You might be wondering if home automation is worth the effort before you commit to making your home smart.
Is home automation worth it?
Home automation is worth the investment. Automation can make your day easier and more fun. You can also significantly reduce your energy bills. It can be costly to get started, so you need to be open to experimenting.
It all depends on your goals and the end result you are trying to achieve. It all depends on your financial situation. You have to think about your lifestyle and your personality as well. Do you enjoy tinkering and new technology? Or are you a Luddite?
The best place to begin is with the last question: Are you a luddite?
Are you a Luddite?
If you aren’t a fan of technology or the work required to set it all up properly, home automation might not be right for you.
Home automation is time, according to my experience.
It takes time to decide which products to purchase, how they should be set up, how to get them to work with other products, and what automations you need to create. Then, it’s time to tweak those automations until they are just right.
Et cetera.
There are many companies that specialise in installing smart homes for you, but all of them come with a price.
This might be an option if budget is not a concern.
Be aware of the potential additional costs if something goes wrong.
You won’t be the one to make everything work, so you will most likely need to rely on someone else.
Home automation is a great option for those of you who are budget conscious and still enthusiastic about it.
We’ve cleared the first hurdle. We know you are excited about new technology and willing to spend some time learning how it works.
What are you trying to accomplish?
You’ll be very disappointed if you are disillusioned with smart homes and believe that once they’re set up, you won’t need to lift another finger.
Home automation, in my view, is about simplifying everyday routines and making them more enjoyable.
My wife and I hated the idea of coming home to a locked house.
Although it sounds absurd, I’m sure you’ve experienced this feeling at least once in your entire life.
When you get home, your hands are stuffed with groceries and your front door is locked.
It’s frustrating when you try to get your keys out of your jeans pockets, but it just isn’t possible.
You feel your biceps burning and are beginning to accept that you will need to drop all 50 grocery bags (for one trip or nothing) on the front steps to unlock the door.
This happened to us many times before we decided to take action.
This problem has been solved completely by our August Smart Lock Pro. Our front door unlocks automatically when we are within a specified distance from our home.
We don’t have to worry about being locked out because August smart locks use your existing key slot and bolt lock. You can also keep your existing keys as a backup.
We also have the option to grant access to our family members from our phones, as well as the ability to lock and unlock our doors when we are away.
It took only 10 minutes to set up!
This is the kind of everyday annoyance that home automation can solve.
If you find this exciting, then home automation might be worth your while.
But at what price?
Are you in debt right now?
If I weren’t writing about smart-home tech, I’d probably be writing about personal finances. That is why ?I am passionate about it. You have credit card debt, student loans, and car payments. Stop now, my advice. Use the money that you are considering investing in smart home products to pay off your debt.
Smart home tech and home automation are merely a hobby. There are many useful and real applications. It is not an absolute necessity.
How to get out of debt. It should.
Budget setting
Next, think realistically about what you are willing to spend.
You don’t need a lot to get started, even if you don’t have much money. You can build your smart house from that money over time.
(Check out my 5 Cheapest Home Automation Ideas).
Regardless of how you approach building your smart home, it will help you determine how much money you are willing to spend.
This is something that I know many others have experienced, but it was my first experience in home automation. I started buying new things every day.
It was all a coincidence and by week one, I had already invested 500 dollars in my smart home project.
I was just starting to get started with five smart switches (160), an Echo Show (150), smart locks (150), smart plugs (44) and smart plugs (32).
Set a budget from the beginning and stick with it.
Stop and take a deep breath after you have reached your budget. You can ask for gifts at Christmas and on your birthday, and you can build your home over time.
This is just my opinion, but you can do what you want.
How is your living situation right now?
Your current living situation is the last thing you should consider.
Are you a homeowner or do you rent? What length of time do you intend to stay if you rent?
I advise you to wait until you are ready.
You can certainly set up products and home automations as a renter, but your options are limited.
However, if you own your property, you have unlimited options.
Do you want to make a hole in the wall and add a window? You can do it. You might consider adding shelving to your pantry. It’s possible.
The same applies to your home automation projects.
Although some smart home products may be simpler than others, they will all require some modification to existing structures or fixtures.
After you have spent all that time getting everything set up and working properly, you won’t want to take it down/take it apart and haul it with you.
This is not to suggest that you cannot rent this property. It’s just a little trickier.
Conclusion
So, is home automation worth it? Well…
- You must be interested in technology and enjoy the idea of tinkering.
- You should also realise that smart home technology is not going to solve your entire life’s problems. Instead, it is best for automating a few of your daily routines.
- Pay off any debts first.
- If you are the owner of your home, you can do whatever you like! Renting is a great option, but you need to think about what you want to achieve and determine if it is worth it.
