Smart home devices are the hottest segment in consumer electronics, with big-name brands like Google and Amazon entering this crowded market. But what do you need to buy to make the most of your smart home experience? Here are some recommendations for gadgets that can help upgrade any space.,
The “smart home essentials 2020” is a list of the smart home devices that I bought. These are my personal favorite items that can help make your life easier.
Are you looking for an answer? Our table of contents is as follows:
I’m a great technophile who constantly jumps on board with the newest technology advancements, fully prepared to embrace the future. So it’s no surprise that for the better part of a decade, I’ve longed to live in a completely automated smart house.
But, sadly, I don’t have my own house… yet.
Because of my job, I am often relocating, moving from one rental unit to another.
Because of my itinerant lifestyle, I didn’t believe I could fully immerse myself in smart home technology until lately. But, boy, was I mistaken!
There’s nothing quite like creating a smart house from the ground up. However, if you’re a renter like me, you can still create a smart home for yourself. I know because I’ve been there. Smart home gadgets are abundant on the market, and since they are very portable, they are great for renters.
You don’t have to start from scratch to create a smart house. You don’t need to ask cranky landlords for permission to install smart thermostats or link up a smart doorbell. Instead, you can take smart apartment technology with you everywhere you go, and transform all of your rental units into smart homes!
When it comes to smart home gadgets for renters, you’ll have to be a bit more cautious than when it comes to permanent smart houses. Certain forms of smart home technologies should be avoided, and there are certain pointers to remember, but I’m here to help!
This is my shopping guide for tenants looking to purchase smart home equipment. In this post, I’ll show you how to transform your flat into a smart home and offer you a rundown of the finest smart home technology for renters.
Renters: How to Set Up Smart Home Devices – Important Points to Remember
Minimalism is the first tip.
Do you often switch apartments? If you have, you are aware of how inconvenient it is to relocate and reorganize your belongings. That is why you must embrace minimalism as a philosophy.
Look for smart home technology that is both useful and something you will use on a daily basis. Keep an eye out for versatile smart home gadgets, which are single devices that may perform numerous functions. Consider automating your house with the fewest devices possible.
Compatibility is the second tip.
Check that all of the gadgets you buy are compatible with one another. One of the most important features of a smart home is that all of your gadgets should be linked to a single network, allowing them to communicate and interact with one another.
Examine the compatibility of gadgets before purchasing them. At this point, it’s best to avoid proprietary ecosystems like Apple HomeKit since they emphasize exclusivity, which means they lock you into their ecosystem and are incompatible with a lot of products that aren’t part of it. This will not only cost more, but it will also restrict your possibilities.
Look for all suitable smart home devices by casting a broad net. You may also sync them using sites like IFTTT.
3rd tip: portability
Look for tiny and cordless smart home gadgets.
Renters should avoid heavy smart home gadgets since they may have to be carried around often when they relocate.
Wireless connectivity is much more critical for smart home devices. It will be a pain to go through and arrange your gadgets if they have a complicated network of connections.
Furthermore, if the item requires a sophisticated installation or is required to be plugged into the home’s electrical components, you are unlikely to obtain authorization from the landlord. Even if you succeed in installing the gadget, dismantling it when you have to leave would be a major hassle.
That’s why you should make things light and portable by purchasing tiny and cordless smart home equipment for renters.
For renters, the best smart home technology is
I made a lot of costly errors when I initially began setting up my smart house. Hopefully, if you follow the advice and tactics listed above, you will be able to prevent them.
After you’ve learned the dos and don’ts of installing smart home devices for renters, it’s time to shop for the finest smart home technology. The following is a rundown of the greatest smart home technologies for renters’ flats.
Hubs
When it comes to installing smart home gadgets for renters, the first step is to create a smart hub that can control everything. A hub may be thought of as the brains or central control station of your smart home, since it communicates with all of your other smart gadgets. This is a quick rundown of the top smart hubs for renters.
The Amazon Echo Dot is a smart speaker that works with Alexa
Are you on a tight budget and don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a smart hub? If that’s the case, the Amazon Echo Dot is the most cost-effective alternative. This is essentially a smart speaker, but it also serves as a smart hub for controlling all of your other smart devices that are compatible.
The Alexa speech assistant comes pre-installed on the Echo Dot, and you can use it to play music from Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, and a variety of other services. If you desire stereo sound, you may combine it with another Echo Dot. This smart speaker can read news headlines, give you the weather, assist with online shopping, and do a variety of other tasks in addition to playing music.
Echo Dot can control and interact with all of your other smart devices, including your smart thermostat, smart speakers, cameras, lighting, plugs and sockets, and fans, as a smart hub. For example, you may just say “Alexa, Lights Off” and it will switch off your smart lights.
Because of its portability, the Echo Dot is one of the finest smart home gadgets for renters. This gadget is fully wireless and is just 3.9″ x 3.9″ x 1.7″ in size.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
- Extremely portable and tiny
- It’s multifunctional since it’s also a smart speaker.
