Ways Technology Can Improve Your Home
In-home technology is everywhere in the modern-day, and there is good reason for that. In fact, in 2020 YouGov found that one in four Brits now has a smart speaker in their home – which is just one type of in-home technology on the market. This revelation can have myriad benefits, different in every home and for every user. In this article, we explore some of the ways that bringing in in-home and smart technology can make a difference in your life.
It can make your home more accessible
One of the biggest benefits of in-home technology and smart technology is the level of accessibility it can bring. Great for not only those who struggle with mobility but those who may just be looking for help around the home like parents with young children.
The first way that smart technology can help is through mobile control, allowing you the ability to control different elements of your home from your phone. So, if you’re lying in bed feeling the cold and want to turn on the heating or are nursing a baby and want to turn the lights off to get them to sleep, you don’t need to move.
You can also think much larger when it comes to in-house technology, for example with internal home lifts. Don’t worry about having to carry your shopping up heavy stairs anymore, easily move between floors of your house and add that touch of luxury a home lift can bring. You may have never considered a lift before, but there are many benefits they can bring to your home and upgrade your in-house technology.
READ MORE: Tips for future-proofing your home
Pressing buzzer on doorbell with camera
It can make your home safer
Smart technology in the home can centre a lot about making you feel safer and more secure in your space. From camera doorbells that allow you to see who is at the door before opening it and recording the goings-on outside your home to technology that’ll let you check from your phone that all of your windows and doors are locked, it can offer a lot of peace of mind.
Which? explain some of the other ways that technology can be used to make the home safer: “you could set lights to come on automatically or program a camera to start recording when a door is opened at certain times of the day or night. Movement sensors around the home could identify if someone in the home has been inactive for a while or detect an unexpected visitor in the home.”
Whether you are away a lot for work, have mobility problems so are slow to move around or are just looking to feel more secure, there is plenty you can implement that can make a big difference.
READ MORE: How to make your home safer for the whole family
It can give you more control
Having control of many features of your house can be more useful than you think. It means that if you are about to leave work on a cold winter evening you can turn the heating on ready for your arrival. If you forget to turn some lights off when you go to bed you don’t have to get out of bed to do it.
It’s not just practical things either. From changing the colour of your lights to being able to dispense a pet treat to your furry friend whilst you are at work, there are little moments of joy that you can bring to your day with the level of control smart technology offers.
It can make it more appealing to buyers
Looking to sell your home and struggling to get any attention? As so many homes have smart technology now it can be desirable for buyers when it’s already installed, meaning they are able to move in and take advantage of it. Having features like smart heating technology or a home lift can be something that makes your house stand out from the others on the market.
It can also mean that you might be able to ask a little bit more for your home. Especially for those with advanced systems, by offering the technology as a part of the price, you might be able to ask a little bit more of your buyers financially. Alternatively, you can sell it to them separately once they’ve brought the house.
The Eco Experts spoke about this, revealing: “54% of respondents said they would choose a smart home over an identical house which didn’t have smart technology, as per a 1,250-person study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate.
“And 65% of people said they’d pay more for a smart home, according to a John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey of 22,000 people.
“You might have more luck selling a smart home to a younger market, as 72% of millennials would reportedly be fine with paying $1,500 (£1,120) more for this technology – and 42% would part with $3,000 (£2,240) more.”
Person checking their daily energy usage
It can save you money
Having full access and control over the use of utilities in your home can lead to one thing – savings. Although the initial investment in the technology might put some people off, with the right technology in place you are able to save money long-term by cutting down on unnecessary electrical or heating use and tracking your spending.
Talking about the potential savings to be made with a smart thermostat, Which? explains: “Tado says that its smart thermostat ‘will pay for itself within a year’ by reducing your heating bills by up to 31%. Netatmo claims that its smart thermostat will reduce the energy you use by 37%. And British Gas says that its Hive smart thermostat could save you up to £130 a year on your energy bills.”
It can make you more eco-friendly
Being able to have constant access to many of your utilities means that you’re both able to monitor your spending and save money but also monitor your output. This means, for those trying to be more eco-conscious in the way they live that by incorporating the right smart technology you can ensure you are not overusing any utilities.
One of the simplest ways to do this is to use timers and smart timers. By adding timers to things like your lights and heating, you can dictate when they come on and turn off, keeping usage to a minimum. Smart timers take things one step further and will learn your routine based on when you are using utilities so eventually, they automatically turn on and off when you want, again, minimising use when not needed.
READ MORE: How to make your home more eco-friendly
Ways technology can improve your home
It can make your home more accessible
It can make your home safer
It can give you more control
It can make it more appealing to buyers
It can save you money
It can make you more eco-friendly
These are just some of the ways that technology can help improve your home. So, whether you are looking for better accessibility, to feel a little more secure or just want to cut down your utility usage, why not see what could work in your home?