How To Get Smart With Our Smart Home Automation Guide!

Do you travel often and need to keep track of your home's security from afar? Or maybe you have an airbnb and you want to change the code to the front door after every guest? How about a watering system for the garden, that you can control with an app? A heating system that is outdoor temperature sensitive? It is true, a simple timer on your home's circuit board can turn lights on and off at set times, but a smart burglar might realize that that lights always go on at exactly the same minute, so maybe varying when the lights go on, from afar is the best way to go about it? These are just a few examples of ways to streamline your life with smart home automation! And just by the way, the terms "smart home", "home automation" and "home control system" are interchangeable terms that generally mean the same thing, namely a "smart" system that gives you automated and intuitive control of home amenities such as music, lighting, security, surveillance, climate, window treatments and more.

Okay, maybe I've peaked your interest regarding an automated home but don't know where to start? This Smart Home Automation Guide for Beginners is a great way to get started and up your knowledge and your game in just one article! Okay, let's get started, now is the time to get smart!

A Few General Facts

• Smart home automation can be as simple as a single WiFi light bulb than can be controlled through an app or as complicated as an entire integrated system that controls many automated functions in your home.

• Smart home automation can be operated from traditional user interfaces like keypads, touch panels, smartphones and remote controls, though voice control systems are becoming a preferred method of controlling smart devices in a home, as it is easier, faster, and more convenient to simply tell your home to handle the task!

Choosing the Right Devices

One of the first steps in creating an automated home is choosing the right devices. There are a variety of products on the market, so it's important to select the ones that fit your needs and budget. When choosing devices, consider what you want to automate today, as well as possible future needs.

• A custom automation system is not an off the shelf product, but rather designed by a professional to meet your exact needs regarding function, size of home and budget. It can be easily upgraded when needs change.

• A hub is a device that acts as a central point for all of your devices and can be used to create automation. But be aware, if the Wi-Fi in your house is finicky, your wireless smart home system will suffer from communications glitches, like the lights not turning on when you tell them to. You may also run into minor (or major, depending on your level of technical aptitude) hiccups during the configuration of a DIY home automation system. As simple to install as they promise to be, like any home improvement, it’s never THAT easy. Many of the stores that sell these systems offer some level of technical assistance, though if you are even the slightest bit nervous about tackling the design and installation of a home control system on your own, it’s wise to consider the systems and services offered by professional home technology integrators.

• A smart speaker is a device that plays your favorite music, provides answers from verbally introduced questions, and controls parts of your home using a built-in virtual assistant feature. A smart speaker expands what we normally think of as a music playback system.

• Motion sensors can be used not just in security systems but also to signal when a room or area is not in use and therefore does not need light/heat etc., or when someone gets up in the middle of the night and needs some light for safety.

 

• Thermostats can be used to turn on heat or air conditioning, of course, but also to signal that blinds or drapes need to be closed, or that the garden needs watering.

 

• A Lighting control system controls lights only, where as a security control system controls security, and so on.

 

How Much Does It Cost?

ere are many different factors that can affect home automation costs. The first is obviously the size of your home. The larger the home and the more rooms it has, the more home automation equipment will need to be used. This can drive up the cost. The quality of the finish will also play a part in the cost. Smart home technology is quite advanced, so you’ll have lots of choice between everything from speakers to light switches. Opt for expensive, top-of-the-range equipment and the costs can quickly shoot up. Lastly, the level of customisation you want will affect the cost. You can buy off-the-shelf equipment such as Google Home Hub controllers or Amazon Echo speakers and link them to Nest Hello video doorbells, Hive Active thermostats and smart tap controllers yourself. Alternatively, you can bring in a specialist to install a personalised custom system just for your home. Needless to say, this can be extremely costly. All things considered, you could pay as little as £400 for a DIY home automation setup in one room, or anywhere up to £150,000 for a custom smart home system in a large house.
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• When it comes to the cost of home automation, of course there are many factors. The first one is the size of your home, as the more rooms the more home automation equipment is needed.
• The quality of the equipment can greatly affect the cost
• The level of customization will also affect the cost, whether you decide to purchase off-the-shelf equipment, or decide to bring in a specialist to install a custom system designed for your home and needs.
  
• You could pay as little as $400 for a quality DIY home automation system for one room, or as much as $100,000 for a custom system for a large home.

