What Is a Smart Home? (2024)

FAQs

What does having a smart home mean? ›

A smart home allows homeowners to control appliances, thermostats, lights, and other devices remotely using a smartphone or tablet through an internet connection. Smart homes can be set up through wireless or hardwired systems.

Here are some more examples of smart home technology: Smart lighting that can be asked to turn on and off, control brightness, or dim the lights. Smart appliances such as smart ovens, smart dishwashers, and smart refrigerators. Smart security devices such as smart door locks, smart alarms, and smart cameras.

Smart homes allow you to have greater control of your energy use, all while automating things like adjusting temperature, turning on and off lights, opening and closing window treatments, and adjusting irrigation based on the weather.

At the most basic level, home automation systems are made up of three elements: a smart hub, a smartphone application, and a smart device.

Smart homes are often more expensive than their less smart counterpart products, but they offer several benefits that make them worth the investment. With a smart home, you'll have greater control over your home's security, temperature, and energy usage, and you'll be able to save money on your utility bills.

Any house can be a smart home as long as it has reliable internet service, a Wi-Fi router and smart devices or appliances. A whole-home hub is optional when creating a smart home. One can simply set up a few essential fixtures, like a lamp and a thermostat, and reap the energy-saving benefits of smart home automation.

Most custom installations start at around $10,000 and easily go as high as $100,000, depending on the size of your home and desired level of automation. Your bill will be divided into three primary costs for any professional installation: devices, labor, and wiring.

The word "smart" in "smart home" refers to the system being aware of the state of its devices, which is done through the information and communication technologies (ICT) protocol and the Internet of Things (IoT).

While some devices don't need an active Wi-Fi connection to work, most of them do. To sum up, most smart home devices need an active internet connection to provide you with the best possible experience.

Are smart homes still popular? ›

Consumer spending on smart home technology is steadily increasing. In 2022, it's estimated that global consumers will have spent $135 billion on smart home systems. By 2025, that number is estimated to rise to $170 billion (that's a 26% growth rate.)

However, it's essential to consider the potential drawbacks, such as compatibility issues, internet outages, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, complexity, and initial startup costs. By understanding the pros and cons of smart home technology, you can make an informed decision about integrating it into your home.

All devices -- such as lights, thermostats, security systems and appliances -- are controlled by a master home automation controller, often called a smart home hub. This hub is a hardware device that acts as the central point of the smart home system and can sense, process data and communicate wirelessly.

As such, the cost of a DIY smart home system will directly reflect what elements of the home you want to automate. Other factors, like wiring and protocols, can affect price, but most of the budget will go directly to appliances. On average, homeowners can expect to pay $2,000 to $4,000 for basic home automation.

Does a Smart Home Increase a Home's Value? Smart home technology can definitely add to market value. Appraisers make what they call “adjustments” when they compare tech-enabled homes with similar but tech-deficient houses. Smart homes command higher prices and may be easier to sell as a result.