When I was first interested in home automation, I wasn’t alone when I figured that I couldn’t afford it. But that’s because I was assuming all home automation was self-driving cars and smart homes that would monitor my every move. The great thing about home automation is that it covers just about every budget level and design imaginable.
If you are ready to dip your toes into home automation with some inexpensive options (all $250 or less), check out these six affordable home automation systems:
Smart Doorbell
When your doorbell rings, wouldn’t it be great if you received an alert on your phone and could see via video who was at the door? That’s what you can do with a smart doorbell, thanks to the power of WiFi. Currently there are a number of options available on the market, depending on what features you want and how much you want to spend.
Smart Thermostat
Many people recommend starting with a thermostat for your first home automation purchase. The most popular by far is Nest Thermostat. A smart thermostat can significantly help you save on electricity because it learns your personal preferences for temperature and adjusts accordingly.
Smart Plug
This extension to your wall outlets gives you more control over the devices plugged into the outlet. You can control the devices from any room in your house, or put them on a schedule.
Smart Home Surveillance
You can easily install security cameras without cumbersome wires with new smart home surveillance systems. Some keep you informed of what’s going on at home via a mobile app. Others offer motion detectors, microphones, and other advanced features.
Smart Gardener
If you’re like me, you never remember to water plants. With a smart gardening tool, you can track your plant’s health and automatically water it.
Smart Lock
Forget about keys. With smart locks, your smartphone acts as the key to the lock on your door. You can even control who else has access to the lock and even provide a limited access time, such as a week or two for visiting family members.
Photo by: Scott Lewis