What Are Some Of The Ways To Use Smart Home Technology?

an I install home automation systems myself? It depends on what products or systems you go for. Many types of consumer smart home tech can be installed easily, and integrated with your home using apps. But for custom or more complicated systems covering the whole house, it’s recommended to bring in a professional. Will I need an electrician? Yes, you will need an electrician if you’re having a home installation system installed. This will ensure that everything is working correctly and how you want it to.
Copyright Checkatrade. Using this information in an article or blog? Please add a link back to https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/average-cost-home-automation/

ere are many different factors that can affect home automation costs. The first is obviously the size of your home. The larger the home and the more rooms it has, the more home automation equipment will need to be used. This can drive up the cost. The quality of the finish will also play a part in the cost. Smart home technology is quite advanced, so you’ll have lots of choice between everything from speakers to light switches. Opt for expensive, top-of-the-range equipment and the costs can quickly shoot up. Lastly, the level of customisation you want will affect the cost. You can buy off-the-shelf equipment such as Google Home Hub controllers or Amazon Echo speakers and link them to Nest Hello video doorbells, Hive Active thermostats and smart tap controllers yourself. Alternatively, you can bring in a specialist to install a personalised custom system just for your home. Needless to say, this can be extremely costly. All things considered, you could pay as little as £400 for a DIY home automation setup in one room, or anywhere up to £150,000 for a custom smart home system in a large house.
Copyright Checkatrade. Using this information in an article or blog? Please add a link back to https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/average-cost-home-automation/

There are many different factors that can affect home automation costs. The first is obviously the size of your home. The larger the home and the more rooms it has, the more home automation equipment will need to be used. This can drive up the cost. The quality of the finish will also play a part in the cost. Smart home technology is quite advanced, so you’ll have lots of choice between everything from speakers to light switches. Opt for expensive, top-of-the-range equipment and the costs can quickly shoot up. Lastly, the level of customisation you want will affect the cost. You can buy off-the-shelf equipment such as Google Home Hub controllers or Amazon Echo speakers and link them to Nest Hello video doorbells, Hive Active thermostats and smart tap controllers yourself. Alternatively, you can bring in a specialist to install a personalised custom system just for your home. Needless to say, this can be extremely costly. All things considered, you could pay as little as £400 for a DIY home automation setup in one room, or anywhere up to £150,000 for a custom smart home system in a large house.
Copyright Checkatrade. Using this information in an article or blog? Please add a link back to https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/average-cost-home-automation/

There are many different factors that can affect home automation costs. The first is obviously the size of your home. The larger the home and the more rooms it has, the more home automation equipment will need to be used. This can drive up the cost. The quality of the finish will also play a part in the cost. Smart home technology is quite advanced, so you’ll have lots of choice between everything from speakers to light switches. Opt for expensive, top-of-the-range equipment and the costs can quickly shoot up. Lastly, the level of customisation you want will affect the cost. You can buy off-the-shelf equipment such as Google Home Hub controllers or Amazon Echo speakers and link them to Nest Hello video doorbells, Hive Active thermostats and smart tap controllers yourself. Alternatively, you can bring in a specialist to install a personalised custom system just for your home. Needless to say, this can be extremely costly. All things considered, you could pay as little as £400 for a DIY home automation setup in one room, or anywhere up to £150,000 for a custom smart home system in a large house.
Copyright Checkatrade. Using this information in an article or blog? Please add a link back to https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/average-cost-home-automation/

SMART LIGHTING IDEAS
• Control all lighting for a given room or floor with just one button.
• Double-tap the same button to turn everything (lighting, electronics, devices, etc.) in the room off.
• When then garage door is opened after dark, the outdoor lights leading up to the home's entrance and lights just inside the house automatically turn on.
• Switch off lights when a room has been vacant for a certain period, using motion sensors.
• Landscape lighting can turn on automatically at sunset (and off again at sunrise) and then dim to 20% at 11pm to conserve energy.
• Provide safety for those who rise in the middle of the night, with a motion sensor that turns lights to 15% (just enough light to see, not to be blinded).

SMART MUSIC IDEAS
• Stream music to every room in your home, with a dedicated keypad place in each room.
• Music starts automatically in the bathroom when you turn on the shower lights.
• Install a touch screen behind a waterproof wall mount in your shower to control music streaming in the shower.
• Create a variety of “Music” scenes, which sets the lights and volume at a certain level whether for a party, a workout, or a late night study session.

