess what I was in another city on a business trip. I got an instant push notification on my Hogar App. I could see him in real-time. Talk to him. Thanks to high-quality video and two-way audio feature! My smart doorbell is connected to my smart lock. So, I unlocked my door for my brother. And all this through my phone. Sitting in another city I get a notification instantly when the motion sensor is triggered. When I’m expecting a package, it’s so helpful.

  • JUVAS LED lighting technology has progressed rapidly in recent years becoming an essential part of our advanced world. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is a type of semi-conductor device that emits light rays when electric current is passed through it.

    JUVAS deals a wide range of LED products like LED Bulbs, LED Tubelights, LED Walkover Lights, LED Swimming Pool lights, Panel Lights, Concealed Lights, Strip Lights, etc.

  • Smart homes may make life easier and more convenient. Who wouldn’t love being able to control lighting, entertainment and temperature from their couch? Whether you’re at work or on vacation, the smart home will alert you to what’s going on, and security systems can be built to provide an immense amount of help in an emergency.

  • Thanks for the great article, I have gone through with your tips, it’s really amazing.
    Nowadays people want comforts and easy to operate devices with smart technology.
    Great Job.

  • thank you sir for providing the information, gone through your article and i realized that the home appliances you have provided are very useful, i bought a new doorbell after reading your article and there are many home appliances i am going to buy in future to make my home a smart home

  • hi
    usually for smart home and all automation industrial electrical (PLC device) need switching power supply 24v and 1,2 or 5 ampere. its very important to select the best device power supply.
    please help me to chose best power supply switching.
    thanks

  • I hope these things are already implemented in developed countries like the US.
    But are they suitable for Indian Homes? Will they work in Indian conditions? For example, how will the automated doorbell work, when there won’t be a need for it as most Indian families still live in a joint family setup?

  • Love the way technology is progressing. the smart doorbell is great. I had never heard of it and didn’t know it could be so useful. will surely incorporate this in my new home when I renovate it.

  • Having smart home lighting is one of the most adorable and desirable aspects of any smart home project. It may also be one of the most confusing ones if one doesn’t know exactly what they want to control.

    Philips Hue smart lights are worth it: If you have some $200 then you have more than you you’d care to spend on a starter kit, then later on consider Philips Hue’s white-light LEDs.
    A four-bulb starter kit that has all the essential Hue Bridge will only set you back at around $80, and while they won’t change colors as you expect, you’ll still get the full benefits of the Philips lighting platform still

  • Glad to read this post. There is no doubt that today’s technology has made our life easier and faster. Technology is being used everywhere, whether in home, offices, shopping malls, schools, scientific purpose etc.
    When we talk about home, with the help of a smartphone, apps and a computer you can monitor your home appliances, no matter where you are. Here, I have gained much information about the new technology used at home.
    Thanks for sharing this post with us.

  • Nice Post Praveen,
    I must wanna get those brilliant doorbells. Much inspired for these awesome tips. I secured my wifi. I must suggest to my client of home inspections to do have a carbon monixide finder in their new houses.
    Thanks btw, really appreciative these kinda posts. Keep posting

  • I agree that smart apps, tools, and appliances are great to have. But sometimes I think we rely too much on these things and we forget to do basic tasks. When don’t learn how to do things or rely on our experience as much. We end up relying on gadgets. When those fail, we fail.

    With that said, I do rely on many smart things – thermostats, meat thermometers and probes, baby cams. You can’t stop progress. 😉

  • much obliged to you sir for giving the data, experienced your article and I understood that the home appliances you have given are helpful, I purchased another doorbell in the wake of perusing your article and there are many home apparatuses I am going to purchase in future to make my home a brilliant home

  • As a child, I generally longed for growing up and having a house like the Jetsons, with moving stairs and apparatuses and furniture that worked with only a push of a catch. Also, obviously, I’d have my very own Rosie as well. Quick forward 20 years and that fantasy is a reality; Alexa is my Rosie, and my home for all intents and purposes runs itself on account of the considerable number of advances in keen home robotization.

  • I like my intelligent doorbell. I can recognize anyone who comes to my door even when I’m not at home. It’s really amazing, I have no worry when i am stay outside of my house. It gives my wife and kids feel a lot safer and I just believe it is really great that I can answer the door from work. It comes in handy when I’m presuming a package! I just wanna get those excellent doorbells. Much motivated for these awesome tips. I secured my wifi. I must suggest to my client of home inspections to do have a carbon monoxide finder in their fresh houses.
    Thanks btw, really appreciative of these kindsof posts. Keep posting

  • I like how technology keeps evolving and we must not be left behind. We worked on our router, now onto the smart bell as we check the list. Thanks for the update

  • Smart home are the future, for sure.
    This was a nice read.
    Are you looking forward for when EVERY home is a smart one?
    Watch out for the “walls”, when that time comes…
    Keep up the good work.

  • A good home is liked by everyone and everyone wants that guest to speak good about the home you are living in. So to furnish your home with all the latest facilities and comfort you can buy the latest technological equipments at affordable rates.

  • Smart technologies are expanding all the time, and the potential for smart and IoT (Internet of Things) devices to reshape our lives appears to be limitless. You probably already have these devices in your life. A smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet, and you may also be finding new ways to incorporate them into your life all the time.

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