A Beginner's Guide to Making Your Home Smarter

A Beginner's Guide to Building Your Smart Home Systems

Smart home technologies can increase your home's value and ease of use. We take a look at planning and implementing your smart home systems.

Did you know that 69% of US homes have at least one smart home device? Many benefits come with smart home systems, but where do you start?

If you are intrigued with the idea of home automation but are at a loss of what you should purchase first, you've come to the right place!

Keep reading this beginner's smart home guide!

Smart Home Technologies: What Are Your Choices?

With each passing minute, the technologies that aid us become more advanced. Great news! However, it also means that you have an overwhelming choice to get started. 

Let's first start with the essentials. One of the main reasons smart tech is so popular is its security. The ease of monitoring your home from your phone or tablet creates a safe and secure feeling.

However, monitoring is not the only item that creates security. Burglars tend to target homes with ease of access, an indication that you are not home, or low security.

Each of these items is avoidable with installing smart home devices. For example, smart lights on timers or controlled by your phone when you are away will make it more difficult for a burglar to determine whether you are home. 

However, some homeowners wish to simply make their lives easier, as they may not necessarily worry about theft. Smart entertainment systems, temperature control, and much more are available for most homes.

Smart Home Systems: Planning It Out

Home automation can cost a pretty price. But with the right plan, you can phase out the manual work and start living smart. The great thing about smart homes is that if you have an electronic device such as a tablet or a phone, you won't need to worry about setting up a hub. 

Your mobile device can handle all of the automation with the right apps!

For example, with smart plugs, you can control machines like your coffee maker, your entertainment system, and anything else you can think of from the comfort of your couch. 

You can even set schedules, connect them with your calendar, and set timers so that everything is ready when you are. 

To plan what devices you want to purchase first, consider your needs. Do you live in a neighborhood with a lot of crime? Prioritize security.

Set a budget and stick to it. You can always upgrade more in the future!

Smart Home Installation: What to Consider

The security of your network is essential to the safe installation of your devices. While many experts agree that it increases the security of your home, it can also pose a risk to your data. 

These risks cannot be ignored. Consider setting up a separate network for your smart devices. Hackers cannot use these devices to hack the personal information stored on your home computers and other devices.

Make sure that you purchase your devices from reputable companies. Unfortunately, because of the competitive market, some smart home devices hit the market before they are thoroughly tested. In these instances, the device may be compromised. 

Most companies will provide detailed instructions to install the devices. However, certain companies may even offer lifetime support. Regardless of the age of your device, you can always trust that support is available!

Smart Home Automation: Learn the Controls

As with all technology, there is a bit of a learning curve. Due to the many available options, customization, and personalization you might have difficulty determining what works best for you.

At Nooie, we provide our user manuals online and tech support for both our app and the devices. If you have any issues, simply shoot us an email, and we can get back to you!

Your own research will also prove valuable as you set out on your automation journey. Learn from the mistakes and findings of those willing to share online. There are plenty of resources that will provide tips and tricks to get the most out of your devices. 

Smart Home Technologies: Top Tips

We are more than happy to share some of the tips we learned over the years! Let's take a look at what our team suggests!

Short Names

One of our team members enjoys using quirky names for his devices. But, he doesn't recommend this for the beginner. While it might be fun to tell Google to turn on "Smarty Pants," it might become confusing for the whole family to remember.

Feel free to play around with the names, but remember to keep it short and sweet.

Update Frequently

The tech world is constantly changing, and with these changes come new security measures. Make sure you update your devices frequently to keep up with the times. 

Size Matters

The size of your home does make a huge difference in the performance of your devices. Make sure they can connect to your network properly. 

If your own home has dead spots, consider buying a better router or extensions. 

Set Up Routines

Finally, the great thing about smart home systems is that you can automate things and not just control each device from your phone.

Take a look at this routine from one of our team members. She is a self-proclaimed night owl and has seen some significant benefits of setting up a schedule. 

• 7:05 am
  • Coffee machine starts
• 7:15 am
  • Alarm
  • Blinds open
• 7:30 am
  • News and weather
• 8:00 am
  • Out the door
  • Lights turn off
  • Temperature is set to low

She usually has a hard time getting out of bed, but knowing that the coffee is ready and the sun is shining through the windows gives her just the motivation she needs to get started on her day. 

Nooie: Get a Smart Home System Today

Smart home systems can bring security and ease to your life. Start small and work your way up according to your budget!

Are you looking for smart devices? Please take a look at our products today!