SMART SECURITY IDEAS
• Automate your bedroom touch screen to see who’s at the door when the bell rings from your front door or gate intercom.
• Built-in alerts which will notify you if the front door is left open for longer than five minutes or if the front gate is ajar for longer than ten.
• Access security video feed remotely from your smartphone, from anywhere in the world.
• Receive a text when your security cameras detect motion.
• Program the lights (including in the master shower) to flash three times when an exterior door opens.
• Program strategically placed surveillance cameras to stream security video to select touch screens when instructed to do so.
•“Mockupancy” scenes – lighting that is automated to make the house appear occupied when you’re away on a trip.
• Forget to lock your doors? – Program the doors to auto-lock three minutes after the garage door closes when you leave for work. 

EVERYDAY ALERTS AND NOTIFICATIONS
• Install a contact sensor in the mailbox and get a text message when mail gets delivered.
• Receive a text alert when a garage door is left open.
• Receive an automatic text alert for a problematic event, such as a pipe leak in the basement.
• Receive a notification when motion has been detected in a specific room (such as your home office).

CLIMATE CONTROL IDEAS
•  Program shades and drapes to open and close automatically based on time of day and whether you want to protect furniture etc. from sun or need it in certain areas for plants.
•  Program a “Wakeup” scene for a gentle wake up, that opens the curtains, raises lighting slowly over a period of five minutes and sets the temperature to your preferred level.
•  Automatically turn down heat when you leave for work in the morning, or at any time of day when the house might be empty.

ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION AUTOMATION IDEAS                       
• Implement an energy management system that continually monitors the current energy production of your home’s solar panels.
• Measure your entire home’s energy consumption, circuit by circuit, automatically with your home automation system.
• Automate your home’s lights to never be at full brightness.  Employ a lighting system that reads the natural light in the room, and when it is less than 50%, lights adjust to 50%. If natural light is less than 40%, lights increase to 60%, and so on.
• Set sprinklers and lawn systems to respond automatically to weather conditions (so you’re not watering the lawn on rainy days).

Installing and Setting Up Automation Systems

Once you've chosen the right devices, it's time to install and set up your automation system. This process will vary depending on the type of system you choose. For scene controllers, hubs, and voice assistants, you'll typically need to download an app and create an account. Then, you'll be able to add your devices and start automating.

For light switches and bulbs, installation is a little bit different. In most cases, you'll need to remove your old switch or bulb and replace it with the new one. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully so that you don't damage any of your devices.

Also, keep in mind that not all devices are compatible with each other. When selecting devices, make sure to choose ones that are compatible with each other. This will help make your smart home more efficient and easy to use.

Troubleshooting

Even the best automation systems can sometimes experience issues. When this happens, it's important to know how to troubleshoot them. The first step is identifying the issue. Then, you can take steps to fix it.

If you're having trouble connecting your devices, make sure they are all on the same network and that your Wi-Fi signal is strong enough. If your devices are working but you're not getting the results you expected, check the settings and make sure everything is configured correctly.

If you're still experiencing problems after checking these things, there may be a software issue. In this case, contact the manufacturer or visit their website for support.

Home Warranty

Setting up all these protections involves a lot of appliances integrated and otherwise. You may need a new home warranty to protect your integrated systems. A burglar, for example, could damage your systems trying to break in or crash your security so on top of having all these systems integrated to protect your home while you away you should protect your wallet in the process with warranty protection on the appliances/systems used that qualify.

A home warranty plan can also help you protect your major appliances that can also become damaged by your AirBnB guests like the dishwasher, stove, integrated doorbell, automated sprinkler systems, and a range of other expensive to replace or repair appliances/systems. It's always a good idea to cover your bases with home automation security concepts but be sure to protect the rest of your home in the process with a good warranty.

The Future of Smart Home Automation

As technology continues to evolve, so does the world of smart home automation. In the future, we can expect even more devices and features that will make our lives easier. For example, there are already voice assistants that can control your thermostat. And as autonomous cars become more common, we can expect them to be integrated into smart homes as well.

The future of smart home automation is exciting and full of possibilities. Creating a smart home doesn't have to be difficult. With the right devices and automation system, you can easily create a home that meets your needs and budget. Exciting right?