More homeowners are integrating home automation systems as technology improves.

Integrating Home Automation – Home automation or a “smart home” allows homeowners to connect — through wires and cables or wireless signals — a variety of systems throughout their residence and control everything from a central location, such as a smartphone, tablet or in-wall touch screen. A study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University says home automation is predicted to be the No. 2 trend in residential remodeling over the next five to 10 years.  Integrating Home Automation.

Call Ted with Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415.  We can offer you complete home automation systems, integrated home automation systems, video surveillance systems.  Visit our website for all our capabilities.  Integrating Home Automation.

There is massive interest in home automation, we are at the tipping point for the automated home, and that growth over the next decade will be exponentially larger year over year.

Experts say the most popular systems to integrate include audio/visual equipment and home theaters, heating and A/C, and security and lighting. Integrating Home Automation.

The past five years has seen the industry become more available to more people, what was once a million dollar home market has scaled down to the $400,000 homes because it’s becoming much more affordable and accessible. Prices are coming down and the number of products that work together is increasing.

At 6 a.m., the home automation system wakes you up with soft music and dim lights. As you get out of bed and begins his morning routine, the lights get brighter and the TV turns on with the local news. And when you leave for work, everything turns itself off and the security system switches on to guard his house.

When you return home, sensors in his driveway activate the system, which turns on music from the outdoor speakers, the waterfall in the landscaping, and interior and exterior lights if it’s dark.  Integrating Home Automation.

Your house greets you and I’m surprised home automation isn’t in every home — even if it’s as simple as lighting control. It saves on electricity, protects the home and is convenient.  My favorite part is peace of mind, you can go out of town every chance you can imagine, and knowing your home is just a click away is great.

Affordable home automation systems start around $100. All you need is a smartphone and Wi-Fi.
DIY home automation.  For those who want to test the waters of home automation before jumping in, simpler options exist, such as installing a Nest smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. The alarm, priced at $129, speaks with a female voice, telling the home’s occupants what the problem is and where it’s located. Before it sounds a piercing alarm, it gives a verbal warning that can be silenced by waving your hand. It integrates with mobile devices and sends a message if an emergency arises or the batteries run low.  Integrating Home Automation.

Nest, based in Palo Alto, California, introduced its first product, the Learning Thermostat, in 2011. Retailing for $250, the thermostat creates a custom climate control based on the homeowner’s schedule, and saves up to 20 percent on heating and cooling bills.  Today, there are numerous competing products equally as good if not better.  I personally like Ecobee.

Smartphones can control many add-on features of alarm systems, such as light controls. How much does home automation cost?  Home automation systems can run the gamut from fairly basic to extravagant and range in price from $2,000 to $200,000.  Integrating Home Automation.

Turning on your exterior lights at sundown and off at dawn would be the most basic, at the other end, you can have a system by pushing a button over the bed each morning, which raised 52 shades, set lighting scenes, started a music playlist based on the day of the week, turned on stock feeds on some TVs and views of surveillance cameras on others, unlocked elevator access to their floor of the building, and adjusted the thermostat. When they were ready for bed, Brahms’ lullaby played over 10 sets of speakers and lights controlled by motion detectors gently lit the way back to the bedroom.  Such bliss.

What are the benefits of home automation?
A simple surround sound system can be installed in as little as one day, but large, complex home automation systems can take weeks of planning and programming. Integrating Home Automation.

In addition, homeowners may also check with their insurance companies to see if they’re eligible for a lower rate.

Consumers who fear they may not be tech-savvy enough to operate an automation system shouldn’t worry.

Home Automation doesn’t come with a big manual or extensive instructions.

Wilson says with today’s smartphone and tablet technology, homeowners should have no difficulty operating a smart house.  An automation system is just a computer that runs your home systems. So much like your laptop, it will occasionally need to be rebooted or need minor maintenance.  The idea is to make things more intuitive, so while being tech savvy doesn’t hurt, it isn’t required.  Integrating Home Automation.

What does the future hold?
There are a few things that people are looking for, and most of the time it’s an easy-to-use interface that allows you to control the home remotely. The ability for the home to efficiently run itself without constant human interaction and linking all the different subsystems in the home together is what home automation is all about.

Whether it’s combining all your TV and stereo remotes into one, or having window shades open and close automatically according to your local sunrise and sunset times, it’s an exciting time for industry professionals as more products become accessible for the average customer.

The interest is growing exponentially.  Today’s first-time homebuyer was practically born with a phone in their hand — they almost expect the technology from their house. I think the next five to 10 years is going to see a huge growth in home automation.  Integrating Home Automation.

Call Ted with Plano Texas Handyman at 214-507-3415.  We can offer you complete home automation systems, integrated home automation systems, video surveillance systems.  Visit our website for all our capabilities.  Integrating Home Automation.