IoT home automation was once a thing of the future – something that was so far-fetched that many said it would never become mainstream. Fast-forward to 2020 and the interweaving of the IoT and home automation is well and truly here. It’s no surprise that millions of people all over the world are smart-proofing their homes with sensors and appliances that work seamlessly together to improve efficiency and allow for easy automation. If you’d like to join the movement but you’re unsure where to invest your money, we’re about to share the areas where you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck.
Smart Gardens
If you spend a lot of time in your garden or if you are interested in growing your own food, this is an area where you’ll want to spend a lot of money. Treat yourself to a robotic lawnmower that will keep the grass cut to a pre-determined height. Put specialized sensors in the soil and they will trigger the irrigation system when dryness is detected. You can even invest in a motion sensor-activated electronic scarecrow that will spray water at creatures and animals that try to take advantage of your hard work.
None of these technologies are cheap but they’re more than worth the cost investment. If you don’t have access to cash now, why not secure the funding you need with a personal loan from a private lender? The monthly repayments can be made totally viable and the money you spend will add value to your home should you decide to sell.
Smart Windows
A smart window is so much more than a window that you can open and shut. Picture the windows automatically opening for sunrise and shutting for sunset. Let’s say you go to work and leave the windows open. Hours later there’s a big thunder shower and you’re sat at your desk thinking about what damage the rain is going to do. With smart windows, you don’t have to worry as they’ll automatically close by themselves when rain is detected.
Lighting
Home lighting has become so advanced in recent years. You can now connect all lights in your home to your mobile phone, giving you the ability to switch them on/off remotely. With the next generation of smart lighting, bulbs will be able to detect what movie you’re watching and they’ll get in on the atmosphere. Watching a horror flick? You may be left in total darkness to add to the suspense. Enjoying a comedy? The lights will start to flicker when the funny parts are on.
Home Appliances
Smart appliances are playing a huge in how people wake up in the morning. Smart alarms start to chime to signify it’s time to get up. That same alarm can play your favorite song to make you smile or, if you prefer, it will tell you breaking news of the day. Sound like too much? Let’s take a look at what a typical morning will look like for a typical smart homeowner in a few years.
The shutters will open slowly allowing the first light of the day to shine through. The smart alarm will chime with the person’s favorite tune and greet them good morning. In the bathroom, the temperature of the water is regulating to allow for a steaming hot shower. A coffee machine is already warming up down stairs to make the morning coffee and a TV can be heard in the background. The local news channel is on giving the headlines and the weather forecast. And all of this is happening while the person is still lying in bed thinking about getting up.