- Wireless
- There is no need for a complicated setup.
Amazon Echo Show (Amazon Echo Show)
The Amazon Echo Show is similar to the Echo Dot, except it can also display information. The Echo Dot, as fantastic as it is, can only tell you stuff. It will respond verbally if you ask for a weather update, for example. The Echo Show, on the other hand, has a screen and can display weather information.
The Echo Show includes a few more functions due to the presence of a screen. Echo Show, for example, can link to your smart cameras and provide real-time information. This is especially beneficial since it can be linked to a smart doorbell to provide video footage of your front door. You may even attach it to a baby camera to keep an eye on your children.
Echo Show is a fantastic source of entertainment in addition to providing visual security features. You may link it to Amazon Music to have the words of your favorite songs displayed, allowing you to enjoy an impromptu karaoke session. You can also use FireTV to watch films or adjust the temperature on your thermostat.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
- Extremely portable – it resembles a tablet.
- Because it also functions as a smart speaker and a screen, it is multifunctional.
- Wireless
- There is no need for a complicated setup.
Google Nest Hub is a smart home device developed by Google.
The Google Nest Hub, like the Amazon Echo hubs, is basically a smart speaker with a connected touchscreen. In terms of design, this is a 7″ screen that appears quite similar to an Android tablet. As a result, you can put it almost anyplace and it’s incredibly portable.
You can use this smart hub to access music, manage other devices, and view movies. It also has an embedded speaker. You can use the screen to review video from your smart cameras or access GPS navigation while driving, which is really helpful.
This smart hub, unlike the Echo Show, does not include an embedded camera, therefore it cannot be used for video calling. This was done to address the security and privacy issues that arise with having a web-connected camera on your property.
It also comes with its own voice-activated Google Assistant, which can do almost all of Alexa’s functions. It can read news headlines, answer questions, play music, and manage smart lights, locks, and thermostats, among other things. Google Nest Hub is also compatible with YouTube, allowing you to voice command it to play certain YouTube videos, a feature that it obviously outperforms Alexa in.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
Functionality
The ability to manage all of your lights and appliances with your voice is one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of smart homes. This is a quick rundown of some of the most useful smart home gadgets for renters.
The Philips Hue A19 is one of the best smart LED light bulbs on the market.
One of the most important features of smart homes is smart lighting. It’s very pleasant and easy to be able to control the lights in any area of your house with just your voice. When shopping for smart LED lights for renters, search for smart bulbs that can be installed in your current fixture. The collection you choose should also be extendable, meaning you should be able to add to it later.
Because it fits into standard lamps and fixtures without requiring any electrical adjustments, Philips Hue A19 is one of the finest smart LED light bulbs for renters. While the initial package includes four A19 lights and a central hub to regulate them, you may buy extra bulbs as needed. You also have limitless color options thanks to the 16 million colors and hues available – essentially, you can change your LED light bulbs into any color on the color wheel.
These light bulbs work with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, so you can control them with your voice. You may also set up wake, sleep, and away functions on a schedule, or you can use motion detection to set up controls. Because they function with their own mesh network through the Hue Bridge (which comes with the beginning kit) or with the Amazon Echo device, this arrangement is a lot more dependable than most other smart lights.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
- There are no electrical adjustments required since it works with standard lighting and fixtures.
- More bulbs may be added at any moment.
- There’s no need to get permission from your landlord.
Wemo Mini is the best smart plug on the market.
You can’t really afford to acquire smart versions of every gadget you possess if you’re a renter. Smart plugs, on the other hand, may help in this situation. Instead of purchasing smart electrical gadgets (curling irons, toasters, ovens, and so on), smart plugs may be purchased and connected to the devices. The most cost-effective way to automate all of your gadgets is using smart plugs. You won’t be able to handle the precise functions of all your gadgets using smart plugs, but you will be able to switch them on and off and set timers.
Because it is incredibly sturdy, tiny, and cleverly constructed, the Wemo Mini is one of the finest smart plugs on the market. You don’t even have to connect the socket to your home’s electrical system, so you won’t require your landlord’s approval. The plug may easily be plugged into an existing socket. It’s built in such a way that it won’t even obstruct the plate’s other outlets. Simply insert the plug into an outlet, download the app to your phone, establish a wireless connection, and then manage all of your other gadgets. Voice commands may also be set up.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
- It may be easily plugged into an existing outlet.
- Can be used to convert ordinary outlets into smart outlets.
- There’s no need to get permission from your landlord.
- Extremely portable and tiny
Safety and Security
Are you worried about the security and safety of your home? Are you concerned about intruders or smoke alarms that go off without warning? One of the most appealing features of smart homes is that they raise the bar on security and safety. For renters, the following are some of the most important smart home security equipment.
The Best Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is Google Nest Protect.
