7 smart home myths that just aren’t true

Now we really live in the future, and the advent of the smart home is just one of many events that are moving us forward. Unfortunately, since smart homes are new territory, many people have misconceptions about what they are and why they exist.

For those who don’t know, a smart home is just an ordinary home. which includes devices that have some level of connectivity. For example, thermostats that you can control from your smartphone, or light bulbs that turn off when you walk away from them.

These devices are called smart home products, but they are no different from most other gadgets — and this is just one of the many misconceptions that people have. Let’s deal with a few others!

1. “Smart homes are just tricks”

Whenever there is buzz around a new technology, it’s good to be a skeptic. It’s good to exercise some restraint and caution, mainly because so many interesting trends never really mean anything. They remain nothing more than tricks

And it is true: some smart home products are showing signs of dodge. We’ve already covered a few smart home products that you should ignore. and don’t be afraid to speak up when certain products are a waste of money. empty empty

But the fact that some smart home products are useless, does not mean that all they are useless. In fact, many of them are extremely practical and worth the investment.

Need examples? Start with the Nest thermostat, which can drastically cut your energy bill. cut your bill cut your bill There are all sorts of reputable smart home products that really deliver tangible benefits.

Not to mention that you can integrate many devices with IFTTT which opens up thousands of additional opportunities to improve everyday life. Remember when smartphones were gimmicks? Smart homes are on the same path.

2. «Smart homes are too expensive»

At first glance, many of the smart home products that have emerged over the past few years are somewhat overpriced. I mean get started with Philips Hue lamps can cost $200 while the Belkin WeMo smart plug can cost around $50 per plug.

smart home-account-socket thermostat

It’s obviously not cheap — and no one ever said that smart homes would be cheap. But if you think about it, it’s actually not that expensive, relatively speaking.

Not so long ago, we researched how much a smart home would actually cost. to implement if you only focus on the most practical points and don’t forget about the budget. What did we find? Just over $1,000 for a full setup, up to $4,000 if you splurge on the luxury options.

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There are many smart home options available. there. You just have to be smart about which ones you need. In comparison, new windows can cost upwards of $500 each, and a bathroom remodel can easily cross the $10,000 threshold.

How do you keep from overspending? Just look at these important smart home features worth buying smart home features that cost

3. «Smart homes are too technical»

The phrase «smart home» can conjure up images of complex panels and circuits, all of which require a healthy level of knowledge to even get started. As it turns out, most smart home products are much simpler than you’d expect.

Yes, some smart home products may include some technical skills, like the Nest thermostat that needs to be hooked up to your climate control system, but most other products are as simple as self-adjusting. This is not an exaggeration.

Now if you want to get really futuristic and start controlling everything in your house with just your voice then of course you will need to get down and dirty. But all this is optional. Worst case scenario, you can just hire someone to do it for you!

4. “Everyone needs a smart home”

On the opposite side of the aisle from the naysayers, we have the fanatics — those who have discovered the greatness of the smart home and are now trying to convert everyone else to join them. None of this is malicious, but it could be misleading.

The truth is that while smart home products can be amazingly useful, not everyone needs them.

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For example, it makes more sense to design your residence when it is a home that you personally own. If you are renting an apartment or apartment renting apartments and condos connecting the Nest thermostat may violate the terms of the lease. It’s also annoying to cancel everything when you exit.

Bottom line: if you’ve found a smart home product you think might come in handy, go for it. If you look around and nothing suits you, then forget about it. Finally, if you don’t needed smart home, why force it?

5. «Smart homes keep you safe»

Smart device devices popularity is on the rise, and if you haven’t seen it with your own eyes yet, just give it another year or two. This is one trend that is causing a storm and will explode soon.

But for the skeptic, one question comes to the fore: Do smart security devices really improve home security?

And the answer is… it depends, but in most cases not really.

We’ve highlighted some cool stuff in the past, like these smart door locks. that can detect your presence and block/unblock accordingly, or these smart home settings that can stop intruders In fact, if you get creative, you can even use LED home security lights. reliability

But many of these methods can be done in non-smart ways, and some of them don’t actually improve security — they just offer peace of mind and illusion security that can still be useful. Ultimately, no smart home security system is foolproof.

6. «Smart Homes Have No Privacy»

Many anti-smart home people often argue that smart home products can compromise your privacy. And you know what? Technically, they are not wrong.

Not so long ago, there was news that some smart TVs are spying on users. and smart TVs aren’t the only culprits. Other devices can spy on you — and send your data to the NSA. » ! This is just one of several common smart home problems.” problems

But the fact that some smart home products can violate privacy, does not mean that all they make. Or, in other words, you can decorate your home using only products that respect your privacy.

As long as you avoid anything with a camera or microphone, you should be good to go. Of all the ways to keep track of your privacy. video and audio recordings are really the worst. But what harm can a smart thermostat, a smart sprinkler, or a smart light bulb do?

7. «Smart Homes Ready for Consumers»

Smart home technology is exciting. As we explore over and over again, there are many interesting things you can do with it — and while some products come out silly or ephemeral, many of them are productive and useful.