More and more homeowners are beginning to implement home automation features into their homes. Whole home audio, climate control, keyless alarms – these features are meant to enhance your life and make things a whole lot simpler. It’s no wonder everyone wants a smart-home!
These features are so exciting that many people want to get started as soon as possible – but without the proper research! There’s a right and a wrong way to bring smart-home features into your home.
If you’re thinking home automation might be for you, do yourself a favor and continue reading – we’re spilling the 5 most common mistakes homeowner’s make with home automation.
1. Mixing up home control and home automation
There are many “smart-home” products on the market today that you can buy at the store and control from your phone within hours of purchase. But here’s the thing – that’s called home control, not home automation. There’s a difference. Home control is when you purchase one product, set it up, and then use your iPhone to control it. You might have 5-10 of these types of products in your home. You can control each product from your phone individually through a separate app, but they won’t work together.
And that’s where home automation steps in. Home automation is when you trigger a series of events through integration. For example, say you are leaving for the day and you want turn to everything off. All you have to do is go to your keypad and press “away” – just this one action will trigger all TVs, music and lights to turn off, as well as change your thermostat to “leave” mode and arm your alarm. This is where the true value of home automation comes in. You invest in home automation features to make your life easier, not to be opening and closing different apps all day.
2. DIY installation
Many of the “smart-home” products spoken about above are easy to set up yourself. However, as also stated above, you’ll be left with numerous apps you’ll have to use all day to control your products. Home automation products need to be professional installed and programmed, but the benefits are endless – to start, total home control from the touch of a single button.
Too many people attempt to install home automation products themselves, only to realize they need a professional when it’s too late. These products are meant to seamlessly integrate into your home, not cause disruption. For best results, work with a professional.
3. Purchasing the wrong products
We see too many homeowners purchase their own home automation products before reaching out to an installer, when in actuality, things should happen the other way around. You can do the research, of course, but before purchasing any product, you definitely want to talk with a professional. A professional home automation installer won’t recommend products without getting to know you and your needs. The products and features right for some, may not be the same for you.
Another problem with purchasing your products before talking with an installer is that you might purchase something that won’t work correctly in your home. It’s best to get a professional opinion first.
4. Relying on poor WiFi
If you have home automation features in your home, you need great WiFi to make things run smoothly. Your typical WiFi plan won’t make the cut – you need a professional system, like the Ruckus Wireless system. The same WiFi you can get installed in your home is used at the NY Stock Exchange and Olympic Stadiums, just scaled down for a residential application.
A great WiFi system will use access points to cover the entire house, as well as your outdoor area. WiFi is the backbone of your entire system, so it’s important that it’s reliable.
5. Assuming home automation features can only be installed in new builds
Yes, it’s true that home automation is found in a lot of new homes – that’s because builders, architects and designers are making the implementation a part of their process. Home automation used to be considered a luxury, and though it’s still luxurious, it’s now a necessity. Buyers expect numerous features in new homes.
But that doesn’t mean that home automation is only for new builds – all features can be seamlessly integrated into existing homes too!
Now that you know the common mistakes to avoid, are you ready to get started with your smart home? Whether you’re a homeowner who wants to add custom features into your own home, or builder, architect or designer looking to work with a home automation partner to get your new homes up to par, Lifetronic Systems can help. We provide smart home technology for homes and businesses in Connecticut, New York, and beyond. Reach out to get started!
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