According to my calendar it’s still November but apparently the stores aren’t on the same schedule because no matter where I go the holiday season seems to be in full swing. While I could turn this into a rant about what an appropriate date is to start playing Christmas music and put up decorations (December 1st!), I’d rather this post be a little more useful to you.
Odds are you’ve got bunch of people to buy gifts for. I know I certainly do. This year, I plan to be smart about my gift giving… literally. As in I’m giving people cool tech products to turn their home into a smart home. Soon everything in your house will be connected to the internet so I figure, why not get a head start? With that in mind, I’ve made a gift guide of the best smart home devices of 2017.
Nest Learning Thermostat
This is one of the coolest smart products around. The Nest Learning Thermostat replaces your old style thermostat and, like the name says, learns your heating and cooling habits. Whenever you change the temperature, Nest picks up on when you like it warm, when you like it cold, and when you’re actually at home. Once it learns this info, it’ll start programming itself around your schedule so your furnace or A/C only runs when you actually need it to. You can also control Nest remotely so if it’s cold when you leave in the morning but the day warms up significantly, you can turn your heat off from work! It’s a great way to save on your power bill. Plus it looks gorgeous.
Netgear Arlo Q Security Camera
If you or your loved ones don’t already have a security camera, I recommend picking up the Netgear Arlo Q Camera. It’s easy to set up, records in full HD video 24/7, has night vision, and even two way audio so you can listen in and speak from the app on your phone. The app also lets you check in on things when you’re out and about and will alert you when something out of the ordinary happens. Definitely a smart way to feel more secure.
Kwikset Kevo Smart Lock
Ever had had an armload of grocery bags and when you arrive at your door, you realize your keys are still in your pocket and you have to juggle things around to get them out? Yeah, the Kwikset Kevo Smart Lock eliminates that by unlocking when it senses your phone nearby. It’s got a close range authentication system so it won’t open until you’re close to it or you can lock and unlock it remotely using your phone. Definitely a neat upgrade over hiding a spare key somewhere. It still comes with a Weiser lock built in for old fashioned access but with something this slick, I bet you won’t use it often.
Phillips Hue Lighting
Do you need smart light bulbs? No. Will you want them after seeing them? Heck yeah! The Phillips Hue system is the most complete system of smart lights available. As with everything on the list, you can control them with your phone or with a smart home hub like Google Home or Amazon Echo. Yes, they’re more expensive than regular “dumb” bulbs but since they’re LED, they’ll last for years. You can set them to turn off when you leave the room, dim when you’re watching your smart TV, and even set up colour schemes with different hues (see what I did there?) depending on the vibe you want.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are smart washer and dryers, smart blinds, smart smoke detectors, and a heck of a lot more. I even read an article there’s a company trying to launch a series of smart pans that’ll alert you when your food is cooked! If there’s anyone at all on your gift list that loves technology, they’d be thrilled to get one of the smart home devices I’ve listed here. All of them can be found at tech-y stores like Best Buy or the Telus Store in Orchard Park Mall, though Home Depot and RONA have started carrying a few of them too.
And if you or someone you know is looking to find a new home to fill with smart tech, make the smart choice and contact me to help! I might not come with an app but I’m easy to get a hold of and I’ll always try to get you exactly what you want.
