The smart home movement is very misunderstood. It provides so many exciting benefits, like reduced energy consumption or increased home ownership value, yet many people are against it.
The truth is that while some of the arguments against the smart home movement are valid, most of them are little more than myths. The worst myth is that smart homes are expensive, but when you look at starter kits, it turns out that smart homes can be quite affordable.
So, are you ready to dive? If so, the best way is with a starter kit.
1. Get started right away. Smart home products tend to be highly modularized:you have a central device that controls many other devices connected to it. This is great for flexibility, but not so good for analysis paralysis. How to be more decisive and get more done How to be more decisive and get more done Decision-making is stressful. It is also a skill that allows you to improve with practice. You'll find it easier to make the right decisions with some of the tips outlined here. Read more.
In other words, there are so many options out there that you can get stuck in the research phase and end up with nothing. A starter kit lets you get started right away without having to waste time with all of that.
2. Don't worry about compatibility.. Smart home modularization is great in theory, but the reality is that there are a handful of competing standards. If two products do not support the same standard, they will not work together.
A starter kit ensures that all the products included in the kit are compatible with each other. Plus, you won't have to worry about missing parts. All necessary cables, devices and more will be included in the kit.
3. Cheaper than buying in parts. When you buy a starter kit, the price you pay usually includes a small discount, so you spend less than buying each component separately. The discounts are not huge, but they are not negligible either.
What is included in the kit:
Not long ago, we explained why SmartThings is one of the most reputable brands in the smart home industry. 9 Reputable Smart Home Brands With Products You Can Trust 9 Reputable Smart Home Brands With Products You Can Trust The modern world is moving towards all kinds of smart products. home automation, and the longer you hold out, the harder it will be when conversion day comes. Read more . This kit is a great way to start as it offers great potential for experimentation and has plenty of room for expansion later on.
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If you're wondering what kinds of things you can do with a SmartThings Hub, check out our roundup of the best compatible devices. The smartest smart devices compatible with a SmartThings hub. The smartest smart devices compatible with a SmartThings hub. The SmartThings hub connects wirelessly with hundreds of compatible smart devices, allowing you to monitor, control and secure your home from anywhere in the world. Read more.
What is included in the kit:
The Insteon product line is a great entry point for newbies due to its ease of use. Dimming modules allow you to control any plugged-in device from afar, but it's especially useful for remote dimming of lamps (assuming the lamp is dimmable).
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It's also compatible with Amazon Echo, so you can control it just by speaking voice commands.
What is included in the kit:
Smart thermostats arguably ignited the entire smart home movement, mainly because they're so handy in so many ways. Using remote sensors located around the house, the Ecobee3 optimizes heating/cooling for maximum comfort while reducing overall energy consumption.
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In our head-to-head comparison of the Ecobee3 and Nest Ecobee3 versus the Nest Thermostat – a head-to-head comparison Ecobee3 vs. Nest Thermostat:A Head-to-Head Comparison Did you know that a smart thermostat can increase your home value? It's one of the many reasons why a smart thermostat is worth the initial investment. But which one should you get? Read More The Nest won out in terms of being a bit easier to install and configure. 5 Easy-to-Setup Smart Home Gadgets for First Timers 5 Easy-to-Setup Smart Home Gadgets for First Timers Smart home automation sounds amazing in theory, but many people are hesitant to try it because the learning curve seems difficult. . If that describes you:it's easier than you think! Read More It is also compatible with Amazon Echo and Apple HomeKit.
What is included in the kit:
At just over $600, this starter kit might seem a bit pricey, and like someone who practices frugality when it comes to gadgets and gadgets. How to be frugal while enjoying technology and gadgets. How to be frugal while enjoying technology and gadgets. Being frugal doesn't mean you can't enjoy technology! Here are some tips on how not to break the bank with tech purchases. Read More That said, this is one area where it's worth spending a little extra for quality Attention Attention Homeowners:5 Smart Home Features Worth the Extra Cost Attention Homeowners:5 Smart Home Features Worth It the extra cost What smart home features are worth it? Which ones can be safely discarded and ignored? Let's take a look at some that are really worth it. Read more.
