If you’re still on the fence about automating your home, it could be in part due to some industry fallacies.
Today, we’ll get straight to the point in an attempt to dispel some myths about smart home technologies so you can make the best choice.
- Automation of the Home Is Simply Too Expensive
- To Utilize Smart Devices, You Must Be Extremely Tech-Savvy
- At All Costs, Everyone Must Have a Smart Home
- Because a smart home provides no privacy, it is not a worthwhile investment
- It Isn’t a Valuable Investment Creating a Wi-Fi-enabled Home
- All Smart Devices Are a Scam
- You Can Only Purchase Smart Devices From Amazon or Google
- All Devices You Purchase Will Work Instantly Together
- A Smart Thermostat Will Save You a Bundle of Money
- You Must Invest Fully in Whole-House Intelligent Lighting
1) Automation of the Home Is Simply Too Expensive
Perhaps the primary deterrent for those opposed to home automation is the fear that it will be prohibitively expensive.
Being prohibitively expensive is not the case.
To begin, let us establish that there is absolutely no reason to purchase everything at once. The majority of folks do not.
To get started smartening up your home, you can get a home hub for far under $100. This serves as the foundation for your ecosystem, ensuring that compatible devices operate in unison.
Add a smart speaker, such as an Echo or Google Home, and you’ve got the makings of hands-free control at an extremely affordable price.
From here, you can easily add additional devices as your budget allows.
If your ambitions for a connected house are modest, you will spend very little money.
2) To Utilize Smart Devices, You Must Be Extremely Tech-Savvy
Another prevalent fallacy that prevents some individuals from adopting smart technology is the belief that it will be too complicated.
The great majority of devices are wireless and embody the ease of plug-and-play.
All you need to do is download a smartphone app. If you prefer to communicate via voice commands, consider adding a smart speaker to the mix.
After connecting your device to your home WiFi network – simply follow the simple on-screen directions in the app – you’ll be able to operate your gadgets however you want.
That is, in essence, the amount of the required technical expertise.
True, certain wired thermostats that require connection to an HVAC system require additional expertise. However, if you’re being completely candid, wouldn’t you just contact an electrician?
Certain ecosystems are more manageable than others. If you’re searching for a simple way to get started with home automation, why not consider developing an Insteon ecosystem? As a result, you’ll have a fantastic connected home that’s a breeze to navigate and very reliable. By contrast, Apple HomeKit can be a little more challenging to establish and learn.
3) At All Costs, Everyone Must Have a Smart Home
Certain individuals feel compelled to automate their home, even if it makes little sense. Avoid falling for the myth that you must have a smart house at any costs.
While home automation may clearly make life easier, safer, and more convenient, not everyone is a good fit for linked devices.
If, for example, you are renting an apartment, it makes little sense to begin installing hardwired gadgets. Your landlord may even be opposed to such modifications.
We usually urge anyone considering a journey into home automation to spend ample time planning before diving into the purchasing phase. Consider what you hope to accomplish by investing in a smart home. Be self-assured enough to refuse if it is not the best course of action for you.
4) Because a smart home provides no privacy, it is not a worthwhile investment
You might be forgiven for having a pessimistic attitude toward security and privacy in a connected house. Several big security breaches involving exposed data over the last couple of years have demonstrated the importance of taking safeguards.
However, it is simply not true that you cannot enjoy privacy in a connected house.
If you’re very concerned about this, avoid gadgets equipped with a camera or microphone. When audio and video are removed from the equation, it is exceedingly improbable that you will fall victim to any type of cyber assault.
As is the case with all elements of home automation, if you prepare correctly, there is no reason why you should not feel perfectly secure and at ease within your smart home.
5) It Isn’t a Valuable Investment Creating a Wi-Fi-enabled Home
To be sure, this viewpoint is frequently advanced by individuals opposed to investing in home automation. This truly depends on how you define an investment…
For us, any investment in a smart gadget provides an immediate return on investment. Whether it improves your life by making it faster, safer, or more accessible, there is almost always an immediate benefit.
Additionally, if you’re wanting to sell your home, a certain smart home technology can boost both the desirability and overall price.
If you are not planning to sell your home, it is obvious that you will benefit from continuing to use those smart gadgets.
Thus, we’d suggest that this assessment of smart home devices as a terrible gamble isn’t totally correct.
6) All Smart Devices Are a Scam
While the view that smart technology is nothing more than a novelty is fading, there are still plenty of skeptics who doubt the utility of connected products.
At Smarthome, we’re always on the lookout for technologies that fall short of expectations. However, in the majority of circumstances, a connected kit performs a variety of useful activities.
Frequently, those advocating this position have a weak understanding of domotics. Perhaps they have mixed it up with robotics. If you set aside the more fantastical bleeding edge of home automation, you’ll discover that the average device is quite helpful.
When you approach your door with your hands full of shopping and it automatically opens for you, consider whether the smart lock is a gimmick.
Likewise, if a carbon monoxide or leak sensor prevents you from having an accident and filing an insurance claim.
7) You Can Only Purchase Smart Devices From Amazon or Google
Amazon and Google dominate the fiercely competitive smart speaker market.
Along with Google Home speakers, Echo devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes and offer the world’s most famous pair of digital assistants in the form of Alexa and Google Assistant.
Then how about going beyond hands-free control?
Amazon, on the other hand, continues to advance with a slew of new items announced at the company’s latest hardware event, complementing some acquisitions and an ever-growing inventory of smart home products.
Google has also revamped Nest, resulting in the all-new Google Nest taking care of all your connected home needs.
There are, however, far more prominent companies in the smart home business, and you’ll have the option of selecting your video doorbell, security system, or garage door opener from a whole roster of recognized manufacturers in addition to the two mentioned above.
8) All Devices You Purchase Will Work Instantly Together
Many newcomers to home automation have been instantly harmed by purchasing a slew of disparate devices in the hope that they will all perform seamlessly together.
Despite their numerous benefits, smart gadgets lack a truly unified standard.
When you begin exploring gadgets, you will come across many communication protocols such as Zigbee and Z-Wave. Additionally, there are protocols such as Insteon, WiFi, and Bluetooth, implying that interoperability is far from guaranteed.
Additionally, you’ll often require a home hub to get various gadgets to sing from the same hymn sheet.
As a result, if you’re a rookie and expecting things to work seamlessly from the start, you may be little disappointed.
9) A Smart Thermostat Will Save You a Bundle of Money
This misconception is primarily perpetuated by makers of smart thermostats, who advertise savings of up to 25%.
To be honest, this is an unrealistic forecast that will likely result in disappointment. We’d estimate that you’re significantly more likely to see a 10% reduction in your electricity consumption. This is an amazing small discount, but we are not dealing with huge quantities of money here.
10) You Must Invest Fully in Whole-House Intelligent Lighting
While smart lighting is a popular entry point for home automation, it can also be both expensive and sophisticated.
If you want to put switches throughout the house, pricing and installation expenditures might quickly escalate.
Additionally, it is extremely likely that you will require the services of an electrician.
If you want to explore with smart lighting, start slowly. Purchase a few bulbs first and assess your performance.