Smart technology has the potential to completely revolutionise your home. From energy efficiency to safety, there are countless benefits of using smart technology - but what do you really need for your new build home?
Here’s a rundown of all the gadgets available right now.
Smart thermostats
Most of us aspire to having an energy-efficient home that’s not only warm and cosy, but cost-effective too.
Smart thermostats such as Hive and Nest allow you to control your heating remotely - so you can warm your house an hour before leaving work or lower the temperature when you’re away for a weekend, all from an app on your phone.
Voice devices
The likes of Amazon Alexa and Google Home are now fairly commonplace in British homes, allowing you to interact using your voice instead of a conventional device. The most useful feature is being able to control smart devices through them – whether that’s turning up thermostats or adjusting lighting throughout the house.
You might simply want to turn the TV on without having to get up off the sofa! From checking the weather forecast to playing podcasts, voice devices are getting smarter and smarter as the weeks and months go by, while this will only increase as technology and integration possibilities improve over time.
Smart bulbs
Smart bulbs allow you to turn your lights on and off from a phone app, or even by talking to them if synced up with a voice device.
The lights can easily be turned on and off or dimmed, and you can even get colour changing bulbs to suit your mood or the time of day.
CCTV
Home technology companies now offer clever CCTV which syncs up to an app on your phone, allowing you to keep an eye on your house remotely.
Ideal for when you’re at work or away on holiday, you can even store video footage when motion is detected.
Smart doorbells
Smart doorbells such as Ring integrate with phones, laptops and tablets. Not only can you communicate with anyone who comes to your front door via the built-in microphone and wide-angle lens, the motion settings send through notifications when there’s movement in front of your property.
The two-way communication capabilities and compatibility with smart devices are a real advance in home security. So when a delivery arrives and you’re at work or out and about, for instance, you’ll be able to speak to the driver, never having to wonder where your order has gone ever again.
Smart power switch
If you like keeping a handle on exactly how much money you’re spending on fuel, smart power switches not only allow you to monitor your energy consumption but allow you to switch off your TV and other electrical goods, without leaving them in standby mode.
Pet cams
And last but by no means least, pet cams are a fun way to keep an eye on your pet while you’re at work or out and about, making sure they’re not chewing the table legs or getting up to any other mischief.
The camera syncs with an app on your phone, and some even have extra functionality built in like treat dispensers and two-way communication.
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