Table of Contents
As smart homes become more popular and the pace of tech continues to intensify, it can be tough to figure out what kind of upgrades are right for your home. You can consider the points below when you choose what tech to put your money toward over the next few years.
What You Need
It may sound somewhat obvious, but it’s surprising how many people never ask themselves what exactly it is they need their tech to do. Instead, many buy because they are exciting by a new feature or because their friend or neighbor has it. They buy because they think they should have it even though they can’t articulate a need for it. There are a lot of good reasons to get voice-activated systems, such as if you lack the dexterity to operate other controls or you often have your hands full doing something else. It making you feel like you’re in your favorite science fiction film, may not be a good enough reason if your money would be better spent elsewhere.
Specific Brands and Features
Once you have identified your main needs, think more specifically about the features you want and the brand that offers them. Perhaps you have decided you need a home lift because your kitchen is inconveniently placed on a different floor where you tend to eat, because someone who lives in your home has mobility issues or for both of these reasons. You’d then need to look at the different options to find the one that best suits your situation. If it’s likely that the lift will need to carry two people at a time, you need to make sure to get something like the Lifton DUO lift, which has this capacity. When you’re choosing among several options, consider as well the quality of the product, recommendations from friends and family, and what reviews say about it.
Security
It’s important to choose equipment that will keep data safe and that won’t be vulnerable to attacks. Just as no house is impenetrable if someone really wants to break in, no system can offer perfect security, but you should make sure the manufacturer and installer can explain what they’re doing to keep your system safe. You may want to consider two-factor authentication. You could also use a different network for your smart devices than you do for your computer.
Future Proofing
One thing to keep in mind when you’re getting started is that you can begin with just one or two items and build from there. Another thing to consider is where you think future tech will take you and if what you’re buying now will be compatible a few years down the road. This can be tough to predict, but think about your current lifestyle and how your needs are likely to change in the future. If you’re renovating a room, you may want to make sure there is plenty of space for cable and wiring. If you’re building a garage, you might want to include space to add an electric car charger.