Arlo Wireless Home Security Camera System | Indoor / Outdoor | 3 Camera Kit with 1 Arlo Q &Skins (VMK3200) Arlo Wireless Home Security Camera System | Indoor / Outdoor | 3-Camera Kit w/ 1 Arlo Q &Skins (VMK3200) Buy Now On Amazon $558.49
The Arlo Q is an indoor camera with microphone/speakers for two-way communication, the ability to send alerts when motion or sound is detected, and free cloud storage for recording. The Arlo Wire-Free is weatherproof and works indoors and out. They both have night vision.
This is a particularly good buy if you've never had a home surveillance system before. What you will find is that there are many creative ways to use surveillance cameras. 6 Creative Uses for Wireless Surveillance Cameras in Your Home. 6 Creative Uses for Wireless Surveillance Cameras in Your Home. Security cameras are useful for more than just surveillance. With a bit of creativity and effort, you can improve your quality of life with these unusual ideas for your security cameras. Read More
What is included in the kit:
iSmartAlarm can send all kinds of updates (phone calls, text messages, emails and push notifications) when one of the accessories is activated, namely the motion sensor or contact sensors (which are placed on doors and windows to detect when they are opened).
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Plus, remote tags allow you to interact with the system even when you don't have your smartphone.
It's simple and straightforward, but you get a lot for the price. Two other packages are available:Deluxe comes with two more contact sensors than Prima comes with an iCamera Keep HD that you can use for visual and audio surveillance.
What is included in the kit:
This smart lighting kit from Lutron is pretty impressive. All you have to do is replace the wall switches with Lutron dimmers and you'll be able to control them from afar, either using the included remotes or the Lutron mobile app.
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What's even better is that you can schedule your lights to turn on or off at certain times during the day, and the times you set will automatically adjust for daylight saving time.
The Lutron system can be controlled in other ways, including Siri and Amazon Echo, and is compatible with Apple HomeKit. .
What is included in the kit:
Philips Hue smart lighting options tend to be a love or hate affair. At $60 per bulb, you're looking at real damage to your wallet, but once you see all the cool things you can do 7 Creative Uses For Colored LED Home Automation Lighting 7 Creative Uses For Lighting Color LED Home Automation Sure, it's automatically great, but it doesn't take advantage of the full spectrum of colors available with RGB lighting. For that, we need to be creative. Read More
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There's a bit of a learning curve, but it's not so bad that it'll hold you back. As long as you take your time, your next level smart home lighting 4 ways Philips Hue can take your lighting to the next level 4 ways Philips Hue can take your lighting to the next level Without Philips Hue, however, the smart home concept could never have got up off the ground. Here are some cool ways to make use of them. Read More And don't forget about these apps that are compatible with Philips Hue 8 Fabulous Apps for Philips Hue Lights 8 Fabulous Apps for Philips Hue Lights The Philips Hue system has its own app, but why settle for the default when there are so many great options ? there? These 8 apps give you fabulous options for some really cool effects. Read more !
One more thing to note is that Philips Hue is HomeKit compatible. Philips Hue works with HomeKit:How to get the most out of it Philips Hue works with HomeKit:How to get the most out of it Philips has finally managed to integrate HomeKit into its Hue lighting platform, and it's amazing. This is what you need to know. Read More
People thought that smart homes were a fad. Here we are several years later and the industry is going strong, and it doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon.
Want to see what the fuss is about? That's what these starter kits are for! Choose one that you find interesting and give it a try. At worst, it's just money down the drain. In the best of cases, it will change your life..
Keep in mind that there are some smart home security issues you should be aware of before you dive in, including the possibility of some devices infringing on your privacy. Your smart home works for the NSA, and you're being watched Your smart home works for the NSA The NSA and you're being watched It seems that the worst fears about the Internet of Things and smart home technology are being realized. Now the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, has stated that IoT devices are being used for surveillance. Read more . If you want to start at the lowest price, check out our comparison of the Amazon Echo Dot and Google Home Mini Google Home Mini vs. Amazon Echo Dot:The best smart speaker Google Home Mini vs. Amazon Echo Dot:The Best Small Smart Speaker Having a hard time choosing between the Google Home Mini and the Amazon Echo Dot? Find out which is the best affordable smart speaker. Read more.