Traditional smoke and carbon monoxide alarms provide a beeping sound that warns you of a possible problem and allows you to take action. However, you must be within range of the gadget to hear and act on the beeping. Even while you’re not at home, smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors provide push alerts and take automated precautions to safeguard your house.
Because it features a self-testing capability, Google Nest Protect is without a doubt the greatest smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. As a result, it does automated checks to see whether it’s functioning and notifies you when anything goes wrong. It also sends push alerts instead of a grating beeping sound when the battery is low. Most crucially, it’s available in a battery-powered form, which eliminates the need to hard-wire it into your house, making it ideal for renters.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
The Best Smart Leak Sensor is the Wally Sensor.
Wally Sensor is a smart leak sensor that detects water leaks caused by appliances or plumbing problems. It may also detect freezing or the presence of mold, allowing you to take action before significant water damage occurs. It also has a temperature sensor that will alert you if the temperature falls below unsafe levels, reducing the possibility of frozen pipes.
The Wally Sensor is a totally wireless and portable gadget that connects to your Alexa devices or the Alexa app on your smartphone. It may be configured to send warnings by email, phone calls, or push notifications. You may also buy it with a Wally Shutoff Valve, which will automatically cut off the water if there is a leak.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
The Logitech Circle 2 is the best smart Wi-Fi camera on the market.
One of the most fundamental parts of home security is an interior or outdoor Wi-Fi camera. Not only can the existence of a camera aid in the detection of possible burglars, but it may also be used to deter invaders. Because it offers a wide variety of capabilities and is compatible with Alexa, HomeKit, and Google, the Logitech Circle 2 is the finest indoor/outdoor Wi-Fi camera.
With a 180-degree wide-angle lens, this smart security camera captures Full HD 1080p footage. It also has night vision with a 15-foot visibility radius. You may configure it with motion detection to get push alerts on your phone whenever motion is detected.
When the motion detector is activated, your phone displays live footage as well as pictures and a brief movie. You’ll also receive 24 hours of free cloud video storage, which should be plenty for most renters.
The intercom on Circle 2 allows you to speak with folks on the opposite side of the camera. You may also utilize the geofencing function to enable or disable the camera depending on your location, so the motion detector isn’t triggered every time you enter or leave. Overall, the Logitech Circle 2 is one of the most dependable and feature-rich smart Wi-Fi cameras on the market.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
- No need to hard-wire since it can be mounted to a window, connected to a conventional wall socket, or powered by batteries.
- There’s no need to get permission from your landlord.
August Smart Lock is the best smart lock for renters on the market.
You probably don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a lock as a tenant. You’re also unlikely to find a smart lock that connects to your home’s electrical system. August Smart Lock is the finest smart lock for renters because of this.
August Smart Lock, unlike other smart locks that need a connection to your home’s electrical infrastructure, simply changes your current deadbolt. Simply replace the thumb-turn mechanism from the inside of the door. The embedded DoorSense magnetic sensor may then be used to automatically open the door as you approach it and re-lock it after you’ve passed through.
While August Smart Lock does not work with Apple’s HomeKit or Siri, it does work with Google Assistant and Alexa. When you’re not at home, you may also operate the lock remotely. If you have an Alexa or Google Assistant device, you may manage the lock manually, via the app, or with voice commands.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
The Best Smart DIY Security System is Ring Alarm.
Ring Alarm is one of the top smart home security systems for protecting your house from intruders and burglars. A base station, keypad, contact sensor, motion detector, and range extender are included in the setup.
The contact sensor may be used at entry points such as windows and doors. You’ll be notified every time someone opens them. The motion detector can detect movement in a specific area and provide you notifications. If you live in a big home, the range extender sends signals to all of the system’s components. From within the home, you may arm or disable the whole system using the keypad.
You may rest easy knowing that if someone attempts to break in, you’ll be alerted. For enhanced security and visual confirmation, link this complete system to your Logitech Circle 2 Wi-Fi camera.
Optional 24/7 professional monitoring is available for only $10 per month after you buy this alarm system. There are no long-term commitments, and by subscribing to this service, you can rest certain that specialists will keep an eye on your property and notify authorities if any suspicious activity is detected.
The most common problem with many DIY security systems is that they will need drilling into your wall. This isn’t the case, however. The gadgets come with double-sided mounting tape, so all you have to do is affix them to the right fixtures or walls. As a result, no landlord consent is required.
Why This Is a Good Rental Product:
- Double-sided tape may be used to secure devices to walls.
- Any wall outlet may be used to connect the main hub.
- There’s no need to get permission from your landlord.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a plethora of smart home gadgets ready to be installed. All of the smart home technology covered in this post has been utilized (and continues to be used) by me. They are all excellent in their own right, but they also communicate wonderfully with one another.
These are just a few of the most basic and necessary smart home gadgets for renters. You can extend your smart home connections with more cameras, sensors, and so much more once you get the hang of them.
The “switchbot” is a smart home device that allows users to easily control their lights, thermostats, and more. The switchbot can be controlled with an app or voice commands.
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