It’s no longer uncommon to find yourself stepping into a smart home. Turning your ordinary home into a smart home has never been this easy before, and with some of the best internet in Cleveland Ohio, residents can now fulfill their smart home requirements for seamless connectivity, because in essence, let’s be honest; a smart home is nothing without good internet connectivity.

That brings us to the question of whether the concept of a smart home is too good to be true. The idea that homeowners can automate certain things within their homes at a fraction of the cost now is real, but of course like all things there are two sides to it.

How Are Smart Homes Beneficial For Homeowners? 

Smart homes, as we mentioned above, are much easier to attain now that the technology is readily and easily available, not to mention quite affordable too. A smart device is always a great investment for a home nonetheless. Here’s how smart homes can be beneficial for homeowners.

Convenience

The first and the most obvious of benefits that a homeowner can reap is the ease of convenience. A sort of convenience that they didn’t know was possible!

Given that smart home devices connect to the home Wi-Fi network that allows for them to be accessible remotely, as well as wirelessly through mobile applications – which allows us to control the smart devices within our homes from literally miles away, other than just from within a few feet from the device itself. Not just that, certain smart devices can allow homeowner to connect to a smart speaker or a voice assistant on their smartphones to enable voice control.

So apart from controlling smart devices remotely, homeowners can even set schedules if the device’s app allows for it, so that they won’t have to manually put in the work even if it’s through the app. For instance setting schedules for smart lights to turn on or off based on the sunrise and sunset, or even just their personal routines.

Security

The one factor that often gets overlooked when it comes to smart devices is security. Smart devices provide an alternate source of home security for homeowners, and probably more efficient than the regular motion sensors, alarm systems in place. For instance, devices like video doorbells and smart cameras alert users in real time whenever they detect any movement within the activity zone. They also allow for two-way communication that can make it easier to deter any intruders if need be.

Likewise, smart door locks provide a keyless and tamperproof method of entering and exiting a home. Users can use the associated mobile app to control the lock, and certain devices use the phone’s location to operate by themselves too – and that means locking the door if it detects the owner leaving home.

Energy-Efficiency

Smart devices are lauded for their energy efficient abilities, allowing homeowners to cut back on the excess energy consumption. Given that these devices allow for remote and wireless control, as well as motion detection features, along with the added benefit of setting schedules, there is practically no room for energy wastage. Homeowners can switch off the thermostat when they leave in the morning, and switch it back on from their smartphones when they are minutes away from home, just as they can use smart plugs or smart switches to control external non-smart devices and appliances.

What’s The Catch Though?

Although smart devices come bearing advantages for homeowners like nothing before them, there are obviously some factors that people must be weary of because not everything is as perfect as it seems – not even smart devices.

Wi-Fi and Internet Connectivity

The one thing that all smart devices rely on, is a stable Wi-Fi network and internet connectivity, because what is a smart device without Wi-Fi? Without a stable internet connection, smart devices cannot essentially work to the potential that they are meant for. So in order to enjoy all the remote control, wireless control and other brilliant features, homeowners must have good internet connectivity and coverage around their premises.

What’s more is that it not only comes down to the coverage of the Wi-Fi network, but also the speed that homeowners subscribe to with their internet service providers. However here is where the real problem arises. Certain Internet providers have great internet packages and plans with adequate bandwidth and speed, but at a pricey rate. And that is where homeowners tend to lose out when they opt for a cheaper plan that doesn’t provide enough bandwidth to withstand the capacity needed by smart devices alongside the usual internet usage.

The Price of Smart Devices

Smart devices are comparatively affordable as opposed to the technology that is otherwise, or was essentially used to automate homes. Though they are easy to install by yourselves and do not require any extra expenses pertaining to them, certain smart devices are definitely expensive – take smart ovens or refrigerators for instance.

But the thing is, given all the features, even the unique ones that every device brings with it individually, homeowners should consider them an investment. That is because not only would the devices be beneficial in the long term in regards to reduced energy bills, etc., they also increase the value of the property.

All in All

Smart devices are always a great addition to any household, which is what we will admit. Regardless of the fact that they may come with some strings attached, those strings aren’t something that cannot be sorted overtime. And besides, we’re headed towards an era where internet is going to be a necessity that compares parallel to electricity, so all the more reason to invest in these devices.

Head on over to www.firstenergyhome.com and check out FirstEnergy Home’s smart home catalogue today. You’ll definitely find something worth the buy!