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Are you thinking about starting up smarthome?
But don’t jump directly in without a plan.
That’s how you end up makingcommon smarthome beginner mistakes.
Instead, before buying anything, you should ask yourself a few common-sense questions.
What Changes Can You Make to Your Home?
Creating a smarthome involves varying levels of installing new tech.
Some gadgets, likesmart plugsandvoice assistant speakers, are as simple as plugging the machine into an outlet.
Others entail making a physical change to your home, like changing the locks or doorbells.
But depending on your home situation, you may not be able to make those changes.
If you rent, for instance, you may not be allowed to change the locks without permission.
In some cases, the answer might always be no.
In other instances, installing tech may call for a particular expertise.
Are you comfortable with electrical work?
What about working with the plumbing of your home?
You would have to pay a professional to complete the install, which adds to price.
Josh Hendrickson / How-To Geek
What Do You Want to Accomplish?
For that reason alone, there are all kinds of smarthome devices you should avoid.
Pick one goal to accomplish and go after that first.
Google, Amazon
Do You Want to Do it Yourself?
Various companies likeControl4andSavantoffer customized smarthome systems it’s possible for you to purchase.
Control4, Savant, and others offer a single app solution to control your smarthome.
And they usually do work with outside services like Google Home and Alexa.
These companies do all the hard work for you, but at a premium cost.
How Much Do You Want to Spend?
Complete systems typically offer packages, so it’s the DIY route that involves more picking and choosing.
On the other hand, if you have a larger budget, you might upgrade toPhilips Hue bulbs.
This question isn’t a single ask scenario.
You should plan out stages: “How much do I want to spend now?
In a year?”
Rolling out your smarthome in stages will help spread the cost.
What Voice Assistant Should You Get?
But they aren’t the same.
Some smart devices only support Alexa or Google Assistant, while others support both.
Even among those that support both, the features aren’t always equal.
It’s a lot like picking Android or iPhone.
Both are capable systems that will likely meet most of your needs.
But small details do make a difference.
Whether that be a missing app only on iPhone, or a missing integration only found on Google Assistant.
Will Your Family and Guests Like Your Smarthome?
Do you live alone?
That’s true when guests come over as well.
You canmitigate these issueswith a few steps to make your smarthome easier to use for friends and family.
But it all starts with a conversation about the benefits of a smarthome.
Don’t make the mistake of diving right into the first smart gadget that catches your fancy.
Proper planning for your smarthome will prevent the need to undo mistakes and rebuy gadgets in the future.
And you’ll enjoy your smarthome more for it.
