Imagine walking into your home with the AC set at your perfect temperature, your favourite song on the speakers and the curtains pulled to provide shade from the midday sun, all this with a few touches of a smartphone app. Far from a luxury, home automation systems are now becoming a crucial element of all modern homes. No longer cost prohibitive, they not only cut energy costs by 30 percent but also help provide a secure and comfortable home to their residents. So if you’re planning to automate your home but have no idea where to begin, we’re here to help! Here are the 5 steps to home automation:

Step 1: Figure out your needs

The first step to automating your home requires you to figure out what you need from your smart home. Do you need just the lights controlled or the air-conditioning for the entire home? Will security systems play a part in this? How many sensors would you need? All these and a few more are the questions you need to find the answers to prior to setting up a home automation system.

Step 2: Determine the network technology you need

Deciding the network technology you need for your home is the next step. This determines how your devices communicate with each other, whether through wired systems or wireless. Wired systems are cheaper only if installed during the initial process of home building otherwise rewiring the home to make it compatible may end up being an expensive affair. Wireless systems on the other hand, are relatively more expensive than a wired system. However, wireless systems require significantly less setup costs and are much more reliable.

Step 3: Choosing the system integrator

System integrators are professionals who partner homeowners in their quest for home automation. They reduce the stress and tension of home automation by providing the owner their advice and taking care of the installation process and providing maintenance support. Go online and do your research or contact the brands for their trusted references of system integrators available in your area.

Step 4: Purchasing network compatible devices

Home automation requires network compatible devices, they can’t just be used with the standard devices one is used to. Lights, fans, switches, locks, one needs to purchase all the systems that one wishes to incorporate into one’s smart home. Many brands offer network compatible devices and systems to help you integrate your home in a cost-efficient manner.

Step 5: Download and connect to a Smart Home App

Your devices are now ready to communicate and all you need is an app. You can either use the app provided by your hub manufacturer or download one on your smartphone from the Play Store or App Store. Simply follow the instructions and voila! Your smart home is up and running!

As you can see, setting up a smart home isn’t that hard and cost-prohibitive, all you need to do is find the right devices for your needs!