Just a few years ago, smart homes were futuristic and fanciful, the stuff of movies and technology conferences. However, recent innovations have transformed the idea of a smart house into reality, and virtually every new home buyer now has not only the luxury but the ability, to incorporate smart home technology into their home.
Many of these products have become possible because of the power of your smartphone, but there are other features finding their way into custom homes which would have seemed crazy a decade ago. Here are some of our favorite smart home features to consider for your Sarasota custom build.
Smart Home Features to Ask For
Smart home features can be trendy, useful, or just really cool. It is important to look at the cost vs. the value it will provide to you – unless, of course, you just want your home to be the most cutting edge in the neighborhood.
Although these smart home features may not be offered as standard by new home builders, you should be able to integrate them into your design. If these types of features are interesting to you, make sure you discuss with your Longboat Key or Sarasota home builder during the pre-construction phase.
- Smart Kitchen Appliances: Aside from the Energy Star seal of approval, new appliances are beginning to include LED touchscreen displays, microwave sensor cooking, and even recipe banks in the ovens. These features are fun for gourmet cooks and likely helpful for those who only dabble – making cooking at home smarter than ever.
- Smart Thermostats: CNET listed a smart thermostat among the best smart home features of the year. These systems can be controlled by your smartphone – allowing you to adjust temperatures while you are not there, or when you will be arriving home shortly. Some thermostats can even sense that the home is empty, and automatically adjust to use less energy. In addition to its “cool factor”, manufacturer Nest claims such capabilities can lower an owner’s cooling bills by up to 20 percent – a great selling point in our climate!
- Automated Lighting Systems: There are many ways these systems can benefit homeowners. Controlled by smartphones, tablets, or smartwatches, an absentee homeowner can turn lights on and off to simulate someone being home. Returning home can also be more secure, as homeowners can turn on outside floodlights or interior lights just prior to pulling into the driveway, so as not to return to dark home – and possibly scaring away intruders. Some systems can even remotely raise or lower shades for privacy or cooling purposes.
- Smart Alarm Systems: New alarm systems on the market allow you to wire your doors and windows, as well as add motion sensors to entranceways – all of which is connected to cameras. Once installed, the homeowner can monitor their property without paying an alarm company to monitor their property, saving money and allowing them to take control of their security. These systems also generally include other smart features such as thermostat control, remote opening and shutting of window shades, and smoke detector monitoring.
- Smart Locks: While we often lose our keys, we are rarely without our phones. Not only do smart locks allow a homeowner to use their phone as a sort of FOB to gain entry into their home, but they can also grant access to other people via their smartphones. Access can also be granted temporarily or turned off, giving the homeowner complete control of who can enter their property – no worries about someone keeping a key or remembering the code.
If you are considering a new Sarasota or Longboat Key home and would like to explore incorporating smart home features – give Lindahl Construction a call! Not only have we been a smart choice for decades, but we also continue to innovate to ensure that you have the home of your dreams,